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MASTER
DAVID PARK Here is another in a line of "core masters". What is a core Master? He or she is the person who goes about their business in a day-to-day, workman like professional manner without attracting or wanting attention. The person that can always be counted on, and is the true foundation of any organization. They produce good students, are always at functions to be of help, and are a credit to their profession. Such a man is Dave Park. He doesn’t serve on a board or sit in the hall of fame but no one else would if it weren’t for people like him. Consistent, steady, loyal, unselfish, and dependable are a few of his attributes. But if you know Dave I’m sure you know that. On the other hand one of the best thing about writing these profiles is telling you the thing you might not know about people like Dave. People like him that won’t tell you about themselves and will stand aside for the marque people to attract the attention while they keep the whole house in order. Dave is a builder...He has started three karate schools; the first being in Bulls Gap Tennessee. He presently owns and operates Parks Isshin-Ryu Karate School in Rhea County. He has been a martial artist since 1976. He has trained some 4500 students. For those of you who operate in larger towns you can’t appreciate how difficult it is to attract students from a sparse population who are skeptical anyhow. You have to win over the trust and confidence of the whole town, but one mistake and you are through. Also, country boys usually want to see if the guy that’s teaching them can really fight. This test can take place in or out of the dojo, depending on who is giving the test. It is also worth recognizing that Dave is not 6`3 and 230 pounds like I am. So which one of us would have to really know their stuff most? I’ve never had to fight guys almost twice my size. Guys Dave size have to do it all the time. I don’t think I’d have that much guts and I doubt many people do. Dave does, but he doesn’t advertise it; he just lives it. Along with his Isshin-Ryu expertise, Dave is another in the ever-growing line of versatile sensei’s who excel at other disciplines. He holds a Ni-Dan rank in Goshen Jujitsu. He holds certifications in pressure points and weapons. He is a certified Pancration official and referee and possesses medical knowledge as it pertains to sports injuries. His teaching abilities also demonstrate his versatility. He has taught students from ages four to sixty one. Some have been handicapped by deafness, inability to talk or wheelchair bound. His black belts range in age and rank form nine to fifty five. From Sho-Dan to Yo-Dan. He has taught and participated in full contact, where the rubber really meets the road. Some and I mean some of his accomplishments are: 1984 National super light weight champion, 85, 86, 87 Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame super light weight champion, and 87 TKC Tennessee State super light weight champion. He also trained the East Tennessee State Champions. On a personal note I find Dave to be a very funny guy. I get some outrageous emails from him. He has a great sense of humor. A couple of years ago I was attending a shiai in Nashville .I was participating, as was Dave in the sparring. After the fighting I was holding forth on the merits of fighting at different angles, different speeds and rhythms. Real technical heady stuff...or so I thought. Dave was standing very close to me being a very good audience. When I stopped he just looked at me for a bit and said, "gee that was real interesting". It just cracked me up. In his quite unassuming way he had put me in my place. Obviously I had not recreated the wheel for him. He knew what I was saying as well as I did. It just wasn’t as important to him for people to know he knew. So there it is!! The Dave Parks of the world providing the balance and stability for the rest of us. Master Dave Park.....ROCK SOLID!!!!! Master Denny Shaffer, Ku-Dan |
