MEN'S GRAND CHAMPION WINNERS FROM THE BATTLE
DAN PITLOCK Men's Form's Grand Champion
KOREY KUPPE Men's Sparring Grand Champion
CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE ADULT BLACK BELT RESULTS
BLACK BELT OPEN WEAPONS - Matt Rydell (Double Dragon)
BLACK BELT TRADITIONAL WEAPONS - Alex Weurmehl (Bryants Karate)
BLACK BELT OPEN FORMS - Brian Kalakay (Kalakay Karate)
BLACK BELT TRADITIONAL FORMS - Brian Kalakay (Kalakay Karate)
BLACK BELT WOMAN FORMS - Samantha Uptegraff (kalakay Karate)
BLACK BELT MENS LIGHT WEIGHT - Andrew Rydell (Double Dragon)
BLACK BELT MENS MIDDLE WEIGHT - Peter Davenport (Team Plowden)
BLACK BELT MENS HEAVY WEIGHT - Mike Gibbs (Team Plowden)
BLACK BELT WOMANS FIGHTING - Amanda Chaney (Team Plowden)
FORMS GRAND CHAMPION - BRIAN KALAKAY
MENS SPARRING GRAND CHAMPION - PETER DAVENPORT
JEFF BRYANT INTERVIEW
JEFF BRYANT: I started Karate in 1979.
MKH: Did you ever check out any other styles or has it always been Isshin-Ryu?
JB: I never really looked for a Karate school it just kind of found me. A friend of mine at the time was training at the Karate club that was being held at
MKH: You were trained many years by Randy Moshier who had a reputation of running a really tough karate program, with that said you probably know Mr. Moshier better than most people what was he like and what were some of the work outs like?
JB: I was in his first class of his first school. And Randy or his karate program being tough is an under statement. In the early years he was borderline crazy. We worked out on a brushed cement floor doing calisthenics for about and hour then we would spar (no pads) until no one could stand. Oh I almost forgot once in a while he would teach us a kata. In the later years of his teaching he softened up a little. Randy was one of the funniest people I ever met and also had a big heart those who knew him best would agree.
MKH: When did you receive your black belt?
JB: I tested for my ShoDan in 1987, yes that was 8 long years, now a days if you train that long in some schools that would get you YonDan (3rd Degree Black Belt).
MKH: With the passing of Mr. Moshier who is your current Instructor?
JB: Mike as you know I’ve trained few different instructors. After Master Moshier passed away I started training with Wesley Gugler he retired in 2001 and then I had the pleasure of calling Bert Ross my instructor. After Master Ross passed away in 2005 I was blessed with two instructors Master Jim Larocco and Master Thomas Perry.
MKH: Again like so many other Martial Artist we have interviewed you have a Martial Arts family with yourself, your wife Lisa "The Hammer Fist" Bryant, your son Austin and semi retired martial artist Samantha, what is having a martial arts family like?
JB: It’s great to share something you love so much with the people you love the most.
MKH: Who were some of your martial arts hero's coming up?
JB: Kerry “SuperKicks” Roop, “Bad” Brad Hefton and Rick “The Jet” Roufus mostly kickboxers.
MKH: What was your first Martial Arts tournament?
JB: I started going to tournaments about the same time I tested for my Black Belt. It was probably at Four Seasons or one of Master Bob White’s tournaments.
MKH: In your eyes who were some of the better fighters from the past?
JB: Well I didn’t really start going to Tournaments until later in my Karate career I don’t remember all the great others have name but here my list (not in any order)
Master Serrato
George Phiffer
Albert Mady
Mike Wilson
MKH: Who are some of your favorite fighters today?
JB: I love to watch the Big Four Travis Plowden, Willie Hicks, Askia Allison and Bernard Frost. I do feel there are some fighters to watch out for in the near future. Heavy Weights Adam Sklba and Matt Rydell. Middle Weights Willie Brown, Joe Brown, Shawn Jackson, Jamel Crowell and don’t forget Korey Kuppe, I would love to see all these guys show up at one tournament. Light Weights young Mike Williams, Todd Jordan and hopefully we could get Dave Maison.
