The Winner in Me!

 I began training in 1973, February, Sensei would teach us techniques, drill us for, what seemed like, ever and practice the Kata (formal exercises of Karate). The Organization we were members of was USA GOJU under Supreme Instructor; Peter Urban. The Florida Chapter was operated by Sensei Bill Liquori then Rokudan under Urban. "Goju Shiai" or tournaments were held within the style with no one except USA Goju stylist allowed. This made for real tough competition as all the Black Belt knew all of the limited kata syllabus and thus any mistake was easily recognized and scores were dropped. If you mis-started or forgot the kata you received a ZERO. If you weren't sitting in the correct position while waiting to perform you could be disqualified. My first tournament was located in Auburndale, Florida. About 40 miles southwest of Tampa. It seemed like it took forever to get there. When we arrived someone took our money and then didn't tell us what to do..... as a result I sat in the audience and watched the competition.  It was interesting but I was too new to be able to follow much.

My second competition and the first I would actually compete in was being held by my sensei in Leesburg, where I trained 3 times per week. I was a green belt, Sensei was still calling me Dude, and my kata of choice, it was the highest one I knew, was Chin Choi. I practiced that kata 350 times the week before the Shiai and still only managed 2nd place. There were no Kobudo divisions in that day, I was the only 15 year old in my division so I fought with the Adults. The first guy literally knocked me out of the ring. Right to the jaw!

Then my practice started to pay off. I was still doing Chin Choi and I won the prestigious "Official Karate Magazine" Southeastern Regional Kata Championship in the Green Belt division. With this I had my picture in "Official Karate Magazine".

After joining Seishin Kai Karate Union in 1974, we attended the "Seishin Kai Karate Union Southeastern Championships" in Atlanta, GA. I was now in the Brown Belt division and performing the kata Chinto - "Night Crane" I tied with fellow team mate Jim Hoskinson from Clermont, Florida. During a run off I won by 1 point. This crowned me as the "Seishin Kai Karate Union Southeastern Brown Belt Kata Champion" My first "major" win as there were over 50 in my division.

I began winning every tournament, especially in Kata. I had never seen myself perform so I had no idea what I looked like. Just that Sensei said it was ok. One of my greatest brown belt wins was at National Karate Jiu Jitsu Union Summer Camp of 1975, just before I received my Black Belt. I won first place in Advanced Kata and 1st Place in Advanced Kumite (fighting) against 2 black belts.

As "the winner in me" began to emerge, I was also in position to open my first dojo in Umatilla, Florida. I had some good students come out of that dojo, We traveled to tournaments as a group and on one such occasion I experienced one of my worst days of competition. NKJU tournaments were very tough in that time. It was in Atlanta where I have won the above Championship that I returned as a Black Belt competitor. The board of judges for our division was:

Soke R. P. Baillargeon, Soke Joe Ruiz, Shihan Thomas L. Bentley, Sensei Frank Chisari, Sensei David Oha, All high ranks 4th Dan and above. I not only left out part of my kata, but forgot the ending as well, resulting in a ZERO score. I performed Kobudo in front of the same panel and received 3rd place and then to Kumite (fighting)..... I was the youngest competitor at 17 years of age, I fought gallantly, beat everyone until I had to fight Herbie Thompson from Miami (Arguably one of the best karate fighters of all time.) and Bill Knoblock of Orlando (one of the toughest full contact fighters ever)....... their experience far exceeded mine and I took 3rd place behind these legends.

I competed around the state of Florida over the years always placing in the top 3 at every tournament I ever entered. It was fun and I enjoyed the comradely and brotherhood not often found in today's tournaments.

In future blog I will relate my experiences winning the National and International Championships 5 times. What adventures.!!!!!