ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY

 

DON BOHAN / RICK NIEMIRA MEMORIAL
GATHERING AND TOURNAMENT

 

   First let me say that this was my favorite tournament ever. It had everything that a martial arts weekend could offer. From the Summit that brought the preeminent Isshin-ryu and Bando people of our time together, to the Saturday night banquet, it was a huge success from beginning to end. Sandwich a tournament in between, with world class competition and you have more than I could possible describe in an article. The whole idea of the gathering was to honor the memory of Don Bohan and Rick Niemira. It was expertly organized and directed by Master Wayne Wayland; Americas number one giver of recognition and credit to others. In his usual style, he made sure that the whole affair focused on everyone but himself. Even though he tried hard to stay in the recognition shadows, it was impossible not to realize how much work and effort went into such an epic affair and that Master Wayland was the man who pulled it all off.

 

   As a personal observation I was very impressed with the masters and leadership I witnessed at the tournament. I know some pretty well, but some I had only seen at the Hall of Fame, a few seminars and an occasional tournament out of our Southern area. They are a mature hard working group, who demonstrate their loyalties to each other and never forget their sensei’s. They are by and large an older group of masters than in our area and there are more of them. This however does not preclude them from being active, having good students and holding each other to a standard of working participation. I mostly have great respect for their loyalty to their sensei’s and support (regardless of politics) each others events. This memorial event was not for the original founders (Masters: Long, Nagle, Armstrong and Mitchum). It was for two of their juniors who made a huge impact on people. Being able to have a memorial gathering of this magnitude is a credit to all the masters in attendance. It is an example that we masters in the south would do well to follow.

  

   There were seminars during the day Friday and I had some butterflies presenting mine to this group. As I said, they are a senior group of hard working masters. I presented our Dragon Sen-I with it’s deviations from Isshin-ryu striking as well as the stand up grappling. I wasn’t sure how it was received as these are very traditional people. To my relief, it was well received and I found that they were not as traditional as I thought. There is a lot of cross-training going on in their dojo’s. My thanks to my uke, Keith Billiot.  He is a student and friend of Clyde’s and a field director for DEA. Clyde Stanley was the second half of the demo as we did it as a team. “Clyde the glide”, wowed them with his smooth floor work. I heard one fifty something, prominent master tell him, ”man if I go down, I’m screwed”. “If I come down to your place will you work with me?” There was also interest in our, Isshin-ryu Cross- Training Alliance. The world, she is a changing folks. Get on board!!! I got a lot of positive follow up afterwards and my guys put on their own demo in the tournament the next day. In the continuous fighting, they dominated, drew a lot of praise and made some believers. Don’t think they didn’t learn a few things, as there were some good fighters present.

 
 

   For the benefit of those who were not there, I’ll give you a brief description.

   Friday night saw a panel of martial arts icons fielding prearranged questions as well as spontaneous questions from the audience. As a 43 year veteran of the martial arts, I sat captivated by the evening. Here were many first generation people who were the building blocks for what we enjoy today. I managed later to thank each of them without showing the raw emotion I was feeling. Some on the board were not friends or associates. A couple don’t even like each other and don’t speak. But there they sat in a common cause, paying tribute to Isshin-ryu people past and present. Personal feeling aside, for a common cause of paying your respects.

 

 

   The tournament was a tribute to the leadership of the Director (Master Wayland) and all the participating Masters. The gym must have been over 100 degrees all day. It was miserable, but the morale and intensity stayed high due to good officiating and equally good sportsmanship. I was very proud of our area people. The Karate Five group won over thirty trophies while Joe Laney’s small group won eighteen. A Kelly’s Hero, Theresa Barnett, won the kata and kumite grand.

 

 

 

   My guys also showed up big. We had only seven but won thirteen trophies to include, the Grand points and continuous championship. Austin was just nearly perfect in points while Woody had to defeat Leon and Rahyel for the continuous. The fight of the day was Leon and Rahyel. They stood toe to toe, trading licks to the body and punches to the head, that had even the grizzled Masters, cheering, grunting and groaning. Their strikes sounded like gun fire. They got a huge round of applause. Woody and Leon’s final match was no less severe and I’m still not sure who I think won that one. The judges all hesitated and finally the center, who had to take a couple of seconds to decide, pointed to Woody. Woody became a crowd favorite with his water bug style and constant action. He earlier just pulverized a much larger opponent with body shot after body shot. He lunged him and it was over. Leon coasted through with mostly warning for excessive contact. He felt a bit handcuffed until he fought Rahyel and Woody. Because they were my students from the same school, they just let them go. Maybe the most dominant fighter of the day was young Zac MacDougal. He also received his share of warnings, but just kept on rolling. Sister Alicia, needs to be (even at 13) in the women’s continuous. Point fighting due to her aggressiveness are beginning to be a chore. I’m going to resist moving her, as 13 is just too young and could burn her out early. Eli Rhodes was doing well until he busted his opponents nose and was DQ’d for blood letting. Whoo whaa!!

 

 

   The awards banquet and party was a blur of awards, good food and good fellowship. I was honored to receive a unique Isshin-ryu fist bronze carving, along with an appreciation plaque. Wayne spent a fortune on trophies, awards and plaques. He is always so afraid that someone is not going to get the credit he wants them to have.

 

 

   The Long family was on hand to present the Harold Long Foundation display. It is a real job to travel and set the whole thing up but it is impressive. It is a labor of love for them and it shows. During the banquet, Gary Long represented The Foundation with a short explanation of its purpose and goals. He did a great job and received a lot of support from those attending. We were also represented by Riley Long singing the National Anthem, at both the tournament and banquet. Man what a talent. I don’t  believe that came down from Mr. Long. I only heard him sing once. I told him it was good but I lied. So what! What would you have told him???

 

   For information on The Foundation, as well as the Isshin-ryu Cross training Alliance, see the dojo news portion of the site.

 

 

   I have only touched on the associated points of the weekend. What I took away from the gathering were some new friends and a memorable visit with old friends. The best definition I can give as to what is the best thing about Isshin-ryu, is one that is easy and probably yours also. It is about the friendships. Rank is relative, tournament wins are fleeting, the kata differs, knowledge is interchangeable, but friendships should be forever.