CCBoy
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From the Rec Center at A&I University, I joined a beginning karate dojo. My instructor then, was Johnny Wooley. He was a black belt and one of the first instructors given one by Jun Rhee. Following up in our group, after Johnny won a National completion, were Jeff Smith and Billy McCoy. Smith won at the National levels as well as in the international arenas. McCoy won at the middle weight level, nationally.
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Kijewski vs. McCoy One of Chicago's super stars, Steve Kijewski, then look on newcomer Billy McCoy of Kingsville, Texas. The experienced, national star Kijewski was heavily favored. McCoy, however, had other ideas . and pulled out a 2-1 victory. Kijewski was suffering from an injury and had to forfeit his next match and settle for fourth place.
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1st fight with Chuck-Norris. Black Belt June 1967. At the beginning of 1967, during the "Tournament of Champions" organized by Henry Cho, Chuck Norris beats Leon Wallace, 42 years, with a judo throw, ippon seoi-nage. Norris loses one of his fight, against Bob Engle.
Chuck Norris meets Joe Lewis. Lewis out of the playing surface, comes back, his guard only at the half-ready for an instant. Chuck Norris sees the opening and drills a spinning back kick to Lewis's face. Norris wins the fight. Chuck Norris wins against Skipper Mullins. Lewis wins against LaSalle, Skipper Mullins and Bob Engle. Chuck Norris wins the Grand Champion, with 4 victories for 1 loss, as Joe Lewis.
In 1967, for the "Nationals Jhoon Rhee", Lewis has to go through the playoffs, because he is not the title holder. Lewis beats first Mitchell Bobrow, only 16 years old, and John Wooley in the finals.
__________
Traditional Karate and Taekwondo :
Jeffrey "Jeff" Smith is a practitioner of Taekwondo. He begins his career in this sport in Texas, before moving to Washington DC, where he trains with Jhoon Rhee. Jeff Smith is 5'11'', or 180 cm.
1970 :
Jeff Smith takes part at the Universal Open and Tournament of Champion, in New-York. His fight with Byron Jones is delayed, because of an accidental eye injury received by Jones.
1971 :
Jeff Smith took part in Mike Warren's Kim Joo II Tournament in Akron, Ohio. According to October 1971 Black-Belt issue, he finishes second in the lightweights ?, losing against Mike Warren.
Thereafter, Jeff Smith takes part in tournaments of traditional Karate.
1972 :
Jeff Smith wins the Grand-Champion of the Pan American Championships in Baltimore.
During the North American Championships in Toronto/Canada, Jeff Smith wins the heavyweights title, but loses against Mike Warren for the Grand-Champion.
1973 :
Battle of Atlanta. Jeff Smith beats Frank Hargrove, John Natividad and Everett Monsterman Eddy in the semi-finals. In finals, Howard Jackson beats Jeff Smith.
05.31.1973 : Jeff Smith beats Bill Wallace 5-1, Fred Wren 5-1, Darnell Garcia 5-1 and Howard jackson 6-5 at the US Pro/Am (or US Open Championships), in Ocean-City.
For the Karate Team Championships, the Texas team is composed of Kurban, Butin, Gotcher, Watson and Havanas, and is coached by Allen and Pat Steen Burleston. The Washington DC team, coached by Jhoon Rhee, is composed of Gordon Franks, Wayne Booth, Wayne Van Buren, Pat Worlen and Jeff Smith. Smith won his match against Havanas 3-0 and the team of Washington beat Texas 6-4.
Jeff Smith vs Demetrias Havanas
Jeff Smith (left) against Demetrias Havanas
US Team Championship 1973
Top Ten Nationals. Jeff Smith beats first John Natividad, and after James Butin for the heavyweights finals, 4-3. For the Grand-Champion, Jeff Smith loses against Johny Lee, during the first fight.
1973 : US Open Professional. Ocean City. Jeff Smith beats Howard Jackson 7-6, in the finals. Video of the fight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOjqz2SWdls
1973 : Jeff Smith wins the title of Grand Champion at the first "Professional Karate Tournament", for the West Coast team.
1974 :
Henry Cho's Tournament of Champion. Mike Warren beats Jeff Smith in the finals. Before that, Jeff Smith beats Doo Han Kim and William Oliver.
Jeff Smith loses against Ernest Russel, in the US championships, after a victory over Eddy Everett. Jeff Smith beats Everett Eddy once again during the team tournament and his team from Washington DC wins the title. Jeff Smith gets the trophy Bruce Lee, in the same time.
04.20.1974 : Battle of Atlanta : Jeff Smith def Johnny Lee, 4-3, then lost to Howard Jackson 4-3. For the 3rd place, Jeff Smith beats Eddy Everett, 3-2.
Beginning of may 1974 : On Hidy Ochiai's National Karate Classic, Jeff Smith loses against Eddy Everett, for the title of Grand Champion.