MKH: If you had to rank the top fighters of today in
JB: 1) Willie Hicks
2)Travis Plowden
3)Askia Allison
4)Zack Burns
5)Bernard Frost
6)Pete Davenport
7)Korey Kuppe
8)Mike Williams Jr.
9)Willie Brown
10) Alonzo Haynes, Adam Sklba, Joe Brown, Shawn Jackson, Jamel Crowell
JB: Also for the Women Division:
1) Morgan Plowden
2) Amanda Chaney
3) Courtney Brewster
4) Alisha Williams
5) Amanda Lavoy
MKH: Lets talk about kata and weapons list some of your favorite kata and weapons competitors?
JB:
1 Dan “Mr. Evil” Couineau
2 Dan Pitlock
3 Mike Williams
4 Dave Maison
5 Brian Kalakay
MKH: Being a Michigan Sport Karate Circuit promoter that use to compete on the old
JB: I think that the biggest difference is that there are more competitors that are starting at a younger age and are more athletic than the MKC days. These kids that are competing are just spectacular. I just hope that they just don’t get burned out at 9 or 10 years old because that would be a shame. Parents let your kids have fun it doesn’t always have to so serious.
MKH: What do you see in the future for the Michigan Sport Karate Circuit?
JB: I see the tournaments getting bigger and the talent getting better. Thanks to the hard work of all the Promoters. I would also like to thanks Master Plowden, Master Gathings and their families for putting on a great year end event.
MKH: You are having an event on
JB: Well you can expect a great turn out. In the last couple years we have had about 300 competitors. This year may be a little smaller but we should still have a good turn out.
Location will be at:
1420 Lakeville road
Please follow the directions off the flier. Map quest any take you to the
MKH: Mr. Bryant Thank-You for your time and also for your efforts in giving Michigan Martial artist a circuit to compete on!
#16 Thanks you and keep up the good work.
JOHN ANDERSON INTERVIEW
- What got you to into the Martial Arts?
Me as a four-eyed goofy little kid (not much has changed, just older), my father is the one that thought that it would be a good thing to get me into. Little did he know that I would take it this far. Anyone that knew me from my competition days knew my Dad. He was always with me and sometimes he would go to tournaments without me. However, it was my Mom that drove me to all of my classes.
2. What year did you start the Martial Arts?
I started Karate in 1972. I was 10 years old
3. Who was your first Instructor?
Every instructor that I train with is my first instructor however, Marshal Johnson is the first man that took me under his wing, taught me, cared for me, and gave me the understanding of what a Karate instructor is all about. He will be forever in my heart.
Since then Roger Pratt, Bob Dalgleish, Ernest Estrada, and Iha Seikichi.
4. We know you have different black belts in many styles can you name the styles you have black belts in?
Tae-Kwon-Do
Goju-Kai
Iki-Shin-Do
Sho-Rin-Ryu
Ryukyu-Kobujitsu
5. What year and what event did you first compete in?
My first competition was in 1973 Pee Wee Kata – Kumite.
6 What is the difference between tournaments from your "hay day" to now?
Well, let me tell you something, years ago when I was in the BB kata division we felt bad for all the old guys trying to compete with us. So the promoters decided to put together a senior division, and if they wanted to try to keep up with us young guys in the BB division, our attitude was “Bring it!” However, I found that that is not the case anymore, as I tried to show the young guys that this old man has still got it in me, at the battle of the 45th. I was disqualified for being too old. I guess that people are so hung up on winning that they don’t care about the competition.
7. Who are you favorite fighters from the past?
Harold Howard
Dave Kiss
Steve Echtinaw
Big Rich Plowden
8. What are some of your favorite forms and weapons competitors from the past?
Roger Pratt
Steve Reynolds
Dave Hilton
Mark Parker
9. Who would you credit with being pioneers of sport karate in
Bruce Henderson
Henry Fuentes
Mike March
Willie Adams
And of course Richard Plowden
10. Having strong roots on the West Side of the state, how is sport karate and tournaments on the west side different from the east side?
