ISAIAH GATHINGS:First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Gibbs for developing a site and forum for us martial artists to congregate and fellowship. We all need a positive outlet, and this site is definitely providing one. In addition, it is providing very informative history and background information on martial artists of the past, present, and future. Thanks again Mr. Gibbs for the site and the interview!
MICHIGAN KARATE HISTORY:Mr. Gathings what inspired you to join martial arts?
IG:Well, martial arts has always inspired me. As a youth i was fascinated by it, much like today, and i would beg my mother to allow me to join a martial arts school. I am not a tall adult as many of you know, so you can only imagine my size as a youth! Consequently, i found myself being picked on often. Being that my mother was a single mom, she did not have the finances to allow me to join an academy, so i started informally training with some friends of mine in the neighborhood who could afford to go to a martial arts school and receive formal training. So, i suppose you can say that my inspirations were movies/television (like every kid) and not getting my butt kicked all around the neighborhood and school, lol.
MKH: Who was your first instructor?
IG: Well, as i stated, i had a few instructors who "informally" trained me initially. However, my first formal martial arts instructor was Cortez Franklin.
MKH: What other instructor's have you trained with?
IG: I have trained with Joseph and Dennis "The Mongoose" in Tae Kwon Do, Garland and Bryan in Muay Thai Kickboxing, Richard Plowden in everything-the martial arts, business, and life! lol, Jason Davis in wrestling, and i currently train with Montise Peterson in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai Kickboxing, and also with Ira Kendricks in Boxing.
MKH: Tell us what it is like to be a martial arts school owner?
IG: Well, when i first opened up a martial arts school i had this crazy idea that it was actually about "teaching martial arts". Can you believe that? Crazy huh? Well, after opening it up and running it for about the first year or so, i realized that teaching is a very small part of it. There are so many responsibilites that is involved with being a school owner. We have an obligation to the community to help to steer children and adults in the right direction, and we are responsible for our students safety much like a pastor is responsible for the souls of his members. It is very challenging at times, but it is truly a blessing to be able to do something in life that you absolutely love doing. I am a karate head. This is my life, martial arts consumes it. So, to be able to have a job that i am passionate about is the greatest feeling on earth. Some people hate getting up going to work from day to day. I get to go to my school and be a counselor and instructor to students of all ages. No matter how rough it gets....it is still a blessing and i wouldn't trade it for the world.
MKH: The Gathings are a martial arts family. What is it like having martial arts consume so much of your family time?
IG: Well, Mr. Plowden spoke at the MSKC banquet and said something that just made me smile...he said that for him and his family martial arts is "The Family Business". I smiled when he said that, because that's what it is for us. Aside from myself, my wife, son, daughter, nephew, and cousin all actively train in the martial arts. Heck, i even trained my mother for a few months this year!!! I can't lie, it is very tough! My kids don't have a normal life. They go to school, and then get picked up from school and come here to the school and stay here for about 6 hours before they go home. Once they go home they eat a late dinner and head right off to bed. Their only friends consist of the ones that they either make in school, or via the martial arts (the dojang/tournaments, etc). My wife works here and leaves before i do most times to get the kids home, and she has pretty much the same regime as they do. Our vacation most times consist of ones that revolve around out of town tournaments, lol (that's my doing folks...i told you, i'm a karate head!) lol. What many people don't understand is that full time martial arts instructors literally dedicate their LIFE to the martial arts. That means...their entire being. I am blessed because my family is active in the martial arts, and because it's the family business they all understand and enjoy doing this as much as i do. If they were not involved in this, i think that it would be a tremendous strain on the relationship and almost impossible to deal with. Once again though, i am blessed.
MKH: You also have jiu-jitsu and mma class' at your school how are those class' coming along?
IG: Those classes are going great! With the new boom of the UFC, this has abruptly become the era of MMA. Everyone thinks that they are a fighter now and everyone wants to fight. So, those classes are doing well because individuals get an opportunity to train and get a small taste of what the pro's are going through on a daily basis. I always tease the students when they are working out by telling them "This is the workout that the UFC pro's are doing! Remember this when you guys are sitting on the couch and drinking your beers and eating pizza, watching them, and yelling at the t.v. wondering why these guys are getting tired or fighting like bums", they always laugh. However, in the middle of the workout they begin to really develop a strong appreciation for what has to be done to be great at either BJJ or MMA. Those classes are great though Mike....i hope to get you in one someday soon...they are lots of fun! On top of that, they are great ways to stay in shape! I have some guys who have no aspirations of fighting, but they show up faithfully and work hard because they enjoy the environment and the workout.
MKH: Who are some of your favorite Michigan forms and weapons competitors from the past?
