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ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY
BIGGER, BETTER,
PART 1
Foreword: I apologize for this being so long but so much happened that I can’t leave any of it out. So just read what appeals to you and hopefully most of it will. Part two, will be about the action of the day. I’ll do my best to do justice to it.
Jam week end started early for Joe Laney, the One Heart Dojo and me. We went to Athens and held a kata bunkai class on the Thursday night before. As usual, they were ready and waiting. They are a knowledge hungry bunch that come to work and learn. I spoke to the kids class then went to work with the adults. We covered not only bunkai but the history of each and how it all fits into the Isshin-ryu philosophy of fighting. I call my bunkai “combat bunkai.” It is the only kind that matters. Joe is superior at this and demonstrated “Real” street stuff he has used at times as a bounty hunter and ex cop.
Master Dennis Thomas, was awarded his green belt in Dragon Sen-I Jutsu. He should receive a grand masters rank for unselfishness, and lack of rank ego, when it comes to receiving training for himself and his students. He has what Sensei Chuck Reynolds said in his demo at the jam as white belt training mentality. More about him and his demo in the second part.
Friday night was the Harold Long Foundation board meeting. Plans for the showing of Mr. Longs memorabilia were made and the opportunity for any HLF/ICA dojo member holding an event, can request a showing. With the donations coming in from new members, we are placing each picture, letter, and article, in sealed window boxes for display and protection from harm. Each box is 250.00 a piece. We have at lest 25 articles of memorabilia to place in these boxes. So all donations are greatly appreciated. We voted to continue not taking travel pay or any reimbursements from the donations. All money must go to the window box project first.
The next morning was the first meeting of the ICA board and assistant board combined. Followed by the treasury report from Rick Long. We set out to make some progressive decisions with the input of all. I can see where the assistant board is going to cerate dividends, as thy came up with better ideas than the main board. These are a talented group of young people who want a chance to have a voice and show what they can do. On March 28th the assistant board will meet on it’s own and plan the next Jam. The will have an informal workout afterwards, using the ready talent and information from themselves.
Friday night was hospitality night for the arriving, out of town, demo masters. Reese and I along with Clyde and Trish Stanley, Daryn Clarke, Bob Maxwell, and Wayne Wayland, were fed to the max and hosted by Joe and Debbie Laney. Bob Maxwell and I tied in the eating contest. I am not a big eater but Debbie’s cooking is an opportunity not to be missed. It was a great evening of eating, fellowship, eating, some mixed martial arts talk, eating, with lots of dojo and tournament war stories. We called a halt to it after desert so as not to have our stomachs pumped later on. Thank you Debbie and helper Reese, for all the food preparation and a setting the stage for a great weekend.
The Jam was held and hosted in Joe Laney’s dojo. It is a good, centrally located place to hold it, along with good facilities and floor matting. The only problem we have is, we are running out of room and need to start looking for a gym. We had lots of new ICA members join and many more to follow. The ICA is really taking off.
All jams have been good, otherwise people would not be coming back and joining, but this may have been the best. Certainly we had people teaching that could draw a crowd any where, but it was mostly the atmosphere of friendship and the common bond of, like interest, that kept the day interesting and challenging. Also, everyone is getting to know each other more and more and taking advantage of information available. Below are some of the plans:
1) A May Jam (as planned
by the assistant board). 2) A “kids only” Jam, June
27th at a site to be named later. 3) A ladies only JAM as soon as we can gauge the interest in it. Hopefully there will be enough to develop a ladies board for the advancement and development of more women in the martial arts. Also information and techniques designed specifically for women not just men. 4) October Shiai in Athens Tennessee (exact date and location later). It will consist of a training type day of measuring our grappling, striking, and throwing type skills, using competition as a format for the day. Safety and training only type competition will be strictly enforced. This is not a tournament or like competition. There are no trophies. It is strictly training and our kind of fun. More on that as soon as Master Hill and Ogle put the rules together. 5) Tournaments and events
recommended for ICA members
We opened with a presentation of the “Dragon Tab” to Master William Mason, and Sensei Nancy Anderson. To see how and why we select people, read our Dragon Tab Page on this site. In short, they are the caliber of persons who have demonstrated leadership, up to and beyond, the Red Dragon dojo’s idea of people we would follow.
A promotion of Shichi-Dan, was given by me (with the certificate endorsements of Masters; Joe Laney, Willie Wilson, Cass Cox, and Wayne Wayland) to Dennis Thomas. I would have done it sooner if it had not run the risk of making it appear that he was looking for one when he changed sensei’s. With the extra training and expectations I have put on him; he has demonstrated his worthiness. If you think I just give promotions away try getting one from me. You’ll be proud of it because you worked for it. Not just hung around for enough years and kissed up to the right people. His comments about me as his sensei were greatly appreciated. My challenge to the group was: let no man judge me, or my worthiness as a martial artist, who doe not have my best interest at heart. Let him train me and with me, there by knowing first hand my ability. It is otherwise not a promotion but a patronization of power and control.
Next was the true heart part of our day. Master Melbert Lee was promoted by the karate five, with additional masters certification. I am honored to have been one of those masters. Master Maurice Msarsa gave a great presentation statement to Master Lee. This is a special man whose contributions to all have been to many to list. His acceptance speech was pure Master Lee. He gave credit to God, his family and his friends. He spoke of his current illness with courage and optimism. With his present condition, he still stood tall, strong, and commanded a hushed silence of emotion, affection, and respect from all.
Master Wilson finished off the presentation portion of the day with an offer to let any ICA member in free to his Military Arnis seminar (details on his site: www.karatefive.com) More evidence of the unselfish type leadership we have in the ICA.
Part two in a day or so. Still to come is the final interview dealing with the personal feeling of Master Willie Wilson with comments from his family. Keep watching for that.
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