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ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY
CLASSIC FIGHTS AND CLASSIC MEMORIES DON'T MISS SOME CLASSIC PHOTO'S AND WRITE UPS BELOW.
Just a few lasting memories about tournaments and people, I have been fortunate enough to know, compete with, and against, through the years. Maybe it is only interesting to a few, but lots of people have really given their all, in and out of the ring for Isshin-ryu. When I can, I enjoy writing about some of them. They deserve to be remembered as the gladiators they were and still are. Some defined themselves in great wins. Some in disappointing losses. Most by the attitude they took toward both, and the toughness they used to give Isshin-ryu people their "lets get it on" reputations. If you haven't read my past article on "War Stories", I think you would enjoy it. Some Semi-old warriors, sent in some of their own classic tales. I have to lead off with memory's of my old buddy, and a guy who had a lot of tourney highlights; Phil McElroy. This good natured, easy going, guy out of the ring, was a cold blooded, fish eyed mother, in the ring. I remember he didn't like this guy who had a school in Chattanooga. Phil drilled him with a side kick that broke his arm and his ribs at the same time. Yes, Phil won the match. No DQ's. Remember! most of these stories were when someone would have been too proud to sue you for breaking him up a bit. So there was no insurance and no crying about getting tagged. Too, the first sensei's, (Long, Nagle, Mitchum, Bohan, ect.) were so tough that they didn't care. They trained us that way. My most memorable Phil McElroy fight, saw me as the victim. This was the same Chattanooga tournament. We wound up fighting for first, heavy. Phil was really on, so I knew it was going to be tough. As much as I tried to over power him, I couldn't. He kept those piston legs constantly coming at me until he wore me down. We both had scored (it was a most points tournament) but I knew that his kicks were the most impressive to the judges. He rightfully won and went on to win the Grand championship. His fight with a nationally ranked Steve Staveroff, was maybe his best ever. I was happy for Phil but I was never happy about losing to anyone. I fought for the "bridesmaid third place trophy". I fought a good but much smaller fighter, John Fernandez. John's wife was taking a super eight movie of our fight. I sort of vented my frustrations on John. I won and John's wife just handed me the reel of film. She said I don't think John wants to see this. Phil, being the kind of person and student that he was, was happy about his win, but embarrassed over beating me. It really bothered him. The next morning there was a headline in the sports section saying, "Student teaches instructor a lesson." Later it was also the lead story in Karate Illustrated. I still have the write ups. It remains to this day a joke between us that Phil is still never quite comfortable talking about. But a lot of time has passed and I am ALMOST over it.
JIM MCDONALD, was another that gave me some lasting memories. Mac was maybe the smartest fighter I ever saw. He knew exactly what he could do and what you could do also. He probed your weaknesses and took your best technique away from you. He was a lot stronger than he looked, and had a ring mean streak that kept him unafraid. Mac was involved in the first full contact fight in our tournament circuit. He fought the first time at J.C. Burris's annual tournament. He won the match easily, and placed his name in Isshin-ryu history. His most impressive win to me was, his Grand Championship win in Knoxville, when the whole thing was full contact. He beat Big, Bad, Bob Bacot, who had just killed everyone else. Mac, the far smaller man, fought with his head, heart, and some of the best techniques I have ever seen. He literally ran circles around Bob, hitting from every angle and slipping Bob's powerful attacks. I have it on film and I still get excited watching it.
Phil Little's fight against Jimbo Butler, is in detail on the previous article section, under "War Stories" It was the same night as Mac's and Bob's. It was one of my memorable "classics" and worth your read. Phil came in second to Mac, in another good fight.
Kelly Markham's and Snake Smith's fight: Or should I say one of them. I didn't see it, but watched on film. It was a classic of two people who are like brothers, fighting like arch enemies. I don't have to tell you how tough these two are, and how vicious it was. It wasn't dirty. Although, each of these guys has been known to slip you an extra shot, just to get in your head. I wish I had been there. I would have hated to have been an official. So much good stuff was thrown, it was impossible to score all of it. Too, this was one of those matches that was so good, that as an official, you have to remind your self not to get caught up in the entertainment part, and score, not watch. At the end Kelly prevailed. While Snake was on his back, Kelly jumped up and came down like he was going to stomp Snakes head with both feet. At the last minute he straddled Snakes head. What made this so funny, was that Kelly had already been given the point, and just wanted to deliver an extra message. What did snake do? He grinned, jumped up, hugged Kelly, and seemed to enjoy it more than Kelly.