IG: Well many of you may laugh, but i remember as a youth Willie Hicks and Askia Allison had some AWESOME empty hand and weapons kata's! Willie did open hand, and Askia did weapons. They were in the grandchampionships all the time. Many people who haven't been around sport karate for long only know and recognize them as fighters...but because i grew up with them, i picked people who were in my age group to look up to as "role models" if you will. That doesn't mean that i didn't appreciate the kata's from many of the other people that have been named on this forum, but for some reason they just stick out to me. Also, Terrance Alfred had outstanding kata's as well!
MKH: How about present Michigan forms and weapons competitors?
IG: Well, presently in weapons and kata's i definitely love Brian Burgan (although he is currently out with a serious knee injury that may require surgery), Danny Pitlock, Michael Williams Sr., and Brian Kalakay. I think with a little bit more time and training....Theresa Sass will be on this list as well.
MKH: How about Past Michigan fighters?
IG: Past Michigan fighters that i loved were Richard Plowden (although i haven't saw quite as much footage on him as i would like to), Mike Muhaddadath, Cayenne Mayes, and Mike Gibbs. It's unfortunate, because many times when i was a youth under black belt i did not stay behind and watch many of the other fantastic black belt fighters like i should have. That's why i encourage all students to stay to the end of the tournament and watch the phenominal black belts that we have in our generation today...so that they can have some wonderful stories to tell along with tons of encouragement and motivation!
MKH: Present Michigan fighters?
IG: Present Michigan fighters that i love would have to be Willie Hicks, Travis Plowden, and Willie Brown. Those guys have a tremendous amount of talent and are very atheletic.
MKH: Who is your most admired martial artist?
IG: Well, i know the question is who is my MOST admired martial artist...however, i have to name both of them. My most admired martial artist would have to be Richard Plowden. He has accomplished so much in the martial arts throughout his life as well as opened up many doors for the Michigan martial artists of today. Aside from having a thriving school and team, he is also blessing others with his ability by working down at Kids Kicking Cancer. He is blessed to be a blessing, so i definitely admire that. He is also a family man and a business man. He used the martial arts as a way to be able to create so many opportunities for him, his family, and his extended family and friends. I cannot in good conscious not mention another one of my current instructors which is Montise Peterson. He is an accomplished martial artist and business man as well. I admire him for all that he has done and all that he is doing. He is a good friend who has offered a lot of advice to me as i was starting out with my school. He has also helped many people throughout the martial arts. His school offers a lot of diversity which brings students together in the community, and i definitely admire that.
MKH: Who has been the toughest competitor you have faced?
IG: Good question! I would have to say that the toughest competitor that i have faced in Michigan would have to be Willie Hicks. It is no disrespect to anyone else that i have faced, but he has so much talent and diversity. You never know what he is going to do! I have tapes on Willie every since he was a child. I have studied those things. He doesn't have very many tendacies and he never fights the same. Due to the fact that he competes nationally and regularly, he is almost always in some type of fighting shape. He doesn't have a "favorite" thing to do. He will hit you with whatever is available and he takes what you give him. I can remember fighting him about three years ago at Mr. Cousino's tournament and he hit me with a jump spinning back kick in the face! I was so grateful that i put my helmet on with the grill attached that day, lol!
MKH: We have seen great things from your school. What can we expect to see from the Academy Of Soo Do Thai in the future?
IG: Well, we are looking to get back to the National scene in the near future...we have just expanded our martial arts so much here, that we have so many things that we want to do and accomplish in the near future. We are big on the MMA and BJJ scene nowadays, so in 2008 i have some people traveling to compete in BJJ throughout the year, and i already have some promoters calling me trying to line up MMA fights for 2008. No worries, the MSKC is a big part of our life here, and we will still be active participants on the circuit. However, i definitely want to get more involved with the MMA and BJJ aspect while it is still booming!
MKH: Being a promoter on the MSKC Circuit what chages if any would you like to see?
IG: Great question! As a promoter i would like to see all of the promoters offer equal value and customer service at their event. Regardless as to what your rating is, we still need to represent the circuit with integrity, as well as ourselves and our schools. We need to all work to throw quality events and our goal should be overall satisfaction from the competitors, parents, and instructors. We all know that you can't please everyone, however we should attempt to please the masses by having a great event that individuals can have a great time at. Also, and i have said this time and time again, consistency. The biggest complaint that i have heard is the lack of consistency. How we start the year should be how we proceed throughout it and how we end it. We need to make sure that everyone fully understands the rules and expectations and stays within those guidelines at their events. We also need to make sure that we have "tournament savy" individuals deciding the outcome of these rings. If we can stay consistent and keep quality and customer service in mind....we will have the best year ever!
MKH: Mr Gathings thank-you so much for your time!
IG: Thank you Mr. Gibbs for the interview. It was fun, and hopefully informative for many.