While both sides of the state have very strong competitors, there is a difference in the competition. As the west side has more unified tournaments, the east side has more diversity. I don’t know if ones better that the other, but what I judge the tournaments by is how much fun we have at them. And I have a great time on both sides of the state. Living In-between definitely gives me that advantage.
11. Being a forms and weapons icon in
Being a forms & weapons competitor all sparring opponents are tough! Although
Steve Echtinaw has whipped me in a bad way! It all started in 1976 at MSU my very first tournament as a BB, Steve kicked me so hard I slid out of the ring and into the next ring and continued to get beat on the whole way. Just to be able to score a point would be a great accomplishment. And Steve will tell you that my mom was on the sideline telling him to hit me harder. And being a punching & kicking bag for Dave Kiss every Wednesday & Friday Night in GR. All fun to the side, Steve & Dave are my great friends, and are the Godfathers to my daughters Marie & Alyse. And we love them both very much.
12. You taught World Champion Bearnadette Ambrosia how did that relationship come about?
Bearnadette is the student of Harold Howard, and Harold is a Ryukyu-Koubu-jitsu student of mine. But more important Harold is my very close friend and we spent many weeks’ days & hours at a time, training with the Bo, and one day when I was at Harold’s Dojo little Bearnadette Ambrosia showed up for one of my seminars and showed a great passion for the Bo. When I returned a few months later Harold had told me she was doing very well, and indeed she was. She soon was traveling on the national circuit. Finding me whenever she could to work with her. Soon after that she was winning many national champions and a world title.
13. If we rent or buy UFC 3 we will see John Anderson leading Harold Howard to the ring, what was the whole UFC experience like?
As you all ready know the UFC is much different now than it was back then it was ran like a tournament, now there are bouts. Just think of fighting in a cage once, but then have to go back in. and when Helio Gracie, Royce Gracie’s father threw in the towel I don’t know about you but where I come from, that means we win the match. Royce did not have to come into the ring. Just maybe he wanted Harold to advance. And then Ken Shamrock leaving the building just as we were going out to fight. Let me tell you it was a ride like you have never been on. Harold and I have always been very close and go back a very long time but the whole experience at the UFC brought Harold and I closer than brothers. And I wouldn’t change that for the world.
14. You hadn't competed in a karate tournament for almost 15 years and this past year at the
It was definitely awesome to get back into the ring and compete after 15 years. More exciting was to compete with my daughter Marie. We had a lot of fun and the experience will be remembered. Marie had heard stories of the old days, and she has traveled around the country competing on the AAU Karate circuit. When we competed on the open circuit she felt she got a taste of them days. Back then tournaments had a soul everyone had unity competitors, promoters & spectators all working together trying to reach the same goal. Competition wasn’t about winning or losing, it was about building ones own character. Winning is great, but seeing and being with your best friends and sharing something that you all have in common is what it is all about.
15. We have done 3 interviews on MKH and yourself along with Richard Plowden, Dan Cousineau, and Isaiah Gathings all have Martial Arts families, how is that experience?
Myself growing up in a Dojo. And both of my girls Marie & Alyse growing up in the same Dojo, it has definitely made an impact on my family. After both of my parents past, I closed my Dojo and sold it. As Mike Gibbs is well aware of. You don’t realize what you have until it is gone. And this was a harsh lesson for my Daughters. But this has turned into the best thing that has happened for them, they respect and cherish what they have. They train in a beautiful Dojo, and have an awesome Sensei. And they do Karate because they want to, not because they have to. And they receive their Knowledge from someone other than myself.
16. Will we be seeing more of John Anderson on the M.S.K.C circuit?
I don’t know, it all depends if my girls want to compete on the M.S.K.C circuit. I literally had grown up competing on the M.K.C. And I would love nothing more than to come back and see all my great friends hear in
She has expressed an interest in coming back to the M.S.K.C not necessarily to compete but to see the one she looks up to and loves like a brother Mike Gibbs.
