Tournaments and Promoters

Introduction :

American traditional karate tournaments are held on a regular basis since the 1960's. The promoters decide of the qualifications and participants, mostly Americans. In addition, competitors may come from various styles, as karate and Taekwondo. No federation regulates this sport.

The tournaments were often divided into weight classes (light, medium, medium-heavy and heavy). The winners of each category met for the title of Grand Champion.

Major tournaments and organizers :

Ed Parker :

Born in Hawaii, Ed Parker gets a black belt in judo at the age of 15. In 1953, he received his black belt in Kempo, from William Chow.

In 1956, Ed Parker arrives in California / USA, to teach Kempo. He founded the American Kempo Karate, using various techniques from other martial arts. He also creates the IKKA, International Kempo Karate Association.

He becomes a karate instructor, and develops, like others, a franchise system for his schools.

In 1973 and 1974, the film "New Gladiators" is turned. A team of karatekas (Ron Marchini, Benny Urquidez, Darnell Garcia, Tom Kelly and John Natividad) went to Belgium and England. Ed Parker is at the head of this team. Elvis Presley finances the project. A demonstration by Elvis, September 16, 1974, is included in this film.

The most famous student of Ed Parker was Elvis Presley,
Bringing here a beautiful red belt ...

Ed Parker died in 1990, at the age of 59.

Videos demonstrations of Ed Parker are available on You Tube at this address :http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=gFSUPDGvFVM. We also include a video of Elvis Presley, "practicing" karate, http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=hRJP6I7fAqU , with Bill Wallace for a short time.

Elvis Presley would have received an honorary belt in Kempo 8th Dan, for his promotion.

His tournament :

Since 1964, and for 27 years, Ed Parker is organising the "Internationals Karate Championships."

At the first issue in 1964, won by Mike Stone, Bruce Lee presents a demonstration of punch arrested.

In 1973, an amount of USD 2,500 .-- is offered for the title of Grand Champion. John Natividad, a student of Chuck Norris, beats Benny Urquidez by 13 to 12. This battle is considered as one of the best, in light-contact.

In 1974, 6,000 fighters are participating in the tournament. In 1975, an amount of USD 16'250 is scheduled for the championship Pro/Am. The winner of the katas wins about USD 1,000 .--.

Main results :

1964: Mike Stone winner against Harry Keolanui for the Grand Champion
1965: Mike Stone winner of the Grand Champion, beats Art Pelela and Tony Tulleners
1966: Allen Steen beats Chuck Norris and Joe Lewis.
1967: Chuck Norris beats Joe Lewis for the title of Grand Champion.
1968: Chuck Norris beats Steve Sanders for the Grand Champion. Joe Lewis was disqualified for having struck an opponent. He is also sent to the canvas by Jim Harrison.
1969: Joe Lewis wins Grand Champion
1970: Joe Lewis wins Grand Champion
1971: Joe Lewis wins maybe Grand Champion against Steve Sanders
1972: Joe Lewis loses against Darnell Garcia, for the Grand Champion

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Allen Steen :

Allen Steen, Texas, practice the Tang Soo Do since 1959. In 1962, he received his black belt from the hands of Jhoon Rhee.

After the Jhoon Rhee's departing for Washington, Allen Steen is teaching Karate in Texas (named Texas Blood and Guts Karate, because of his violence), as well as in franchised schools .

In 1963, Allen Steen eventually gets second place at the World Championships in Chicago. Note that this title is awarded by the organizer of the tournament and has nothing to do with a real title of World Champion.

Allen Steen is the director of the Southwest Black Belt Karate Association, which he founded in 1967. This organization became the American Black Belt Karate Association, in 1972. He also takes care of Texas Karate Institute in Dallas.

In 1966, he won the All American Grand Championship and the International Championships, Grand Champion. He is part of the winning team of US National Karate Team, Hawaii. He withdrew from the competition in 1967.

Allen Steen (left) vs. Chuck Norris

Steen is one of the few to have beaten Mike Stone, even though he was still brown belt.

Among the student of Steen are included Mike Anderson, Pat Burleson, Skipper Mullins, Fred Weren, Demetrius Havanas, Jim Butin and Roy Kurban.

In 1980, Allen Steen is announced as the 10th Dan black belt.

His tournament :

In 1963, Steen created the "Southwest Karate Championships", which became in 1964 the United States Karate Championships. " According to some sources, Mike Stone, still brown belt, won the black belts tournament and Allen Steen won the Grand Champion. This championship is held for 25 years the second weekend of February and cared by Allen Steen.

In 1964, there are 133 fighters from 32 schools and 2'100 spectators.

In 1965, the tournament is renamed the "US Karate Championships."

In 1973, 1'047 competitors are present, as 8,000 spectators.

