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February  - March  2004

Before we begin, we'd like to wish Korean YUDO stylist, PROFESSOR JOHN CHAMBERS of Florida a very speedy recovery from a shoulder displacement he received as the result of a fall from a ladder at home. ..Also, JUDO's legendary, Professor Willie Cahill is recovering from recent major surgery to remove a blood clot. You can send your "get well" cards to Professor Cahill c/o Cahill's Judo Academy, 635 San Mateo Ave., San Bruno, CA. U.S.A. 94066 & to PROFESSOR CHAMBERS at P.O. Box 849, Inverness, FL. U.S.A. 34451..We wish both of you fine gentlemen a very speedy recovery!..

BLAST FROM THE PAST The following photo was taken in 1993 of our grandmasters council's first informal meeting in Ohio during a martial arts function..We only had about 15 prospective members at the time. Now we number well over 200 grandmasters Internationally, encompassing most of the major martial art systems of the world & we are still growing! (not to mention our new Masters division whose names will be mentioned in the next newsletter!)-For a complete listing of our grandmaster membership you can visit our website at http://Bushido.org/whfsc

1993 Informal Meeting at martial arts event in Ohio
(Left to right-GM John Martini; Karate International Publisher,
Professor Michael DePasquale Jr.; Professor Gary Dill, GM Frank E. Sanchez;Professor, Billy Davis

A planned move from my current location to a larger Dojo has been postponed a year due to lease issues..In the meantime, I have been busy these last few weeks filming at the Hombu for two upcoming martial arts documentaries which feature my system of SAN-JITSU in them (official website: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Bridge/7265  ). I will let you know more as the projects near completion.

Also, planning a Hombu move in April is the legendary great Lion & Grand Patriarch of USA GOJU, DR. PETER URBAN. He will be moving his Headquarters from New Jersey to Massachusetts.

GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS, the "Father" of MODERN PANKRATION" & the UNITED PANKRATION ALLIANCE are forging ahead with plans to conduct UPA sponsored PANKRATION bouts under the auspices of the INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE ASSOCIATION (ISKA). For more information, contact ISKA President, Cory Schafer at schafriska@aol.com . JIM also appeared recently on the syndicated Florida SNN TV Network which featured PANKRATION as the precursor to mixed martial arts.

GRANDMASTER VINCENT MARCHETTI, SOKE of MICHI BUDO RYU in New Jersey just may have the oldest school in the nation..His school has been doing business at the same location in Kearney for 33 years!

SOKE JOSEPH RUIZ will be hosting his 14th ANNUAL KEISHIN KARATE KAI in Norcross, Georgia on February 21st. For more information contact tournament director, Larry Griffin at 6320 Ben Parks Rd., Murrayville, GA. U.S.A. 30564 or e-mail GriffiL5@Nationwide.com

SIFU JOHNNY WU of Ohio was recently appointed PRESIDENT of the ORGANIZATION OF CHINESE AMERICANS OF GREATER CLEVELAND (OCAGC) during its installation of Officers on February 7th.. Aside from being the Keeper of his family's system of WU JIA QUAN SHU, JOHNNY is also one of the "movers & shakers" in the social & martial arts scene there in Ohio!

SHIHAN JENS FRICKE , member of our new WHFSC MASTERS DIVISION from Germany has certainly gotten off to a good start in 2004!..Aside from his recent promotion to 5th Dan in SHOTOKAN, JENS was recently elected as the new Vice-President of the INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS FEDERATION (IMAF)-EUROPE & is the newly appointed Director for SOKE GARY WASNIEWSKI's TY-GA KARATE System in Germany..During the 24th TY-GA KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS held recently in London, England, JEN's team of 12 people from Germany came away with 4 Gold, 3 Silver & 3 Bronze Medals...CONGRATULATIONS JENS!

According to OKF General Manager, Elmer S. Boden, The OKINAWAN KARATE FEDERATION under the leadership of WHFSC Member, SOKE GLENN PREMRU is closing its doors for a period of 6 months "in order to adjust to the present economic crisis & also the personal sickness (undisclosed) of Soke (Premru) & the illness associated with his Brother". Mr. Boden goes on to say that this is a temporary situation & that the OKF fully expects to re-open its doors..We certainly give you are love & support during this difficult time of yours', GLENN & wish you & your Brother improved health in the future.

