WORLD GRANDMASTER S COUNCIL AUG. – DEC. 2016 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] MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OUR MEMBERS & FRIENDS AROUND THE WORLD!!!! May the joys & Blessings of this Holiday season follow you throughout the years & may 2017 be the catalyst for all of your hopes & dreams……GM Sanchez As always, before we begin with our international news, we would like to pay our respects to those who have passed away & to acknowledge the hardships and Blessings that have occurred in our members daily lives…… GM Raymond Hermann GM Frank Schneider Gat Puno Abon Baet GGM Rick Alemany Grandmaster Raymond Hermann of USA Goju passed away October of this year in New Jersey leaving another heartbreak in the U.S.A. Goju family……Grandmaster Frank Schneider from Germany lost his Brother-In-Law in August of this year & as mentioned in a note that accompanied our last newsletter, Gat Puno Abon Baet of Florida also lost his Brother in August of this year in the Philippines……May the souls of these dearly departed R.I.P. & may the eternal light of God shine upon them….. GGM Ralph Castro GM Richard Hopkins Master Ed Parker Jr. Shihan Chris Marquez We’d also like to wish a speedy recovery to the following individuals……Newly minted Great Grandmaster Rick Alemany of California who was recently diagnosed with Cancer…….GGM Ralph Castro who is recovering from recent pacemaker surgery……Grandmaster Richard D. D. Hopkins of England whose grandfather is in the hospital for Cancer……Master Ed Parker Jr. who went into surgery to have a section of his colon removed on November 29th…..& to Shihan Chris Marquez whose In-Laws home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee was burned down from the wildfires that raged there. We look forward to seeing them back on their feet again. Those wishing to help in his In-Laws recovery efforts can donate to their “GoFundMe” account at https://www.gofundme.com/jackandmarilynsims . It’s greatly appreciated. Lastly, in personal news…..We’d like to CONGRATULATE Grandmaster Bram & Nova Frank on their marriage in Publacion Tabogon Cebu, Philippines – November 5th . To view a video of their Civil Wedding, you can click on the link of https://www.facebook.com/mychubzy/videos/1510242818991581/ . Also, to GM Ron & Mareike Van Clief who married December 5th in Hawaii……Our CONGRATULATIONS also go out to GM John Byrne’s students, Sensei Valerie McGill & Sensei Jon Trizila who Wed on September 4th in Omaha, Nebraska……& lastly, to Sensei Phillip Spears, member of our Technical Committee who married his Columbian sweetheart, Diana Chica this December in Columbia……We wish all of you many years of happily Wedded bliss! 2 GM Bram & Nova Frank GM Ron & Mareike Van Clief (guest, Lingao Macalipsay is in middle) HAWAII PHILIPPINES Senseis.Jon & Val Trizila Sensei Phillip & Diana Spears NEBRASKA COLUMBIA IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS…… Our HONORARY MEMBERS make the news this issue…… Master Jackie Chan received an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement at the 8th Annual Governors Awards in Los Angeles on November 12th……..New Honorary member, Art Davie also received congratulations on the same day (Nov. 12th ) for the 23rd Anniversary of the iconic ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP which he created with the first airing of the UFC on November 12, 1993…….Master Rickson Gracie was in Las Vegas July 5th – 6th Master Jackie Chan Art Davie 1st UFC Poster Master Rickson Gracie (R) w/ Renzo & Carlson Gracie 3 to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the Gracie family at the 2016 MARTIAL ARTS SUPER SHOW (along with Masters Renzo & Carlson Gracie) in recognition of the Gracie Family’s contribution in spreading Brazilian JuJitsu & rekindling an interest in grappling around the world. Making the presentation was Century Martial Arts President, Paul Webb & Frank Silverman, Executive Director of the Martial Arts Industry Association (MAIA)…….& last but not least, the Oct/ Nov issue of AARP Magazine features an interview with our own award winning actress/ martial artist, Sigourney Weaver in their “MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS Column talking about her most recent starring role in the movie, “A MONSTER CALLS” which was released nationwide in October……. Poster for “A Monster Calls” Movie In the Philippines, GM Rene Tongson reports that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the Office of Senator Miguel Zubiri & the Philippine National Martial Art & Sport Arnis Federation will host the NATIONAL ARNIS CONGRESS and election of officers on January 12, 2017 in Manila with more information to follow……In New Jersey, Dojunim Ji Han Jae held his “INTERNATIONAL HAPKIDO SUMMIT” hosted by GM Kenneth MacKenzie (5th from left) GM Rene Tongson, & shaking hands in photo, Senator Zubiri & PSC Commissioner Fernandez w/ grandmasters, masters & technical men