TALES OF THE OLD SENSEI
Memories like the corner of my mind
Sport Karate: Yesterday and Today

Grandmaster Jim Harrison

The Tales you are about to read are true and are part of the rich history we call Sport Karate Archives. These are Tales of the Old Sensei from the heart, stories you might have heard about in rumors or in the bar after the tournament or from the source. The pioneer of the media power and the blood and guts era has to be the man Bruce Lee called the most dangerous man alive, Living Legend Jim Harrison. Jim was and is the most sincere martial artist this sensei has met. He was the fourth to be roasted at The Living Legends and still today active in his schools. He created the very first live television broadcast of a Karate Championship and he had the very cream of the crop. We call it Sport Karate now.

They were there for Mr. Harrison, television exposure and the prize money of $1.00, that’s right I said $1.00. I don't know it's a Black Belt thing. The event had no time limit but would be determine by who scored the first two points and it was contact, did I say Contact! The event I am talking about was the first Professional Karate Championships at his Dojo in Kansas City, 1968. This was a heavy contact, no pads competition.

The Champions that showed up for this Historic moment in 1968 were legends Bob Wall, Lou Angel, Skipper Mullins, Joe Lewis, J.P Burleson, David Moon, Fred Wren, Robert Trias, Allen Steen, Jim Harrison, a short note Chuck Norris was invited but had a injury from a past tournament. Both Burleson and Moon had their ribs broken during the competition. Moon, with broken ribs, finished the final fight with Joe Lewis.

Well, blood was drawn and in the end, a then shy Joe Lewis Won the dollar. When the Museum came up at the first Legends, the idea became reality when we gathered the HISTORY GENERALS for the Museum History, a group of men and ladies, who lived the sport and made a career of entertaining us for four decades. Only they could tell the Stories and History.

We have gathered fifty {50} HISTORY GENERALS for the Museum Please go to http://WWW.THESPORTMARTIALARTSMUSEUM.COM and see who will lead these ideas.

Chris Gallios and Garett Lee

The Ambassadors are an important part also; they supply the revenue, consultation, guidance and vision of the future of the Museum. The Stealth Warriors are a group of men who are the overseers of the project, The leader is Shihan Twain Marx Kennedy, a warrior who is a exotic hunter and oil man, fisherman, father, karate champion, golfer supreme, brother and mentor to many people. Together, this team of elite individuals will dream, create, collect, and build. Chris Gallios’ Lone Star Nationals, thirty-nine years later {39}, was held in Houston, Texas at the beautiful Marriott. This is a good example of where events have evolved since the first real championship on TV.

It was a TEXAS CHAMPIONS OLD FOLKS HOME REUNION. This event drew many people who came to support this young man who has grown up in Texas Karate. In no order, George Minshew, Chris Minshew, Jose Santa Maria, Gary Lee, Tony Lopez, Daryl Stewart, Silvereo Guerrea, Margret Beasley, Jesse Benivedez and the fighters were the best in the nation, Regina Thompson from G.O.P, Byron Young J. Dog and Joe Prueitt from the same team. Garett Lee from RINGSTAR and Toney Lopez from The Renegades were a few of national players who showed up.

(right to left) Ed Saenz, Prof. Guerrea, Daryl Stewart Danny Bergeron, Joe Gonzoles, Jeff Shadoin

Super Star Chad Cannon was sidelined because of an injury and was just being cool watching the event. The Karate Channel was there doing interviews and making kids famous. The kata divisions were broken up into the right divisions, traditional and creative were separate. The fighting is always the favorite in Texas and should be because of the History. World Champions, National, State or City karate fighters, they were there, KICKSTART, A.O.K, TNT, SKI, and NBL were all represented.

The Leader of the KICKSTART PROGRAM is Mr. Ed Saenz who works directly with Mr. Chuck Norris and together they over sees 5,000 kids. He was watching and sharing his method of teaching kata with the Old Sensei .He said “It all comes from the core of ones self, kata is not a outside thing but your heart, training, Ki, physical and mental must be prepared before you step into the arena"" Wise sayings from a wise man cool!

Regina Thompson won the $500.00 in Ladies beating Margret Beasley and Toney Lopez Jr. won men’s Grand though a controversial blood call worth $500.00, after the protest Toney still walked out with the cash!

Whether it is for $1.00 or $500.00, we have come a long, long way Lets record the History Tell a friend THESPORTMARTIALARTSMUSEUM

Till next time, keep your hands up
The Old Sensei

Well this was a great event and I will support it next year, but remember not all events are well run, check out their history.

For the very best events around the world check out the HOT EVENTS LIST at WWW.WORLDBLACKBELT.COM