Martial arts author & Founder of HEBI-RYU KARATE BUDO , HANSHI STEVE KAUFMAN was interviewed recently by the DEPARTMENT OF ASIAN STUDIES at HARVARD UNIVERSITY regarding his books & thoughts on the martial arts. You can read his interview at www.sonshi.com/kaufman.html ..Another well known Karateka & Author, Master Don Warrener has 2 videos on the market featuring members of our Council. The videos, BUDO AMERICAN MASTERS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS & BUDO JAPANESE/ OKINAWAN MASTERS OF THE MARTIAL ARTS can be purchased through his company, RISING SUN PRODUCTIONS at 628 N. Doheny Dr., Los Angeles, CA. U.S.A. 90069

PROFESSOR JOHN DENORA will be one of the hosts for a special gathering in Pasadena, California called the FIRST JU-JITSU FELLOWSHIP DEMONSTRATIONS  on April 3rd (the day after his Birthday..Many happy returns, PROFESSOR!) to include PROFESSOR WALLY JAY, MYSELF & other notables. He is also on the "FRIENDSHIP & VISITATION COMMITTEE" of the U.S. JUDO NATIONALS scheduled to take place April 28-30th in San Diego, California. If you are planning to attend the U.S. JUDO NATIONALS, you can contact PROFESSOR DENORA at johndenora@yahoo.com

GRANDMASTER DENORA also made a special presentation of an award to PROFESSOR WALLY JAY at his Dojo in Alameda, California on behalf of U.S. JUDO NATIONALS "FRIENDSHIP & VISITATION COMMITTEE" Chairman, Sensei Matt Ozaki..CONGRATULATIONS WALLY!

Beginning this issue we will be starting a new addition to this newsletter called "DID YOU KNOW?" as suggested by PROFESSOR DENORA. To start things off in this issue "Did you know that more and more academic types are calling for the discontinuance of martial arts titles such as "Professor" and "Doctor" in the martial arts because they say it confuses people into thinking these are really accredited academic titles..REALLY NOW??!..these "titles" have been used in the martial arts for DECADES!..If the "title" of "Doctor" or "Professor" was awarded by a reputable (key word here is "reputable") martial arts organization from Japan, China, Hawaii, the Philippines, etc..Then the "title" SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED..It is after all a "title" relating to ones' martial arts skill & in most cases the "title" designates your place in the hierarchy of that system (Ju-Jitsu's use of the term "Professor" being a good example)..As good friend, GRANDMASTER NEAL HUMMERSTONE pointed out quite eloquently one time..It takes 3 to 6 years to get an academic degree while it takes a decade or even more to get a martial arts degree ..Who says the "title" wasn't earned? & why should there be a problem if one is not mis-representing themselves as having an academic degree??..The REAL problem comes from those claiming "Doctor" or "Professor" titles who received or bought their degrees from "diploma mills" & who did not put in the time..Isn't this the same problem with regular civilian types claiming to have a PHD in academia in order to get a job?! The answer to this problem is proper "policing", not getting rid of "titles" all together..In the end though, it isn't the "title" that makes the man, but the man who makes the "title"..One should be perfectly happy to be addressed only by their name, if it is said with respect.

In the martial arts magazines this month...The February issue of BLACK BELT features a news release on the recent negotiations between GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS & INTERNATIONAL SPORT KARATE ASSOCIATION (ISKA) President, Corey Schafer to have PANKRATION contests Internationally sanctioned under the auspices of the ISKA plus GRANDMASTER BILL WALLACE's monthly FULL CONTACT Column..and the March issue of INSIDE KUNG-FU mentions the new JACKIE CHAN Cartoon & "Living Legends Roast" of Karate pioneer, Jerry Piddington attended by GRANDMASTERS GEORGE ANDERSON, Bob Wall & MASTER DON "THE DRAGON" WILSON.

Well this concludes our newsletter for this bi-monthly period of February - March..'Til our next issue, remember to "STAY AGGRESSIVE & FAIR" in all you do..& before I forget, a big "THANK YOU" to member, GRANDMASTER RICHARD HACKWORTH for offering to advertise the events from our newsletter on his "hit" radio show!

Sincerely yours in martial arts brotherhood.

Grandmaster Frank E. Sanchez
10th dan (Judan)
Founder/ Executive Director International

NOTE: The WHFSC has been in existence since May of 1993 and is a private enterprise of Soke Frank E. Sanchez in service to its membership. Any additions or deletions to its membership must be in writing..RECEIVING THIS NEWSLETTER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE YOUR BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL. All membership certificates with an expiration date are NOT automatically renewed and MUST be renewed by written request to our Headquarters.