Tony William's beating some kid with a bad attitude from North Carolina. It took place at the Hall Of Fame year before last (2004). The guy was really good. I mean really good!! He was a pure tournament fighter and was actually faster than Tony. He had great technique and was aggressive. Initially I thought he was going to beat Tony, but he fell victim to Tony's experience and ring savvy. Not to mention a ridge hand and wicked side kick. Every time the guy would grumble over a missed call (and there were none) Tony would rush in and nail him. Tony clearly won the fight. Afterwards the guy wanted to give Kelly a hard time about his call. When he got close to saying Kelly cheated, Kelly lost all patience and got in the guy's face immediately. I stepped in and saved the guy from his second loss of the day. The kind of loss, you have to have to have repaired later.
LEE PAUL, has been around Isshin-ryu for a long time. He is a Minister, and seemed always cut out to be. He was quite, unassuming, hard working, and diligent in his love for Isshin-ryu. As a young guy he wasn't the most physically gifted, was pretty slim, but an ornery little bugger in the ring. On this particular day I was hopefully on my way to Grand. I drew Lee as my third fight. My strategy was to just pace myself with Lee, and not pick up any dings. I was looking way past him. My mistake!!!! He jumped me like a duck on a June bug. I wound up fighting for my life. People were cheering him on, and I just felt lucky to still be in it. Luckily I won??? I won the battle but Lee won the war. He did do me a favor after sticking that bony heel of his all over my arms, legs, and ribs twice. My next two fights thanks to him, seemed easy and I went Grand. But for the position of a judge or two, I would have been watching Lee's next fight from the stands. He physically won that match.
QUICK TAKES AND REMEMBRANCES OF LOCAL FIGHTERS: Maurice Msarsa as a white belt sweeping people. Then Maurice as a black belt, sweeping people. Then Maurice as a Master..... sweeping people. Larry (baby huey) Clifton's, pants falling off. Hitting Tommy True in the mouth with my best shot. I said, sorry Tommy! He shrugged and said, didn't hurt anyhow. Tony Thomas nailing Earth Quake Earhart between the eyes with a back kick. Would have killed anyone else. Quake went on to win. Melbert Lee running across the ring carrying the scrappy Jim Lindsey under his arm like a loaf of bread. Every classic match between Bob Porterfield and Jimbo Butler. Seeing Master Bohans guys fight for the first time in Columbia SC. I Remember a black guy and Wayne Wayland fight. I felt watching them, that they were superior to everyone there. It was the first time I saw a group as good or better than my Nashville group. The brawl our Nashville team got into with the Bando guys in Chattanooga. Cass Cox's head high round houses. J C Burris's mile long back kick that reached across the ring. A charity raiser I refereed for students of Larry Clifton and Butch Chilton. Their students were fine, but Larry and Butch got in to a full scale fight. They were both crying when we could finally separate them. Doc Reed: He was always there to patch you up. God bless him! If you had a pulse, Doc would let you continue to fight. Sleeping in Mr. Longs dojo any old time you needed it. JC's Tournament and especially the party afterwards. I think we finally got the tournament kicked out of Athens. Once when the Motel owner asked me who I was, I told her I was J C. Yes we were being kicked out of her motel. Sorry JC. I couldn't remember my name at the time. All the old IIKA and Hall of Fame tourneys and parties. They were perfectly produced and directed by the man himself.... Mr. H. G. Long. We were all just his boys then. No one had to worry about anyone's rank or authority. He gave all the rank, and we didn't have any authority. Boy, what a simple, unified life that it was. We were all friends, and just went about the business of growing up together, and teaching what we were learning. Wish our students could come up that way and be so lucky. Now they have to act like kids from divorced parents. Then there was Mr. Wheeler and his family, putting on an exhibition at every tournament. At the time I thought it was kinda corny. Now I'd give anything to see it again.
I know I missed a lot of great fights during my absence, and apologize for leaving so many good people out. Just before my absence and during, a new set of black belts made a name for themselves. I regret missing that, as several were Nashville students and others, that were only brown belts at the time. So this is mostly written about the early years. In the ten years that I have been back; I have trained in my dojo, and watched in tournaments and other dojo's, several very good fighters. However, with the safety equipment, the insurance, the rules, and the dwindling number of adult competitors; I can't say that I have witnessed a lot of unforgettable fights. Still a number of good tough fighters exist today that should take a back seat to no one. OK, this is just my opinion and memories, but I'm open to any of yours. I am sure we would all like to hear about them, so send them and I'll add them. I also stayed with the local tournaments and people. I know most of you would know or recognize the names of people in other area's, but the ones you know so well, I thought might be the best to reminisce about. It would be good for people from other regions to talk about who they have seen and who was their man and woman to watch then and now.
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