|
The World Of Martial Arts Loses 2 Great People
On The Same Day...
- November 8th, 2008 -
Some of the photos in these articles came from www.martialinfo.com
In the ever changing world of Martial Arts, many have forgotten what Martial Arts is really about. With the passing of two great individuals of the Martial Arts world on our minds, we thought we would remind those who have trained more than 20 years ago of their past, and enlighten those Martial Artists of today what they missed from a time now forgotten. From the Journey of the Vanishing Martial Artist...
"As I stared at the face in the glass, I asked for the answer to life and the inner strength to deal with the challenges and adversities I faces ahead. One day I faced a choice in my life of two paths. I chose the one less traveled, to see why the others have passed it by. My path was the way of the martial artist. I did so because I wanted the challenge of facing those greater than myself. In doing so, I have walked the hard wooden floors of the dojo, kick after kick, punch after punch, and as I reached 1000, I chose to begin again as I searched for the answer of my being. I struck the makiwara board until the blood of my knuckles turned the rope red, as I desired to find The Way. I became a strong and fast tiger, in no time breaking boards and bricks with quickness and power. Still I strived for perfection, although knowing it doesn't exist, knowing only that each level of excellence is another level of beginning I would face as I sought life's secrets. I stared stone cold into the eyes of the enemy; those many great warriors who chose to test their martial skills in a battle against mine. I sought the way while barefoot in the cold winter, forcing my mind to ignore my bloody feet that left blood, red footprints in the crystal white snow. My Gi dripped with sweat as my feet blistered on the hot sand and rock while their only relief was a thousand kicks high into the desert air. I have done these things because I have chose to. I chose to seek my limits while seeking to find myself. Then one day, I realized that while the tiger was quick; there was another beast more powerful - the dragon. I learned in time that the dragon's power was far greater. For with one sweep of its tail or a blow of its fiery breath, it could defeat any opponent. But the dragon, knowing it had the power, chose not to use it. For it knew that true power was also patience and control of such power. This, I learned, was real power. Knowing you could defeat your opponent, and choosing not to. One day, as my sweaty and tired body staggered towards the mirror at the end of my workout, I felt the power of the dragon come to me. Then suddenly, I realized, I was always a dragon. For the answers of life and the search for the dragon within me was hidden, within my own desire, to grasp it. To believe in myself enough to let me become it. To accept my own strength, my own courage, my own power. I cleansed my body with the sweat from my pores and as I wiped it away, I realized where the dragon lies. It was always in the face staring back in the glass."
Master Hidetaka Nishiyama
JAPAN'S LIVING LEGEND DIES AT 80.
(October 10th, 1928 - November 8th, 2008)
Press: International Traditional Karate Federation
The Karate world is in mourning following the passing of the President and Chairman of the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF), Hidetaka Nishiyama at the age of 80. Mr. Nishiyama was a world renowned karate master well known for his steadfast dedication to the preservation and protection of the Martial Art of Traditional Karate.
"Mr. Nishiyama passed away peacefully following his struggle with cancer", a family spokesperson said. Mr. Nishiyama dedicated his life to the Budo principles on which his beloved Martial Art of Traditional Karate is based. As a Charter Member of the Japan Karate Association and founding President of the Japan Karate Association International of America and the International Traditional Karate Federation, his influence on the modern day practice of Traditional Karate is unparalleled.
"He was truly one of a kind", said Acting ITKF Chairman, Rick Jorgensen. "He has greatly influenced and impacted the lives of those who practice Traditional Karate." "His vision was very broad. It included people of all ages and all styles of karate", said Jorgensen. "Sensei Nishiyama strongly held the belief that the Martial Art of Traditional Karate was a path of self development. School children, adults and seniors can use the principles of Traditional Karate to achieve their highest potential through the human development of mind, body and spirit. In the last years of his life, he created a system of training these Budo principles for the use in all styles of karate. He believed that creation of a universal system for self development through Budo training was his greatest achievement. He left the ITKF with that treasure of knowledge."
"It is now up to the ITKF to ensure Sensei Nishiyama's life work carries on and that we are unwavering in our commitment to preserve for future generations the Budo principles of the Martial Art that he saw as the necessary underpinnings for those who practice Traditional Karate".
Born in Tokyo, Japan, on October 10th, 1928, Mr. Nishiyama had a long history of Martial Art training beginning at a very early age. He began training in Kendo under the instruction of his father, an accomplished Kendo master, at the age of 5. At the age of 10 he began his training in Judo and in 1943 he joined the Shotokan karate dojo where he achieved his first degree black belt in 1946 under Master Gichin Funakoshi. Regardless of where Mr. Nishiyama traveled, he left his mark as a leader. He was named captain of the Takushoku University Karate Team and was co-founder of the All Japan Collegiate Karate Federation. He received a Master of Arts degree in economics from Takushoku University and in 1951 he co-founded the Japan Karate Association and was elected to its Board of Directors.
In 1960 he published his first book: Karate: The Art of Empty-Hand Fighting. Today, his book still remains one of the foremost authoritative writings on the Martial Art of Traditional Karate.
In 1961, following his move to the United States, Mr. Nishiyama formed the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF). He later formed the JKA-US that set standards for the practice of the JKA style of karate. In 1973, he formed the International Amateur Karate Federation (which later became the International Traditional Karate Federation) and in 1976 submitted the first application to the International Olympic Committee for recognition of Traditional Karate on behalf of its athletes representing different styles of Traditional Karate.
Nishiyama trained a wide variaty of different martial artist from the straight, non sport traditional to the traditional as well as sport fighters such as Joe Lewis in 1967 who was one of the greatest Martial Arts Fighters of all time.
