WORLD GRANDMASTERS
COUNCIL
Oct. – Dec. 2019
Ph: (904) 361-9218/ Fax: (904) 744-4625 (24 hrs/day) P.O. Box 8395, Jacksonville, Florida USA 32239-8395 Http://www.whfsc.com / [email protected] America’s original World Head Founders/ elite Masters Organization – est. 1992
Whatever Holiday you may celebrate & whatever His Holy Name you may know Him by (to me, he is Jesus). He is the one TRUE Grandmaster above who watches & takes care of us all. To Him we are indebted & to Him we give all the Glory. We PRAISE His holy name & may He in his infinite wisdom Bless all of our families with love, compassion & kindness now & in the coming New Year……
As always, before we begin with our international news, we would like to pay our respects to those who have passed on & to mention the trials, as well as accomplishments of our members in their personal lives……
From Arkansas, we are sad to report the death of Hanshi Tom Hunnicutt who passed away on December 1st from congestive heart failure. Tom was a decorated Marine veteran, a direct student of O’Sensei Hohan Soken & the Head of Shorin Ryu Matsumura Bushi Jutsu. His ideas also contributed to the development of the Marine Corps close combat training program in the mid 1990’s; From Arizona, Shihan Dana Abbott’s Brother, Kennith Abbott Jr. passed on November 11th ; while Suro Jason Inay’s Uncle also passed in November; & lastly on December 12th, our member in England, GM Richard Hopkins’ Brother, Eddie Hopkins passed away from Leukemia. May the good Lord look over these dearly departed & may their loved ones be comforted by the Hand of God…..In health news, GM Ted Gambordella of Texas is dealing with prostrate Cancer & is in need of assistance to help with his medical surgery & expenses. You can give anonymously as I did, but please give whatever you can to help. His GoFundMe account is: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ted-gambordella039s-prostate- surgery?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=m_pd+share- sheet
O’sensei Hohan Soken w. Hanshi Tom Hunnicutt Shihan Dana Abbott Suro Jason Inay
GM Richard D.D. Hopkins Dr. Ted Gambordella
In happier news, the following members celebrated their Anniversaries this quarter……GM Yogi & Alice Seguarra of Canada celebrated their 6th Anniversary on Oct. 5th ; Master Olando & Deena Rivera of Florida, on Oct. 22nd; GM Michael & Justine DeAlba of Calif., their 29th on Nov. 1st; Shihan Jimmy & Kimberly Rutherford their 1st in Florida on Nov. 2nd; Master Michael & Maria Lograsso their 30th on Nov. 3rd & lastly, Master Bob & Donna Gomez in Calif. their 30th Anniversary on Dec. 2nd . CONGRATULATIONS people on your Anniversaries & may you have many, many more to come! (if I missed yours, please be sure to let me know. Thanks.)
2
In international news…….
We would like to begin our international news with some e-mails I received from members which I thought would be of interest to our members. The first one is from one of our iconic members in Israel, Dr. Dennis Hanover of DENNIS SURVIVAL JUJITSU & the second is from member, Don Warrener in California who is one of America’s top martial arts historians along with GM Emil Farkas & of course, the late John Corcoran:
From: Dr. Dennis Hanover
Dear Grandmaster Sanchez
i would like you and the council to know that i hold you in great esteem in bringing all the grandmasters/masters together as one family. I have given 70 years of my life to the martial arts and now i have one of the biggest centers in Israel with over 40 gyms in Israel under the Dennis Survival Ju-jitsu with over 3000 black belts up to 10th Dan. This year will be my 38th championship in the name of all my soldiers who fell in the Israeli wars. There are over 600 qualified teachers but on the other side we have given 700 unwanted children barmitzvuhs over a 60 year period and we help and look after hundreds of unwanted children under stress and hardship. I want to thank you the council for giving my country and myself the honour for all the title's you have bestowed on me in all these years and I will never forget it. But I'm 82 years old and my both knees are very injured and i cannot travel anymore but i still teach standing and sitting. I will never forget the respect and honour you have given to me. If ever you can come to Israel i will give you the respect and honour which you deserve.
Sincerely Dr. Dennis Hanover
From: GM Frank E. Sanchez >[email protected]> Date: Sun, Oct 13, 2019 To: Dr. Dennis Hanover >[email protected]
Dr. Hanover,
Thank you for your message which I received the other day. You are of course an icon there in Israel and it is my honor to know you and to have you as a member of the World Head of Family/ Sokeship Council. It is understandable about the injuries you have suffered over the years from training and the fact that you are not able to travel to our events now. You are still a valued member of our Council and I thank you from my heart for your continued support of myself and this Council and for most of all, being a Brother of mine in the martial arts.
