SEPT-OCT 1999

THE WORLD GRANDMASTERS COUNCIL

EDITOR: SOKE FRANK E. SANCHEZ / LAYOUT: SENSEI MATTHEW A. SANCHEZ

6035 Ft. Caroline Rd. Suite 22; Jacksonville, Florida 32277

Ph. (904) 745-6019 / Fax (904) 744-4625


 

With the GREAT SUCCESS of this years' INTERNATIONAL MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME, we are definitely gearing up for next years' "MILLENNIUM BASH" scheduled for SEPTEMBER 1ST-2ND in Orlando, Florida!!!.....For our National/ International membership the "trick" is to reserve your plane tickets EARLY......That means right now so that you don't incur the high prices which come from waiting until the last minute......We have had a great turn out of our International membership in past events and expect to see more of you at this one marking the "turn of the century".....the hotel will be the fabulous Radisson Universal Hotel (formerly the Radisson Twin Towers) across from "Universal Studios" in Orlando, Florida......Home of "Disney World"/ Epcot Center, "Sea World" and of course "Universal Studios". We will have discount tickets and packages available for these venues. Also an "ice sculpture" war will take place on stage, as well as Dragon Dance and other fine entertainment....Couple this with seminars by 20 or more of the world's TOP martial artists and it 's all being put on tape by HANSHI GEORGE ALEXANDER'S YAMAZATO PRODUCTIONS and filmed by Cable TV and you have an event which is like no other!.....Plan to make it one of your priorities for the Year 2000.....the price for admission is STILL $150.00 for inductees and $75.00 for guests....No other event can offer you this much quality at such a SPECTACULARLY LOW PRICE!

Speaking of Halls of Fame......and our last one in particular, we were proud to have as our special guest, 5 time world kick boxing champion and celebrity, KATHY LONG, who was chosen as our "WOMAN OF THE YEAR", as well as MANY great GRANDMASTERS of our Council who were in attendance. For a pictorial essay of what went on that weekend you can access the WHFSC Website at http://www.Bushido.org/~whfsc

GRAND PATRIARCH DON NAGLE PASSED AWAY ON AUGUST 23RD IN NEW JERSEY......Ironically, when our last newsletter went out with a picture of GRANDMASTER NAGLE on the cover, I was unaware of the fact that GRANDMASTER NAGLE had died that morning until I received several phone messages informing me of this......GRANDMASTERS BUDDY AMATO, VINCENT MARCHETTI and ERNIE CATES, as well as GRANDMASTER NAGLE's longtime associate and friend, MASTER RALPH PASSERO informed me of this great Masters' demise......He was indeed an exemplary individual who "spoke his mind" and never faltered from his ideals. A true American icon, he will be sorely missed......As GRANDMASTER CATES so eloquently stated to me.....It seems that both GRANDMASTER DON NAGLE and GRANDMASTER HAROLD LONG of Isshinryu came into the U.S. together promoting Isshinryu and then seemed to leave together as they died within months of each other. Surviving GRANDMASTER NAGLE as the successor to his particular style of Isshinryu is GRANDMASTER ED MC GRATH, a 40 year student and resident of New York.

WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL WEBSITE WINS AWARD!......For those of you who have visited our website lately, you will notice an icon there which we are rather proud of.....It's an award from the "WORLD MARTIAL ARTS INFORMATIONCENTER" for having one of the best martial arts sites on the Internet.....

Quite a testament to the great job SOKE DANIEL VERKERKE of Canada is doing on maintaining our official homepage.....KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, DAN!

Also of interest to all is the recent exploitation of the WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL name in Europe.....We have been advised that bogus certificates of ranking are being circulated with our name appearing on them......SOKE JOHNNY VAN SIMPSEN of Belgium has volunteered his efforts to "watch dog" for us in this area, as well as our European Screener, SOKE KEIDO YAMAUE of Denmark and PROFESSOR KLAUS ROMMINGER of Germany. The proliferation of these certificates seems to be for monetary gain and the WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL will make every effort to STOP these individuals within the fullest extent of the law (the WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL does not charge for membership NOR do we issue rank!)....Please note that one such individual is former member, GRANDMASTER KARL WAGNER of Germany who was caught using the term WORLD HEAD OF FAMILY SOKESHIP COUNCIL -GERMANY on a meeting notice and on a diploma certificate to an individual named Frank Steinbuchel who was graded to 9th dan. Mr. Wagner's membership was of course terminated with this Council WITHOUT RECOURSE.

