ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY

 

 

HALL OF FAME 2009

AND ALL THE “THINGS” THERE OF!!!!!

  

   There is so much to write about I am going to have to leave some till later.

    First and foremost, Bless each and everyone of you for your treatment of Woody and Sherry. Your words of encouragement, prayers, and yes money, was manna from heaven for this family. There was so much outpouring, that this may be singularly responsible for Sherry’s pending recovery and lessening the load for the whole family. I won’t mention any of the people who donated money, as it is personal to the Woods family and is its own reward.

   The weekend itself was a mass undertaking and a mixed blessing. We got caught up in a seemingly never ending banquet. We are aware of the problems and are going to fix them. It was a new venue and all was not as ready as we thought. We will also limit acceptance speeches to two minutes. There was a very regrettable oversight as Dave Park was supposed to receive the Contribution to Isshin-ryu award. He did not,,, BUT HE WILL. A thousand pardons Dave. It was the worst mistake of the weekend.

    I, along with several of the original Hall of Fame board members, were honored to present the Legends award to the Long Family, on behalf of Mr. Longs incredible accomplishments and contributions. He was and still is, the Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame. 

  

    The tournament was bitter sweet. It was a great venue but seemed snake bit from the get-go. Wayne and Bet Wayland took what could have been a disaster and fixed it on the fly. Wayne was given the wrong computer print out of competition categories. Without their experience and cool we could have been in trouble. Then the fire alarm evacuation!! But we are Isshin-ryu and it all got done. The officiating is never perfect but was as good as the competition so it was as fair and accurate as any judging of this sort can be. I know all the judges worked hard and for that we should all say another thank you. The competition was the best of any Hall of Fame I have attended. So it was a difficult and thankless task made doable, by some dedicated senior dans, who have been giving of themselves in this way, longer that most of the competitors have been alive.

 

   Watch the kids folks. Five years ago, did anyone think that the grand champions would be a seventeen year old named Lacey Katchmark, or a nineteen year old named Austin McAdams?

 

        While you are at it, watch the senior division. Terry Creamer is 53 years old and was the best fighter in the gym. He is freak and maybe the one in a lifetime to watch. The tournament bogged at the end due to extra divisions and extra grand champion finals. We will fix that too. The day was virtually incident free. The competitors were courteous as were 95% of the fans and sensei’s. Yes, the usual suspects complained and had to be quieted, but the center ref’s did a great job on that, as well as the Arbitrators. As one of the arbitrators, we were also asked to keep ALL people off the floor except officials and competitors. As you read this, is this so hard to understand? Yet it was a constant struggle to maintain. No one argued when I would ask them to sit in the stands but were back within minutes after I would walk off. They would block the view of people nice enough to sit where they were supposed to and even get a chair for themselves at times. This included some high ranking people who know better. One guy came out on the floor and stood next to a judge talking to him during the match. He was asked to leave the floor and the judge said, he was one of Mr. Longs first Black belts, so it is ok. I ushered him off immediately. Mr. Long would have carried him off. Lord, where do the people come from and what kind of upbringing did they have if any?

 

We had a rule. If you are not a competitor or an official, you are a spectator. If you haven’t paid an entry fee or are not helping out you pay to get in. Some more important than others I suppose, just barged in announcing their resume as they went. Or just sneaked in. Shame on you. Some of you, we know who you are and you should not get up in front of people and tell how virtuous you are then sneak in an event.  Most of our wives worked the front door and we are embarrassed and offended by your conduct with them and behavior. Some of the same self importance crap went on at the afternoon demo’s. Trish and Clyde Stanley nipped that in the bud.  Even though 10 percent cause 90 percent of the problems; it is that 90 percent that makes it a great success and what we all keep working for. Being with friends and making new ones. That is worth the price of admission alone.

 

   Congratulations to my special Dragons, especially Austin. It was his third grand in a row this year.

  

 

    At the end of the Banquet, Tim McGhee surprised us with his resignation as chairman of the Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame. He has served long and well and has kept the Hall of Fame in existence almost single handedly. Of late, with the addition of Daryn Clark, Steve Young and Wayne Wayland, Tim has not had to do it all. He feels with the new arrivals and present board members, that it is in good hands and wishes to move on to other ventures.  We wish him well and thank him profusely for all of his years of work and dedication.

 

    In the Sunday board meeting, I nominated Wayne Wayland and he was unanimously elected our new chairman. He will be assisted closely by Daryn Clark and Steve Young as the major movers and shakers of the group. Others will have an important role in the continuation of the “Harold Longs Isshin-ryu Hall of Fame” story. As for me, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and will end my run this year. There are reasons both personal and professional. Due to some people’s disdain for me it has been taken out on my wife. This was a bad mistake on someone’s part and has just upped the ante.  I will just leave it at that. I will be answering this in my own way and will not involve members of the board in the personality conflicts that are detrimental to progress. I also have just so much time and I need to spend it wisely. The Dragons, the Harold Long Foundation/Isshin-ryu Cross Training Alliance, is my martial arts priority. I also have a wonderful family and good friends to visit.

 

   I was promoted to Ju-dan in Dragon Sen-I Jutsu and Isshin-ryu by supportive colleagues. I knew it was going to happen but I was still over whelmed. I have made some decisions after the fact about the Isshin-ryu promotion that I will first need to take up with the people who showed this kind of belief in me. I will write on it afterwards in detail.

 

    Sensei Daryn Clarke received the Red Dragon Tab, as well as an invitation to be a member of the ICA development board. A gifted young man and an exceptional person. We are proud and privileged to have him wear “the Tab” and support the ICA as well.

 

    Master Steve Young has accepted an invitation to be a part of the ICA advisory board. We are very fortunate to receive his support. A formal announcement will be made regarding both Master Young and Sensei Daryn Clark in the ICA news and on this site as well.