On May 17th 1974, in Berlin, is held the first European Championship Professional Karate. Various European fighters are selected for Los Angeles. At the end of the day, fights take place between the Europeans and the Americans. Jeff Smith def Harald Schrader by 5/0, second in the European middleweights.
A few days later, he beats before the limit Peter Kredijt, a Kyokushinkai practitioner, in a match between the USA and the Netherlands, in Amsterdam.
__________________________________
From that same time period, we had a core of youth athletes, that were to expand into baseball and strongly into football.
From that area then, were Eugene and his brother, Marvin Upshaws...but at the High School level in our district, was Burt Hooten, a pitcher for the state Champions-King Mustangs. He later pitched the Univeristy of Texas to a Collegiate World series and was Rookie of the Year when drafted by the Chicago Cubs. He ended up a Dodger and invented the knuckle curve ball, with success.
In our district, we had finalists at the state level, in baseball, basketball, and football. King, Kingsville, Miller
I played with Kingsville, and was an All District fullback and linebacker...but other players in this South Texas area, were Riley Odem, Broncos; David Hill, Rams; Dwight Harrison, Buffalo; Eldridge Small, Giants; Levi Johnson, Lions; Ernest Price, Lions; Don Hardeman, Oilers.
My karate was cut short from an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. I started the first karate dojo while there, although.
We brought down a 5th degree black belt from Denver.
As to football as a Falcon, Daryl Haas, Charlie Richardson, and I were on the ground level of a team that eventually played Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Daryl and Charlie were from Corpus Christi, and I was attending in Kingsville.
When I returned to Texas A&I, I mixed it up with those players I mentioned as being in high school at the same time as me...and in our area. We were lead by Gil Steinke, and my first season that team went undefeated and National Champs at NAIA level.
That team highlighted the later NFL players that I listed in mentioning our high school roots. All but Ernest Price and Don Hardeman earned Pro Bowl honors during their careers.
Now, why did I bother to include all of that?
Simple, a sense of competitiveness grows champions. Our area didn't take the attitude that someone else could win, but competed and developed talents to the level that we aggressively participated in sports, and at top levels.
If an area sporting community takes on the attitude that their players are second hand and below par from the start...sorry, but that is what one ends up with.
Too much of the media and too many fans of the Dallas Cowboys just prefer to insult and demean, and insure that motivation at the player levels, are attacked and held back.
Our region took a lot of support and given freely to it's athletes...and guess what, we achieved.
Not this fan, I'm going to support these 'rooks' and young players on the Dallas roster, right now...but also know, NOTHING, holds them back but those about them and themselves.
Me, I'm rooting for them with all my heart!
__________
Kijewski vs. McCoy One of Chicago's super stars, Steve Kijewski, then look on newcomer Billy McCoy of Kingsville, Texas. The experienced, national star Kijewski was heavily favored. McCoy, however, had other ideas . and pulled out a 2-1 victory. Kijewski was suffering from an injury and had to forfeit his next match and settle for fourth place.
__________
1st fight with Chuck-Norris. Black Belt June 1967. At the beginning of 1967, during the "Tournament of Champions" organized by Henry Cho, Chuck Norris beats Leon Wallace, 42 years, with a judo throw, ippon seoi-nage. Norris loses one of his fight, against Bob Engle.
Chuck Norris meets Joe Lewis. Lewis out of the playing surface, comes back, his guard only at the half-ready for an instant. Chuck Norris sees the opening and drills a spinning back kick to Lewis's face. Norris wins the fight. Chuck Norris wins against Skipper Mullins. Lewis wins against LaSalle, Skipper Mullins and Bob Engle. Chuck Norris wins the Grand Champion, with 4 victories for 1 loss, as Joe Lewis.
In 1967, for the "Nationals Jhoon Rhee", Lewis has to go through the playoffs, because he is not the title holder. Lewis beats first Mitchell Bobrow, only 16 years old, and John Wooley in the finals.
__________
Traditional Karate and Taekwondo :
Jeffrey "Jeff" Smith is a practitioner of Taekwondo. He begins his career in this sport in Texas, before moving to Washington DC, where he trains with Jhoon Rhee. Jeff Smith is 5'11'', or 180 cm.
1970 :
Jeff Smith takes part at the Universal Open and Tournament of Champion, in New-York. His fight with Byron Jones is delayed, because of an accidental eye injury received by Jones.
1971 :
Jeff Smith took part in Mike Warren's Kim Joo II Tournament in Akron, Ohio. According to October 1971 Black-Belt issue, he finishes second in the lightweights ?, losing against Mike Warren.
Thereafter, Jeff Smith takes part in tournaments of traditional Karate.
1972 :
Jeff Smith wins the Grand-Champion of the Pan American Championships in Baltimore.
During the North American Championships in Toronto/Canada, Jeff Smith wins the heavyweights title, but loses against Mike Warren for the Grand-Champion.