While we are on the subject of International news.....I slighted a good friend in Hawaii by referring to him recently as an International Screener when in fact he is the Head Screener for the WHFSC, SOKE EDWARD BADIANG of Hawaii.....Like SOKE KEIDO YAMAUE of Denmark mentioned earlier and all the other screeners of our Council, including GRANDMASTER JURG ZIEGLER of Switzerland, etc.....They are all great martial artists and wonderful people to be associated with.....We thank you greatly for your contributions to this Council!

The "BLACK DRAGON", RON VAN CLIEF tells me that the rights to his life story have been sold to the people who produced the WESLEY SNIPES Movie epic, "BLADE". There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the "DRAGON'S" story will be just as DYNAMIC, if not more so then any motion picture depicting a fictitional super hero.....Once hung by the neck during the racially tense times of the 60's by bigots , GRANDMASTER RON VAN CLIEF bounced back from near death to take up Karate and become 5 time world champion.....I remember telling him years back that his life would make a great movie......and now it is coming to pass......He is definately one of the most modest and talented martial artists I know of this Century.....CONGRATULATIONS RON!

ON SICK CALL......SHIHAN FELIX VAZQUEZ of New York is down (but, not out!!) with an injury......PROFESSOR BILLY DAVIS of New York is recovering from surgery.....As is GRANDMASTER JOHN BYRNE of Nebraska and JOHN CASAREZ of Ohio......GENERAL ALEXANDER RETUINSKIH of Russia also scared everyone when he became ill with a blood clot in his lung while in New Jersey. He is recovering in Russia.....PLEASE HEAL UP QUICKLY GENTLEMEN! (my apologies to anyone I missed.....)

It seems the business world is now turning some attention to the martial arts with the recent popularity of Grandmaster Billy Blank's 'TAE BO"!......The October 8, 1999 issue of the WALL STREET JOURNAL did a nice article on GRANDMASTER JOHN PELLEGRINI of Florida's growing COMBAT HAPKIDO Organization and DR. KENT HARALSON of Montana was also interviewed on October 13th by a reporter from the WALL STREET JOURNAL on the growing trend of martial arts ministries in the churches.....If DR. J.L. AIELLO of Michigan's figures are right, martial arts attendance is down all across the nation by 7% this year, Perhaps the WALL STREET Articles are an indicator of revitalized interest in the martial arts as we enter the new Century......Let's hope so!

Speaking of DR. AIELLO........Appearing recently on his popular national "WARRIOR TALK" Radio Show was HANSHI GEORGE ALEXANDER of Tennessee, noted SHORIN RYU practitioner and President of YAMAZATO PRODUCTIONS.....Also scheduled to make another appearance on the show is the "FATHER OF MODERN PANKRATION", GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITIS who will "blow the lid open" on the current Olympic Pankration movement in America and Greece.....Is it a farce and what does the "Father of Modern Pankration" have to say about it?.....Tune in and find out. It promises to be "EXPLOSIVE"!

One of GRANDMASTER JIM ARVANITS' students, Dan Cook of New Hampshire is the new RHODE ISLAND VALE TUDO CHAMPION winning his match on October 23rd within 3 minutes and 27 seconds by knock-out. His was the only match according to Jim that didn't go the full 7 minute time limit......I fine testament to Jim's training methods.

CONGRATULATIONS go out to SOKE HARRIS WARREN of Florida on the acceptance of his new MARTIAL ARTS STUDIES AND DISCIPLINES Program in Destin, Florida Schools. It is a rarity to see something like this happen in the U.S. and we are proud that one of our members accomplished this......For those of you who don't know Harris, his wife, Rosemarie, a Sensei in his system of NISEI BUJUTSU is also a Defense Tactics Instructor and the only woman "SWAT" Team Member of their County Sheriffs Office!......That's what we call keeping the talent in the family!