I hope to one day come and visit you to pay my respects in return.
Your Brother in the Arts,
GM Sanchez World Head of Family/ Sokeship Council [email protected]
(Note: the above e-mail is also manned by various members of the Masters Division who are allowed to access & respond on behalf of the Council, as well as myself. For personal correspondence to me, please use [email protected]. Thanks. )
This 2nd e-mail as I said is from Don Warrener regarding a project that he & GM Emil Farkas are working on. After writing this message to me on Facebook, I responded that I would place his e-mail in this newsletter. So, that anyone reading it would be able to respond directly to him if they are interested in participating.
3
From: Don Warrener>facebook messenger Date: Mon, Dec 16, 2019 To: Soke Frank Sanchez>facebook messenger
Hi Frank,
EMIL and I are in the process of setting up something huge.
As you may know EMIL has well over 5000 old photos upstairs at his dojo and I have over 2000 in my computer plus I have 100’s of hours of video trailers.
We are combining all this for a massive web site that I am building for us that will be free to everyone who wants to look around on it.
If you have any photos of various things over the years that we can use on this site we would appreciate them.
Again it will be all 100% FREE TO everyone.
If you know of others who might have photos or old video please let me know or better yet send them my way please and thank you.
Don Warrener [email protected]
Our member, General (GM) Alexander Retyunskikh from Russia conducted an international ROSS seminar in Belarus in early December for participants from Belarus, Scotland, Tatarstan & various parts of Russia…..Swedish member, GM Lars Enoksen conducted a seminar in the Viking Art of Lausatak/GLIMA in Costa Rica. Here is a video clip of that seminar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dlX4_h5mhw&t=23s&fbclid=IwAR0jbz76P0LGi1FdbOKXYPZAgA_c7ci6cAO RXFP3l8pI7IHtlyOLr4o6lsA ……Member, Professor John Theiren of Canada had his CAPITOL CONQUEST event on Nov. 1st, 2nd & 3rd featuring exhibition bouts by kickboxing icons Theriault, Ladouceur, WHFSC member Wallace & Slocki to benefit the MAKE A WISH FOUNDATION. Seminars, including one entitled WOMEN POWER HOUR featuring women martial artists, a martial arts demo show entitled KOBUDOMANIA & awards banquet……& the PHILIPPINE KALI ARNIS FEDERATION (PEKAF) which includes WHFSC Members, GM Rene Tongson of the INTERNATIONAL MODERN ARNIS FEDERATION (IMAF) & GM Bernardo (“Butch”) Sepulveda of the WORLD ESKRIMA BALINTAWAK ARNIS FEDERATION (WEBAF) as Board Members, held their SEA GAMES on Dec. 1st – 3rd . The SEA Games were monumental according to GM Sepulveda in that it had the most number of gold medals awarded in any arnis or other sports event in the history of the Philippines! CONGRATULATIONS GM Tongson & GM Sepulveda
General A. Retyunskikh – GM L. Enoksen – Prof. John Theiren – GM R. Tongson – GM B. Sepulveda
4
GM Jim Arvanitis, the Father of Modern Pankration was featured in a Podcast interview on UMOR LIVE. Per an Oct. 5th post on Facebook, you can listen to the interview on YouTube at https://youtu.be/MtJAOHP_yM0 …….Wrestling/ mixed martial arts super star, Dan Severn was roasted in a comedy roast on Oct. 13th in Greenville, SC ……& members Tumuwhakarae Timoti Pahi of Rongomamau Maori Grappling & Kumu Michele Manu of Kahaiwalu Lua will be conducting 3 hour seminars for THE IMMERSION LAB’S “FIERCE FIGHTING ARTS OF THE PACIFIC RIM” training event scheduled to take place Feb. 21st – 23rd , 2020 at an undisclosed location in the San Francisco Bay Area of California to insure the participants privacy. Only 30 participants will be allowed to take part. For more information you can contact THE IMMERSION LAB at: https://www.theimmersionlabs.com/contact-us ….Master Rondy McKee
