Martial Arts: Included Aikido, Breaking, Chinese Martial Arts, Combative Weapons, Gumdo/Kendo, Hapkido, IFOJJ LEO SD, Judo, Kali, Karate, Open Karate, Mixed Martial Arts, Padded Weapons, San Shou, Specially Challenged, Team Competition, Tae Kwon Do, Wushu.
It was one of the best managed events of this type I have attended in my over forty years in the Martial Arts. The
Director was Tokey Hill (Pictured at left) and he did a superb job to keep everything running smoothly. The officiating from what I observed was honest and fair and there did not appear to be a lot of the politics and favoritism that occasionally appears in some tournaments. In fact I stopped refereeing and judging several years ago because there was so much of it at that time.
When The Hon. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger arrived all competition ceased on the floor so competitors could gather around him while he greeted them and thanked them all for coming to the competition and wished them all good luck and to keep up their continued practicing and improving themselves in their respective styles. The Hon. Governor and Tokey Hill are in the white circle in the picture. I was all the way across the arena at the time interviewing some of the competitors and did not hear all of what he had to say or meet him. Hopefully I will meet him next year.
My Grand Master Ray Szuch was trying to locate former world champion Bill “Superfoot” Wallace whom he had talked to earlier and was trying to locate him for me to talk with at the time.
I interviewed Greg Cohen from Columbus, OH, a young gentleman who is a true credit to the Martial Arts; he is a student of Dr. Wu’s Kung Fu in Columbus. Greg won 1 -1st place and 2-2nd place in "Empty Hand" and "Short Weapons"
There were five Shoalin Monks from communist China (this is one of them) that performed Kung Fu empty hand and weapons forms. They had a very nice presentation of the Kung Fu style. I would like to see Taiwan (Free China) send some of their men to the next festival and for that matter to several tournaments and sports festivals in the United States.
This is an old friend and fine gentlemen I had not seen in years. He was and is still very active in Cleveland, Bruce Ledger. Bruce is a Grand Master 5th Degree (Go Dan) Black Sash in Kung Fu from the Temple Shoalin-Golden Cobra’s in Cleveland, OH. There was competition once a month in the 80’s on the top floor over a used furniture store in East Cleveland where we would go and Martial Artists of all styles would come to compete from Detroit, Columbus, etc. It was very good to see him again; I don’t think I have ever seen him anytime that he was not smiling. A guy like that just keeps everybody around him happy. He is a true credit to the Martial Arts and also truly a good will ambassador for his race.
(Left) Grand Master (Sa Bom Nim) Ray Szuch, 7th Degree Black Belt (Chil Dan) Moo Duk Kwan, (Center) Author- (Sir Peter)-Master (Sa Bom Nim) 4th Degree Black Belt (Sah Dan) Moo Duk Kwan. (Right) Grand Master Alan Goldberg, Red Sash-Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Grand Master Ray Szuch is one of the most outstanding, honest and decent men I have ever known in my lifetime. Ray owns the Academy of Self-Defense in Cleveland, OH. Ray is an independent film producer and founder and CEO of "The INDIE Gathering" . He has worked on projects with individuals such as Burt Reynolds, Don Johnson, Allica Milano and many others and has worked on over 75 independent film projects. Ray has sent out an invitation to individuals who are interested in investing in film projects- Ray Szuch, CEO www.worldEonline.com and hopes to see them at "The Indie Gathering" on Aug. 4th, 5th and 6th at the Holiday Inn, Cleveland Independence, OH, special reservations are now being accepted. 1-216-524-8050. For information on the "The INDIE Gathering" click on www.theindiegathering.com.
Two of Grand Master Ray Szuch’s students won all their contests in their division and had to fight each other. Chance with back to camera won the 1st Place Gold Medal and Shila won the 2nd Place Silver Medal.
(Left) Padded Weapons -2 Handed Wooden Sword with blade section in a foam rubber sheath to prevent serious injury.
*Note our new email address is: tidbitsnews@peoplepc.com