While we are on the subject of martial arts studies.......This Council is presently working on re-starting its COLLEGE OF MARTIAL ARTS Program......Degreed individuals in the medical, psychological, Liberal and Theological Sciences will be the "backbone" of it with the Council and its membership serving as "accreditation" for its courses.....In time we hope to have the College accepted under a State University....Working with us on this project will be HANSHI BRUCE JUCHNIK's "COLLECTIVE MARTIAL ARTS SOCIETY" (of which I am a "Supreme Advisor") which will provide the archives to the College......It will be a long term project, but I have no doubt that we will be able to put this together!

 

NEW BOOK SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2000 RELEASE!.....Our book entitled "THE WORLD'S MARTIAL ARTS ELITE" is finally in production and will be out in January of 2000.......For those of you who DID NOT heed the deadline as stated in our previous Hall of Fame mailings....Your NAMES will be included in this work as members of the Council. For those of you who DID heed the deadlines, your bios. and pictures will appear in the publication.....Please be watching future issues of the newsletter for updates and ordering information.

AMERROSS.COM under member, GENERAL ALEXANDER RETUINSKIH of Russia, the creator of the R.O.S.S. Russian martial arts system, announces a new video release called the GRAPPLER'S TOOLBOX featuring Scott Sonnon, U.S. Sambo Team Coach and Master of Sport in Sambo. In the video you will learn R.O.S.S. Solo Training Secrets to ELIMINATE the gap between the ground and standing and to "sew" your techniques together like a fine tapestry!...Also available from AMERROSS.COM are Sambofki: Ultimate grappling shoes, the traditional grappling shoe for Sambo now available for grapplers of every kind.....E-mail info@AmerROSS.com orwrite to: THE AMERICAN ANNEX RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF MARTIAL ART - P.O. Box 500565, Atlanta, GA. 31150 for prices and ordering information.

AMERROSS.COM is also pleased to announce their new photo gallery webpage at http://AmerROSS.com/photogal.html featuring the people involved in practicing AUTHENTIC R.O.S.S. Training. 

PROFESSOR LARRY HILTON of Illinois announces his new book entitled NIPPON KETSUGO RYU JU JITSU will be available in January of 2000 in all book stores and will retail for $10.95. For ordering information contact: NKK PRODUCTIONS at 5105 N. Martha St., Peoria, IL. 61614. Those who order before December 25th will receive a $2.00 discount off the retail price.....As I understand from Larry, my photo appears in the book along with several other Masters.....Thank you Larry for including me!

Also in the book stores come December will be HANSHI EMIL FARKAS of California's new book entitled THE MARTIAL ARTS BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE. This legendary martial arts author is sure to have another "block buster" on his hands after co-authoring the MARTIAL ARTS ENCYCLOPEDIA of several years back.

HANSHI JOHNNY PACHIVAS of Florida recently received an Honorary Degree in Biblical Studies from Yeshua Bible College for his contributions to the martial arts......CONGRATULATIONS HANSHI!

On August 18th, GRANDMASTER ROBERT HOE of Maine came by to visit my humble dojo and award me with the U.S. BLACK BELT SOCIETY's "Recognition Award" for outstanding service to the martial arts.....I later met GRANDMASTER HOE again at HANSHI BRUCE JUNICH's "GATHERING 1999" in Sacramento, California where I was presented with another award from the U.S. BLACK BELT SOCIETY for WORLDWIDE MARTIAL ART SERVICE, their highest award......THANK YOU GRANDMASTER HOE for these great honors!

CONGRATULATIONS to HANSHI BRUCE JUNICH of California who was presented with a 10th dan scroll and belt at his "GATHERING 1999" event.....It was well deserved and long overdue. Bruce is the President of the MARTIAL ARTS COLLECTIVE SOCIETY and Head of one of the largest KOSHO RU KEMPO Organizations in the U.S. A suggestion from a Master Robin Martin was recently e-mailed to me regarding setting-up a MASTERS INSTRUCTOR MEMBERSHIP DIVISION of the WHFSC for those who are not Sokes or grandmasters, but have been promoted by WHFSC Members. If you feel this is a viable idea I would like to hear from you.....Also, if you believe such an idea would not be worthy of consideration.....Let me know and I will publish the results in the next newsletter.