GM Jim Arvanitis Dan Severn Tumuwhakarae Timoti Pahi Kumu Michele Manu was honored with BLACK BELT MAGAZINE’S 2019 Hall of Fame “WOMAN OF THE YEAR” Award while GM Kelly S. Worden received their “WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR” Award…..& lastly, GM Bruce Juchnik received the 2019 KILOHANA MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION’S “LEGEND” Award during the Kilohana Annual Kufferath Masters Seminars held Oct. 26th in Campbell, California. CONGRATS to ALL for their well deserved inductions!.....& proving that all martial artists are not mean
Master Rondy McKee GM Kelly S. Worden Prof. James Muro presenting Americus Abesamis Legend Award to GM BruceJuchnik
#?!#! killers in society (well, not all of us –LOL. Some of us will actually “walk away” before beating someone’s head in)…..Our resident Sumo wrestler/ actor, Americus Abesamis won the Lumpia Eating Contest at the Long Beach Filipino Festival held Oct 19th in Long Beach, California non-chalantly beating the competition while dipping each lumpia “oh so delicately” in a sweet savory sauce . Although I think Americus had a distinct advantage in being a Sumo Wrestler....We'd like to CONGRATULATE Americus on this epic win anyway & on this amazing side talent LOL. Of course the event had a shortage of lumpia afterwards which caused a small riot that the police had to quell, but all things considered, everyone had a good time...& congrats again Americus on this impressive win. Here is the video from that competition: https://www.facebook.com/MaryGrantTheFilipina/videos/589065511908538/?t=46
5
Also, in international news, Professor Hans Ingebretsen, President of the KILOHANA MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION in California would like to share the following info with us regarding recently held events: The SONS OF KENPO/ KEMPO event held in Vallejo, California on Oct. 5th & sponsored by Sifu Bill Chun Jr. turned out to be an epic one with our own Sensei Yasutoshi “Moon” Watanabe & Mimi Chow-Hoon as Special Guests & seminars/ appearances by our members Professor Hans Ingebretsen, Sr. Professor James Muro & other iconic Kenpo/ Kempo practitioners……& on Oct. 26th, the KILOHANA MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION held its annual KILOHANA KUFFERATH MASTERS SEMINAR in Campbell, California honoring our deceased member, Olohe Solomon Kahaiwalu with seminars by Olohe’s top students, including our own Kumu Michelle Manu, Kumu Hans Ingebretsen, Kumu James Muro as well as Hanshi Bruce Juchnik & Professor Andy Manwaring
Sons of Kenpo/ Kempo Event in Vallejo, California (L to R) Sifu Bill Chun Jr. , GM Emil Bautista, GM Tony Ramos, Prof. Joseph Bautista, Master Banqui Parker Sensei “Moon” Watanabe, Prof. Hans Ingebretsen, Mimi Chow-Hoon & Sr. Professor James Muro
2019 Kilohana Kufferath Masters Seminar Top martial arts practitioners come to honor the late Olohe Solomon Kahaiwalu
6
Master Dana Abbott of Arizona was the subject of a promotion by CENTURY MARTIAL ARTS SUPPLY during the Thanksgiving Holiday. The object of the contest was to search & find a turkey on the CENTURY website between the dates of Nov. 12th – 27th to win 2 Dana Abbott signature swords……& lastly in international news, our member Professor Ernie Cates from NC would like us to quell a rumor that has made its way on Facebook….The rumor is that the Government of Virginia has banned martial arts instruction there. The rumor is fortunately UNTRUE . When in doubt check out the website snopes.com known for dis-spelling myths & rumors on the internet or you can check with us.
Master Dana Abbott Prof. Ernie Cates
In our new books department……
“The World’s Greatest Martial Artists Vol. 15” Dr. Ted Gambordella
Dr. Ted Gambordella has his latest book in “THE WORLD’S GREATEST MARTIAL ARTISTS” series now available on AMAZON.COM . The book entitled “THE WORLD’S GREATEST MARTIAL ARTISTS - VOLUME 15” retails for $24.95 & contains a listing of different martial artists….You can go to the AMAZON.COM website to see the names contained in this book. For more info on this & other publications by GM Gambordella, you can contact Ted at [email protected] & please don’t forget to give to Ted’s GOFUNDME account. Thanks.