In 1999, Mr. Nishiyama received an American flag which had flown over the Capitol Building in his honor on October 10th, the date of his birthday. The flag was in recognition of his unwavering effort on behalf of Traditional Karate and to acknowledge his significant contribution to the physical and psychological health of Americans.
In 2000, he was honored by the Emperor of Japan who presented him with the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
The Republic of Poland also honored him in 2001 with the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, which was presented in Warsaw by the nation's President, Aleksander Kwaśniewski at the opening ceremony of the first Traditional Karate World Cup.
A Short Biography of Master Hidetaka Nishiyama
Joe Hyams
Best-selling Author and Martial Arts Pioneer, Dies at 85.
(June 6th, 1923 - November 8th, 2008)
By LA Times staff writer Dennis McLellan
Joe Hyams, a former Hollywood columnist and best-selling author of books ranging from biographies of Humphrey Bogart and James Dean to a popular tome on Eastern philosophy, has died. He was 85. Hyams, a longtime Los Angeles resident who moved to Penrose, Colorado, three years ago, died of coronary artery disease Saturday at a Denver hospital, said his wife of 14 years, Melissa.
A former West Coast bureau chief for the New York Herald Tribune who once was married to actress Elke Sommer, Hyams covered Hollywood as a syndicated columnist from 1951 to 1964. He then continued chronicling Hollywood for the Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal, Redbook and other magazines for several more years.
"He was a Hollywood insider," movie producer David Permut, a longtime friend, told The Times on Tuesday. "Everybody knew Joe, and he knew everybody. He was a great wit, a great guy."
The author of more than 25 books, Hyams tapped his insider status in many of them, including the biographies "Bogie" (1966), "Bogart & Bacall: A Love Story" (1975) and "James Dean: Little Boy Lost" (1992), written with his son Jay. He also wrote the Hollywood-set novels "The Pool" and "Murder at the Academy Awards."
Among his other books are "Flight of the Avenger: George Bush at War" (1991) and, with Tom Murton, the 1969 nonfiction book "Accomplices to the Crime: The Arkansas Prison Scandal," on which "Brubaker," the 1980 movie starring Robert Redford, was based.
As an author, Hyams also worked in the 1980s with Chuck Norris on Norris' "The Secret of Inner Strength: My Story", President Reagan's son Michael on his "Michael Reagan: On the Outside Looking In" and with Joe Lewis on his book, "How To Master Bruce Lee's Fighting System."
Besides his reputation as a Hollywood chronicler, Hyams also was known as an icon in the martial arts community.
Hyams, who studied martial arts for more than 50 years, was the author of the 1979 book "Zen In the Martial Arts."
Melissa Hyams said the slim book "isn't really about martial arts. It's about life and philosophy, and how to turn a negative into a positive, how to defuse a situation by the way you handle it. That's what he'll most be remembered for."
Hyams was born September 6th, 1923, in Cambridge, Mass. Reared in Brookline, Mass., he was attending Harvard University when he enlisted in the Army in 1942. While serving in the South Pacific, he received a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star and later covered the war as a field correspondent for the Stars and Stripes newspaper.
After the war, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees at New York University and went to work for the New York Herald Tribune.
As Hyams wrote in his 1973 autobiography "Mislaid in Hollywood," his career covering the movie capital began in 1951 when the Herald Tribune sent him west to do an article on illegal immigrants. As recounted by his wife Tuesday, Hyams was dropped off in Mexico by the pilot of a small airplane and made the border crossing himself with a group of illegal immigrants. After he completed the story, his editor in New York told him that a room had been arranged for him at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "Take a break," he was told, "and if you get a chance to interview any movie stars, go for it." Hyams was sitting by the hotel pool smoking his pipe when he began chatting with a gentleman who asked him what he was doing in Los Angeles. After explaining that his editor wanted him to interview movie stars, the man said, "How would you like to interview Humphrey Bogart?" The man was Bogart's press agent, and the next day he took Hyams to Bogart's home.
The tough-guy actor was behind the bar when Hyams walked in. "What'll you have to drink?" Bogart asked him. 'I'll have a Coke," Hyams said. "The bar's open," Bogart said. "What will you have to drink?"
Hyams repeated that he'd have a Coke. Leveling his gaze on Hyams, Bogart said, "I don't trust a journalist who doesn't drink, or a man who has more hair on his head than I do." At that, Hyams pocketed his notepad and started walking toward the door. "Where are you going?" Bogart said. "Mr. Bogart, I have two things to tell you," Hyams said. "I don't drink, and a newborn baby has more hair on his head than you do." To which Bogart said, "Get back here, kid. I like you."
By the end of the week, Melissa Hyams said, "Joe had interviewed Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Frank Sinatra. And the newspaper [editor] said, 'I don't know what you're doing, but you're moving out there.' "
During his years in Hollywood, she said, "Joe made many, many friendships. He always considered Bogie to be his mentor there and the person responsible for giving him the opportunity to become what he was." In addition to his wife Melissa, Hyams is survived by sons Jay and Chris; daughters Beverly Hyams and Dianne Byrne; stepdaughters Charisse Older and Kara Connor; and five grandchildren.
Instead of flowers, donations may be made in Hyams' name to Guide Dogs of America - www.guidedogsofamerica.org
A list of Joe Hyams books can be found by clicking HERE.
|
Favorites
Digg
Del.icio.us
Furl
Magnolia
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo MyWeb
HOME
SEARCH
ICONS
RING GIRLS
NEWS
GALLERY
FORUM