A NEWSFLASH from DR. H.L. MAYLE of Ohio......"Due to the ongoing conflict in and around Greece, the Games Committee (for TEAM U.S.A.) has, in the interest of safety of all team members, reassigned the date and place for World Cup 2000. The departure dates will be January 12-13th, 2000. The new location will be Puerta Plata in the D.R., West Indies." For further information contact DR. H.L. MAYLE at (419) 822-8226. SUPPORT GRANDMASTER RICHARD VAN DONK of California's "MARTIAL ARTISTS FOR WORLD PEACE".....GRANDMASTER VAN DONK is asking you to leave your practice area open on December 31, 1999 midnight for people to gather and celebrate WORLD PEACE by taking a moment to "send a heart full of gratitude to every being who has ever served or suffered in pursuing PEACE"....

PEACE IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM pact signed at 1999 WHFSC HALL OF FAME/ SEMINAR SYMPOSIUM......In support of world peace in the new millennium, over 500 martial artists ranging from martial arts beginner to grandmaster signed a declaration of peace between martial arts styles....."In unity there is strength with our greatest strength lying in our diversity (of styles)".......No one has the perfect martial art, we are all just travelers on the same martial path"

 

GRANDMASTER NEAL HUMMERSTONE of Orange County received a great write-up in the August 8th issue of the VOLUSIAN NEIGHBOR NEWS regarding his recent induction into our Hall of Fame and his illustrious career. The WHFSC also received a nice "plug" from the paper sighting Neal's membership in the Council and stating that "the Council is considered the elite grandmaster/ Soke organization in the world".

Also receiving newspaper coverage was PROFESSOR EDWIN MALEY, Black Belt Hall of famer in two feature newspaper articles regarding his long historical contributions to Judo and in teaching generation after generation of martial artists.

AND NOW TO THE LATEST INDUCTEE OF OUR COUNCIL......With membership being awarded to only 3% of the applicants that apply each year to our Council....We are proud to announce that GURU ROBERTO TORRES of New York, an Inheritor of the late, great PROFESSOR FLORENDO VISITACION (posthumous member of this Council) and one of the top practitioners of Indonesian/ Filipino martial arts is now a member in good standing of our organization......WELCOME ROBERTO to our worldwide family of the world's greatest martial artists!

FEATURED IN THE MEDIA THIS MONTH......MASTER ED PARKER JR. of California is featured in a "two parter" in BLACK BELT......MARTIAL ARTS ILLUSTRATED (U.S. publication, not the English publication) features an article on HANSHI DAN TOSH of California and MYSELF, as well as HANSHI EMIL FARKAS' monthly Column.......MARTIAL ARTS AND COMBAT SPORTS features an article by HANSHI GEORGE ALEXANDER of Tennessee and column by HANSHI EMIL FARKAS of California......INSIDE KUNG-FU (is not on the stands as of this writing)......KARATE/ KUNG-FU ILLUSTRATED features columns by MASTERS DON "THE DRAGON" WILSON and ROBERT FERGUSON with a feature on GRANDMASTER RAY GERANEO of Massachusetts.....MARTIAL ARTS TRAINING carrys an article by MASTER ROBERT FERGUSON and HANSHI EMIL FARKAS on his new book, THE MARTIAL ARTS BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE.....KARATE INTERNATIONAL features articles on the late PROFESSOR FLORENDO VISITACION and GRANDMASTER HAROLD LONG as well as mentions and articles on GRANDMASTERS JAMES LACY, JIM ARVANITIS, BART VALE, WALLY JAY, SID CAMPBELL, AL DACASCOS, WILLEM DE THOUARS, HARRIS WARREN, SAM KUHOA, GEORGE ALEXANDER, ERNESTO PRESAS, RONALD DUNCAN, EMIL FARKAS, JOE WILLIAMS, MAESTRO PETER URBAN, YOURS TRULY and MASTERS DON "THE DRAGON" WILSON and FELIX VAZQUEZ......The KARATE VOICE features GRANDMASTER DON NAGLE'S PASSING and articles on GRANDMASTERS SID CAMPBELL, JAMES LACY and MYSELF, as well as MAESTRO PETER URBAN's monthly column......and TAEKWONDO TIMES contains an article on GRANDMASTER JOHN PELLEGRINI with a mention of HANSHI DANIEL BLANCHET of France making a special presentation......