1973 :
Battle of Atlanta. Jeff Smith beats Frank Hargrove, John Natividad and Everett Monsterman Eddy in the semi-finals. In finals, Howard Jackson beats Jeff Smith.
05.31.1973 : Jeff Smith beats Bill Wallace 5-1, Fred Wren 5-1, Darnell Garcia 5-1 and Howard jackson 6-5 at the US Pro/Am (or US Open Championships), in Ocean-City.
For the Karate Team Championships, the Texas team is composed of Kurban, Butin, Gotcher, Watson and Havanas, and is coached by Allen and Pat Steen Burleston. The Washington DC team, coached by Jhoon Rhee, is composed of Gordon Franks, Wayne Booth, Wayne Van Buren, Pat Worlen and Jeff Smith. Smith won his match against Havanas 3-0 and the team of Washington beat Texas 6-4.
Jeff Smith vs Demetrias Havanas
Jeff Smith (left) against Demetrias Havanas
US Team Championship 1973
Top Ten Nationals. Jeff Smith beats first John Natividad, and after James Butin for the heavyweights finals, 4-3. For the Grand-Champion, Jeff Smith loses against Johny Lee, during the first fight.
1973 : US Open Professional. Ocean City. Jeff Smith beats Howard Jackson 7-6, in the finals. Video of the fight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOjqz2SWdls
1973 : Jeff Smith wins the title of Grand Champion at the first "Professional Karate Tournament", for the West Coast team.
1974 :
Henry Cho's Tournament of Champion. Mike Warren beats Jeff Smith in the finals. Before that, Jeff Smith beats Doo Han Kim and William Oliver.
Jeff Smith loses against Ernest Russel, in the US championships, after a victory over Eddy Everett. Jeff Smith beats Everett Eddy once again during the team tournament and his team from Washington DC wins the title. Jeff Smith gets the trophy Bruce Lee, in the same time.
04.20.1974 : Battle of Atlanta : Jeff Smith def Johnny Lee, 4-3, then lost to Howard Jackson 4-3. For the 3rd place, Jeff Smith beats Eddy Everett, 3-2.
Beginning of may 1974 : On Hidy Ochiai's National Karate Classic, Jeff Smith loses against Eddy Everett, for the title of Grand Champion.
On May 17th 1974, in Berlin, is held the first European Championship Professional Karate. Various European fighters are selected for Los Angeles. At the end of the day, fights take place between the Europeans and the Americans. Jeff Smith def Harald Schrader by 5/0, second in the European middleweights.
A few days later, he beats before the limit Peter Kredijt, a Kyokushinkai practitioner, in a match between the USA and the Netherlands, in Amsterdam.
__________________________________
From that same time period, we had a core of youth athletes, that were to expand into baseball and strongly into football.
From that area then, were Eugene and his brother, Marvin Upshaws...but at the High School level in our district, was Burt Hooten, a pitcher for the state Champions-King Mustangs. He later pitched the Univeristy of Texas to a Collegiate World series and was Rookie of the Year when drafted by the Chicago Cubs. He ended up a Dodger and invented the knuckle curve ball, with success.
In our district, we had finalists at the state level, in baseball, basketball, and football. King, Kingsville, Miller
I played with Kingsville, and was an All District fullback and linebacker...but other players in this South Texas area, were Riley Odem, Broncos; David Hill, Rams; Dwight Harrison, Buffalo; Eldridge Small, Giants; Levi Johnson, Lions; Ernest Price, Lions; Don Hardeman, Oilers.
My karate was cut short from an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. I started the first karate dojo while there, although.
We brought down a 5th degree black belt from Denver.
As to football as a Falcon, Daryl Haas, Charlie Richardson, and I were on the ground level of a team that eventually played Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl. Daryl and Charlie were from Corpus Christi, and I was attending in Kingsville.
When I returned to Texas A&I, I mixed it up with those players I mentioned as being in high school at the same time as me...and in our area. We were lead by Gil Steinke, and my first season that team went undefeated and National Champs at NAIA level.
That team highlighted the later NFL players that I listed in mentioning our high school roots. All but Ernest Price and Don Hardeman earned Pro Bowl honors during their careers.
Now, why did I bother to include all of that?
Simple, a sense of competitiveness grows champions. Our area didn't take the attitude that someone else could win, but competed and developed talents to the level that we aggressively participated in sports, and at top levels.
If an area sporting community takes on the attitude that their players are second hand and below par from the start...sorry, but that is what one ends up with.
Too much of the media and too many fans of the Dallas Cowboys just prefer to insult and demean, and insure that motivation at the player levels, are attacked and held back.
Our region took a lot of support and given freely to it's athletes...and guess what, we achieved.
Not this fan, I'm going to support these 'rooks' and young players on the Dallas roster, right now...but also know, NOTHING, holds them back but those about them and themselves.
Me, I'm rooting for them with all my heart!