It is my hope that the new generation of Karate-ka can find the Love and compassion that we all did when I was coming up thru the ranks!
Remember: Knowledge is Power, but the power of Love is everything!!
As Yogi
God bless you all, and hopefully our paths will cross someday.
Thank you,
John Anderson
CONGRATULATIONS
Plowden's Championship Martial Arts Team won every M.S.K.C Men's black belt sparring grand championship, along with the two MSKC Pro titles that were contested. Listed below are the 2007 M.S.K.C event and men's grand champion winner.
CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE: WILLIE HICKS *ASKIA ALLISON WINS MSKC PRO LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
MICHIGAN SPORT KARATE OPEN: WILLIE HICKS * MIKE GIBBS WINS MSKC PRO HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
BATTLE AT THE 45th: ASKIA ALLISON
DETROIT CLASSIC: MIKE GIBBS
JABARI OPEN: WILLIE HICKS
RENNISANCE OPEN: TRAVIS PLOWDEN
FOUR SEASONS OPEN: WILLIE HICKS
FALL FREE FOR ALL: WILLIE HICKS
SPIRIT OF DETROIT: PETER DAVENPORT
MICHIGAN PRO/AM: TRAVIS PLOWDEN
1997 Detroit Classics
Article from Sport Karate Times Issue Number 7
Author: Richard Plowden
The summer was beginning but the IMAC (International Martial Arts Council) had one more tournament before going on hiatus until September. As always there were numerous black belts on hand to show off their talents. Tn the lightweight division, where talent abounds, it was Deon Rippy finishing first with Jeff LaFrance second, and Chontay Nelson third. The middleweights once again saw rivals Travis Plowden and Mike Muhaddath battling for first place. Plowden with a resounding 5-1 victory eliminated Muhaddath. Gordon Harmon and Brian Smith finished in the top four places respectively. The heavyweight class was again the largest of the black belt divisions. Mike Gibbs and John Trimceski fought a close match. It was the deceiving speed of Gibbs' left leg that resulted in his taking a 5-4 victory. Derrick Bradley placed third, and Joe Hartley fourth.Larry Hurley defeated Craig Griffis in the senior black belt division. Stacey Small took home first place honors in the women's black belt division with a victory over Allana Thompson. Debbie Jakubowicz placed third. In the grand championship semi finals Travis Plowden defeated Larry Hurley and Mike Gibbs took out Deon Rippy. Plowden and Gibbs then shared the grand championship title. The 13-15 year old black belt boys division has seen a steady increase in numbers. Many of these young men will be entering the adult division soon and the existing adult black belt competitors had better take notice. In today's world it is not un common for a 15 or 16 year old to have been training for almost a decade. This is in sharp contrast to the days when some one began training as a teenager. Many of today's teenagers are seasoned competitors. Thirteen year old Willie Hicks is getting such seasoning. He has set out to prove that what he did in the less competitive 12 & under division, he can do in the 13-15 class. Hick's team mate, Kamal Allison, although older but smaller gave Hicks a run for his money. Showing a huge heart, Allison gave Hicks a battle but succumbed by a 5-4 score. Larry King and Jermond Wiggins rounded out the field. Kiantay Winston won the 13-15 black belt girls division. "G.I" Jayne Stone placed second. Stephen Generette beat Nick Robyn in the 12 & under, with James Richardson placing third. The black belt adult forms grand championship brought together the day's winners: Tarrance Alfred, black belt forms, Al Panazzola, senior black belt forms, Dan Cousineau, black belt weapons, and Stacey Small, women's black belt. When the smoked cleared it was Cousineau's steady and quick hands that made his Bo sing, "I am today's grand champuion!". The judges agreed. Youth grand championships saw James Richardson taking home another bicycle to add to his collection. In the uncommon but much appreciated under black belt youth grand championships it was Kelvin Yan (nov), Jackson Spidell (int), and Marty Janzen (adv) who took home the rest of the prizes offered by promoter, Curtis Butler.