7
In our new members department……
In our Grandmasters Division we’d like to WELCOME a new member from Russia (with the Blessing of our WHFSC Representative in Russia, General Alexander Retyunskikh & Modern Pankration founder, GM Jim Arvanitis), GM Vladimir Klenshev, Head of the FEDERATION OF PANKRATION OF RUSSA; from India, GM Arunachalam Mani, grandmaster in the oldest martial art system to originate from India, Silambam; & finally from Canada, one of Canada’s most respected teachers with dojos located in different areas of Canada & Mexico. The founder of Chitokan, Soke Pierre Myre
GM Vladimir Klenshev GM Arunachalam Mani Soke Pierre Myre Master Vagelis Koutras
In our Masters Division, we’d like to WELCOME Master Vagelis Koutras from Greece who practices Modern Pankration under GM Jim Arvanitis.
CONGRATULATIONS gentleman on your acceptance to this elite “family” of martial artists!
On the covers of publications…….
Budo International – Oct.2019 issue Budo International – Dec. 2019 issue Martial Sciene – Dec. 2019 issue
GM Rene Latosa appears on the October cover of BUDO INTERNATIONAL Magazine; GM Avi Nardia on the December issue of BUDO INTERNATIONAL; & Dr Robert Goldman on the December cover of on-line magazine, MARTIAL SCIENCE
8
In the magazines this quarter……
BLACK BELT Magazine’s Dec/ Jan. 2019 issue features a mention in their “NEWS BITES” Column of a collaboration between BlACK BELT & COMBAT GO TV to present new videos on social media including new videos on GM Bill Wallace; Master Rondy McKee is named as BLACK BELT Magazine’s 2019 WOMAN OF THE YEAR & GM Kelly S. Worden as its 2019 WEAPONS INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR; & DR. DENNIS HANOVER is mentioned in their “FROM THE ARCHIVES” Column featuring their March 1980 issue in a piece called “ISRAELI KARATEKA REMEMBER A HERO”…...In the Dec. 2019 issue of BUDO INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE, GM Avi Nardia is featured on the front cover with a story on his Israeli Jiu Jitsu; with technique applications by Soke Juan Diaz demonstrating his Art of Kaisendo & GM Martin Sewer demonstrating techniques from Shaolin Hung Gar; a photo from their archives of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi in 2006; & an article by good friend of our Council, GM Maurice Elmalem on the 2019 URBAN ACTION SHOWCASE EXPO with pics of WHFSC Members, GM Ron Van Clief, GM Vincent Lyn & Master Don Wilson…..& lastly, TAEKWONDO TIMES Nov. 2019 issue has a write-up on our 2019 WHFSC event held Aug. 30th – 31st in Orlando, Florida by Master member, Guy Larke; an article on Krav Maga with a mention of WHFSC member & KRAV MAGA Founder, the late Imi Lichtenfeld; an article on the CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION & WORLD INVITATIONAL CELEBRATION & WORLD INVITATIONAL COMPETITION OF CACOY DOCE PARES (CCDP) Eskrima stick fighting held in August in the Philippines with a bio on our late member, GGM Cacoy Canete; & an article entitled “FARANG DAN BONG SUL – THE KOREAN BONE BREAKING SHORT STICK”.
HISTORICAL PHOTO
All the individuals mentioned above are members of the World Head of Family/ Sokeship Council
Well, this concludes this quarterly issue marking the end of this year. Please remember to send in your news for our next issue (no news about seminars please, because we all do them! Unless they concern teaching the police/ military or it is a national/ international seminar symposium)& “THANK YOU” as always for your loyalty & friendship. Remember, to stay aggressive & fair in all you do until next year……See you then!
GM Frank E. Sanchez - Founder/ Executive Director International
9
Name______Address______
E-mail ______Phone______Fax______
**********************************************************************
World Head of Family Sokeship Council Order Form P.O. Box 8395, Jacksonville, Florida USA 32239-8395
ORDER FORM
Replacement for membership certificate $50.00 Official multi-color patch $15.00 ea. Grandmaster___ Master___ Official rubber seal stamp $20.00 ea. Grandmaster___ Master___ WHFSC Certification certificates for students $30.00 ea. WHFSC t-shirt with logo white ( ) black ( ) $25.00 ea. WHFSC jacket with logo white ( ) black ( ) $50.00 ea.
Master membership re-newal $35.00 @ year
Description Amount ordered Size Unit price Total
______SUB TOTAL______
Foreign orders add 10% of total for shipping and handling______GRAND TOTAL______U.S. dollars only ( ) Check ( ) Money order ( ) credit/ debit card through secured link of: https://www.paypal.me/whfscouncil
NOTE: T-shirts and jackets are ordered on an individual basis and are not mass produced – turn around time may be three or more weeks for delivery. There is also a three week clearance time on personal checks before order is processed.
10