during conference 4 of the WORLD SIN MOO HAPKIDO FEDERATION…….GM Brian Kula Fung has been racking up impressive 1st place wins in kata, weapons & fighting in several high profile competitions like the U.S. CAPITOL CLASSIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 & Manny Reyes Sr.’s PAN AMERICANS representing his own OHANA 8 & the WHFSC. He now has 2 NASKA (North American Sport Karate Association) world titles to claim in January!......GGM Rick Alemany was honored with a celebration in California at the Antioch Kajukenbo Center on December 4th where he was also awarded his Great Grandmaster designation by GM Kula’s OHANA 8. The informal get-together celebrated the legacy of SGM Ji Han Jae GM Kenneth MacKenzie GM Brian Kula Fung WHFSC Members present at GGM Rick Alemany’s celebration (2nd from left) GM Malia Bernal, GGM Rick Alemany (in white lei) & GM Brian Kula Fung (3rd from right) one of the world’s most beloved martial artists with storytelling, food & merriment. 5 GM Bill Gossett GM Frank E. Sanchez GM Mark Shuey Grandmaster Bill Gossett’s TITAN GAMES is scheduled to take place July 1st, 2017 at the Westgate Hotel & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada with competitions in Karate, Judo, JuJitsu, Sumo & Amatuer Wrestling. Special Guests to include myself & GM Mark Shuey. For more information on taking part, you can contact Bill at [email protected] . The Titan Games will be followed by GM Gossett’s annual Ryukyu Summer Training Camp on July 2nd . For those of you wishing to know my personal journey from Guam to Florida to create America’s first worldwide founders/ inheritors, grandmasters, masters Council I would invite you to click on my Facebook link of https://www.facebook.com/sokefrank.sanchez/media_set?set=a.1289935231044678.10737 41845.100000846405768&type=3&pnref=story . This particular link was made to enlighten those who still entertain some misconceptions about my background. It summarizes my journey & the steps in the development of America’s WHFSC (Including articles from “Black Belt” & “Budo International” Magazines) CONGRATULATIONS to GM Vincent Marchetti of New Jersey for receiving a post flag award from the U.S. military for teaching the U.S. military “free of charge” for the last 23 years! VINCE IS TRULY AN AMERICAN PATRIOT OF THE FIRST ORDER! 6 GM James Ibrao GM Leo Fong The Martial Arts History Museum honored two of our members with special days at the museum this year. GM James Ibrao was honored on November 6th for being a Kung Fu icon of the martial arts community & GM Leo Fong on November 19th , when the museum celebrated his birthday (complete with cake!), as well as that of the iconic Bruce Lee Lastly in world news, General Alexander Retyunskikh, Head of the R.O.S.S. organization in Russia e-mailed to report that the FEDERATION OF RUSSIAN MARTIAL ART – ALL RUSSIAN PUBLIC ORGANIZATION held a workshop on RBI-ROSS on October 28th , 29th & 30th in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia General Alexander Retyunskikh IN BOOK NEWS…… GM Al Dacascos’ autobiography entitled “LEGACY” hit the “Best Sellers” list of Amazon.com in only 5 hrs!! The price is $17.97 for the paperback on Amazon & you might still be able to purchase a Special Limited Gold Edition copy complete with 7 Sifu Al & his Son, Master Mark Dacascos’ autographed picture PLUS a “free” Wun Hop Kuen Do DVD if you order directly from the publisher, that is IF they aren’t sold out yet?? You can visit the link of http://www.allaboutmartialarts.com/al- dacascos-legacy-through-the-eyes-of-the-warrior/ for more information. Also available on Amazon.com is the new book by GGM Allen Joe entitled “THE LAST OF THE FOUR MUSKETEERS” which details his friendship with Bruce Lee. This particular book as I understand sold out at one point & had to be re-published. The hard cover book sells for $20.67 on Amazon.com IN OUR NEW MEMBERS DEPARTMENT…… In our grandmasters division, per sponsorship of GM Ian Cyrus, we have the venerable Sunyanada Dharma, Buddhist Monk from Kansas City, MO., 9th degree inheriting grandmaster of the Korean Temple Art of Bulkyo Mu Sool…….& Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg, AAPC, founder of Sin Moo Annu Kwan (as authorized by SGM Ji Han Jae of Sin Moo Hapkido) from Pennsylvania Sunyanada Dharma Rabbi Stuart Rosenberg Art Davie In our Honorary Members Department, we’d like to welcome the creator of the iconic UFC (Ultimate Fighting Challenge), Mr. Art Davie WELCOME gentlemen to your new family of the world’s martial arts elite! ON THE COVER OF MARTIAL ARTS PUBLICATIONS THIS MONTH…… Grandmaster Sam Kuoha graces the cover of the November issue of BUDO INTERNATIONAL Magazine. As per Sam’s revelation, the cover photo for each magazine that is done in a different language also contains a different cover shot of Sam (with his daughter, Sensei Ka’imi in some cases)! Per my good friend Alfredo Tucci, the Publisher of BUDO INTERNATIONAL.