IN SEMINAR NEWS (as reported by members)......The GRACIE JIU-JITSU ACADEMY of California had its Intermediate/ Advanced raining camp on October 4th-8th at their Academy in Torrance, Calif......MASTER RICKSON GRACIE'S INTERNATIONAL JIU-JITSU ASSOCIATION conducted seminars October 23rd-24th in Tampa, Florida......PROFESSOR LARRY HILTON of Illinois conducted a seminar Oct. 17th in Louisville, KY.......SIJO AL DACASCOS held his WESTERN U.S. NATIONALS Martial Arts Tournament in July at the Tualatin Parks and Recreation Athletic Center in Oregon......PROFESSOR GARY DILL had his Annual JEET KUNE DO FALL CAMP in Tahlequah, OK on Oct.16th-17th.....PROFESSOR WALLY JAY had his JUJITSU AMERICA Convention on Sept. 24th-26th in SanMateo, Calif......Sept. 17th-18th featured seminars by DR. KENT HARALSON'S "GOSPEL MARTIAL ARTS UNION in Montana with instruction by DR. KENT HARALSON and HANSHI JOHNNY PACHIVAS......SOKE DANIEL VERKERKE of Canada conductedseminars on Sept. 26th, October 24th with an upcoming seminar on Nov. 21st......MASTER ROBERT FERGUSON's "MISSOURI OPEN - SUBMISSION WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS will be held in Kansas City, MO....For more information contact Paul Swigart at (816) 746-1717......SOKE HARRIS WARREN of Florida and SHIHAN FELIX VAQZQUEZ of New York will be conducting a "Street Smarts for Kids" Seminar on Nov. 20th in Destin, FL.......GENERAL ALEXANDER RETUINSKIH's RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF RUSSIAN MARTIAL ART in conjunction with its American affiliate, The AMERICAN ANNEX RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF RUSSIAN MARTIAL ART conducted a seminar Oct. 9th in Lancaster, PA.; on Nov. 13th, a seminar on Plural Assailant Engagements will be given to select participants and a special winter survival seminar is scheduled for Dec. 10th-12th in Pennsylvania..... HANSHI CARL STONE of Florida held his WARRIORS CLASSIC and EXPLOSION Full Contact Kickboxing Tournament on Oct. 24th in Largo, Fl......Sept. 25th found YOURS TRULY along with SHIHAN FELIX VAZQUEZ in Pottsville, PA. conducting seminars......and HANSHI BRUCE JUCHNIK'S "GATHERING" in Sacramento, CA. featured seminars by PROFESSOR WALLY JAY, HANSHI BRUCE JUCHNIK, SOKE HARRIS WARREN, SHIHAN FELIX VAZQUEZ, GURO ROBERTO TORRES, GRANDMASTER GLEN WILSON, GRANDMASTER VINCENT CABALES, OLOHE SOLOMON KAIHEWALU, GRANDMASTER SAM KUHOA, GRANDMASTER ERNESTO PRESAS, AH GUNG TONY RAMOS and MYSELF.

Well this concludes our newsletter for this bi-monthly period.....We hope that all of you are gearing up for the new Millennium and remember to reserve your reservations/ plane tickets EARLY for our 'MILLENNIUM BASH" scheduled for September 1st -2nd, 2000 in Orlando, Florida!....THIS MEANS ALL OF YOU......Let's make this upcoming Year a SPECTACULAR CELEBRATION OF UNITY FOR ALL OF US......In the meantime, stay "aggressive" and "fair" in all that you do!

Sincerely yours in martial arts brotherhood,

 

Professor 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 grandmaster membership. Any requested changes, additions or deletions to its membership roster must be in writing. All 2 year membership certificates are not automatically renewed and MUST be renewed by written request to our Headquarters.