Great Moments in Karate History

Great Moments in Karate History
Submitted By Gary Lee

Gary Lee came through again with his incredible knack for promoting world class events. Mr. Lee is as proud as any man could be of his Texas karate family which adopted the crazy, fun loving Hawaiian in the early 80's. This bosterious, but serious showman has always had the utmost respect and love for America's martial arts pioneers, and has a deeper love for those who sacrifice and came before him than any fighter I know. I don't believe people realize how long Mr. Lee has been around and around, besides his TEXAS reputation he is by far a world class martial artist and host. With this in mind, he set out to make his friend's dream come true.

The exam was to be for four TEXAS most respected blackbelts lighters that TEXAS has ever known:

MR. RAY McCALLUM, BLACKBELT HALL OF FAMER AND ONE OF THE GREATEST FIGHTERS IN THE SPORT. UNPREDICTABLE, DANGEROUS, A PURE TECHNICIAN AND CLASS COMPETITOR, EXCITING , FUN TO WATCH, BUT MOST OF ALL, CRITICS HAVE SAID HE WAS THE BEST THERE IS. THERE WAS. NO ONE IN THE SPORT THAT GOT THE CROWD ON THIER FEET AND HOLLERING AND CHEERING AS RAYMOND DID.

MR.BILL YE JACKSON, A GREAT WARRIOR AND MARTIAL ARTIST,UNSTOPABLE, DANGEROUS. LIKE A FINE TUNE MACHINE, HUMBLE. LIVING LEGEND IN KICK BOXING. A KNOCKOUT ARTIST OF EXTREME ABILITY AND A GREAT COACH OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. A TRUE AND PROVEN REAL WORLD CHAMPION.

MR.TROY DORSEY, THE ONLY MAN EVER TO HOLD WORLD TITLES IN PROFESSIONAL KICKBOXING AND PROFESSINAL BOXING AT THE SAME TIME. HEART OF A CHAMPION, DANGEROUS, TENACITY OF A TIGER, HEART OF A LION, TECHNIQUE OF THE PUREST, HUMBLE, AND ONE OF THE GREATEST. BLACKBELTS AND PROFESSINAL BOXERS HAVE SAID, TROY DORSEY POUND FOR POUND WAS THE BEST FIGHTER IN THE WORLD.

MR.TIM KIRBY, THE FIRST MAN TO RECIEVE THE GREEK AWARD,WON 22 BLACKBELT KATA TITLES IN ROW, FIRST AND ONLY FIGHTER TO RECIEVE SPORTMANSHIP AWARD FROM STATE OF TEXAS, SEVEN TIME U.S. CHAMPION, TEXAS STATE CHAMPION MANY ,MANY TIMES, DANGEROUS, FAST, DID I SAY FAST, HOW ABOUT UNNATURALLY FAST AND CLEAN. KARATE ILLUSTRATED ONCE SAID "TIM LOOKS LIKE A LAWN MOWER ON ROCKET FUEL GOING THROUGH THE FIELD OF FIGHTERS, MOWING EVERYONE DOWN". ONE OF THE BEST FIGHTERS TO MAKE THE AWESOME TRANSFORMATION TO FULL-CONTACT KARATE FROM POINT KARATE, A TRUE CHAMPION AND ONE OF TEXAS BEST, DID I SAY FAST!!!!

All four gentleman were students of the late Demetrius "THE GREEK" Havanas, TEXAS most renowned blackbelt.The four men wanted to test together to honor the memory of the GREEK, Nineteen years ago just two days after the tragic plane crash that took GREEK'S life. These four great karate warriors went to HOUSTON for the KARATE OLYMPIKS and easily won the team fighting title and prize money. It was without question,the most emotional competition anyone has ever witnessed,they kicked butt and cried all day long for the memory of a great karate champion, instuctor and great friend, his tragic death will never be forgotten.

McCallum, Jackson, Dorsey and Kirby were honored by the distinguished grand master board that MR.LEE put together for this very special test. The legendary Grandmaster Jack Hwang the chief examiner, they could not think of no other martial artist that Havanas respected more sitting next to Mr. Hwang was none other than MR. ALLEN STEEN, the father of TEXAS karate.one of the most respected blackbelts in the world of martial arts MR. JIM HARRISON, MR.MICKY FISHER, MR.ROGER GREENE, MR ROBERT HALLIBURTON, JIM TONEY, and ED DANIEL, and a panel TEXAS highest ranking blackbelts sat on the board. The list of who's who is so long I would not even attempt to compile it for fear of leaving some one out. They were over thirty living legends on the board. The test consisted of forms, one steps, and of course lots of action packed fighting TEXAS style. When it was over and the smoke cleared from the southwest Hilton, MR.McCALLUM was promoted to 8th degree blackbelt, and MR.DORSEY, MR.JACKSON and.MR.KIRRY were promoted to 7th degree. All four of these tremendous athletes agreed, this test was the high light of thier martial arts exams and treasure the fact that they were able to share this moment together, in the spirit of the GREEK, which lives in all of them.