Main results :

Grand Champion :
1963: Allen Steen beats Mac Coy
1964: Keith See beats Allen Steen
1965: David Moon beats Corselio. According to other sources, the runner-up was AlGene Caraulia
1966: David Moon def Pat Burleson
1967: David Moon beats Terry Conver
1968: Joe Lewis vs. Chuck Norris
1969: Fred Wren beats Jim Harrison
1970: Fred Wren def Bill Watson
1971: Bill Wallace beats Skipper Mullins
1972: Bob Dunek beats Roy Kurban
1973: Bill Wallace beats Roy Kurban
1974: Bill Wallace beats Flem Evans

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Jhoon Rhee :

A section is devoted in this blog to Jhoon Rhee and his invention of the protections, which need not be repeated here.

Jhoon Rhee arrives in the USA in 1956, and teaches the Taekwondo in Texas , then named Tang Soo Do. Among his students, is included Allen Steen.

Jhoon Rhee moved to Washington in 1962. He opens many schools around the world, organizes a variety of demonstrations, including a famous American politicians tournament between seniors.

Jhoon Rhee in action

In full-contact time, Jhoon Rhee created the Black Belt World League/WBBL.

Among his students, we can cite Jeff Smith and Mike Anderson.

On You Tube can be find videos from various Jhoon Rhee : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=lUYReyqgh1w.

His tournament :

Jhoon Rhee organizes in 1964, the "US National Karate Championships," in Washington. This is the first tournament filmed by television for the program Wide World of Sports. In 1964, he organizes also the First Southwest Karate Championships in Dallas, Keith See is the winner, facing Allen Steen.

Main results :

1964: Pat Burleson wins the first title, vs Herbert Peters.
1965: Mike Stone def Walt Worthy?, Grand Champion
1966: Joe Lewis wins the title against LaPuppet and wins the katas.
1967: Joe Lewis beats Frank Hargrowe
1968: Joe Lewis wins
1969: Joe Lewis wins
1970: Pat Worley wins the title of Grand Champion.

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Henry Cho :

Henry Cho is the 9th dan black belt in taekwondo. The Korean arrived in the USA as a student. He opened a school in New York in 1961 and participated in numerous demonstrations.

In 1974, he founded the branch of Taekwondo in the Amateur Athletic Union, AAU. Thereafter, it will become the USTU, becoming a full member of the US Olympic Committee.

Henry Cho

His tournament :

Since 1965, he administers the "All American Open Taekwondo/Karate/Kung Fu Championships Tournament." Henry Cho products it during 23 years, at the Madison Square Garden.

Main results :

The winners :
1965: LaPuppet
1966: Julio La Salle
1967: Chuck Norris
1968: Chuck Norris
1969: Mitchell Bobrow
1970: William Swift
1971: Yu Byong Youg
1972: Mike Warren
1973: Albert Cheeks
1974: Michael Warren
1975: George Thanos
1976: Donnie Collins
1977: Michael Warren
1978: Gerard Robbins
1979: Michael Warren

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Robert Trias :

With Robert Trias, born in 1923, we encounter one of the US Karate pioneers. He learned this art while serving during World War II in the Solomon Islands. He also practiced boxing and judo. He teaches in the USA, and creates the United States Karate Association / USKA.

Robert Trias

Among his students, we mention Scott Ross and Victor Moore.

His tournament :

In 1963, Robert Trias organizes the "First World Karate Tournament" in Chicago, primarily to open American fighters, in spite of its name. This tournament becomes the "USKA Nationals" in 1966 and "USKA Grand Nationals" in 1968.

Main results :

1963 : Al Caraulia Gene
1964 : Victor Moore beats the champion from Hawaii. According to other sources, Mike Stone wins over Ray Cooper in the semi-finals and Mill Crenshaw in the finals.
1968 : Victor Moore beats Joe Lewis for the World's Hemisphere Karate Championships, (sometimes called World's Fair) USKA Grand National
1969 : Victor Moore beats Mike Stone, for the World Championships Team
1970 : Victor Moore beats Bill Wallace for the first USKA Professional World Championships
1972 : Bill Wallace beats Joe Lewis
1973 : Bill Wallace beats ?
1974 : Flem Evans beats Bill Wallace
1975 : Flem Evans wins
1976 : Flem Evans wins

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Aaron Banks :

Aaron Banks gets his karate black belt in 1962, after having been a student of John Kuhl, practicing Goju Ryu. He opened his own school in New York. Aaron Banks holds his first demonstration in 1963.

Aaron Banks

With Al Weiss, he publishes the newspaper Official Karate since 1968, less traditional than Black Belt Magazine. He organizes the Oriental World of Self Defense, itinerant exhibition.

He also takes care of the newspaper World Karate, in the 1970's.

His tournaments :

East Coast vs. West Coast, In 1968, at the Manhattan Center in New York, during a tournament organized by Aaron Banks, the team of the East Coast beats the West Coast team. The winning team, coached by Ed Parker, is represented by Joe Lewis, Steve Sanders, Chuck Norris, and Jerry Taylor. The team from the East, coached by Banks, is represented by Thomas LaPuppet, Joe Hayes, Kazuyoshi Tanaka and Louis Delgado. 3,800 spectators were present at the Manhattan Center. Lewis wins against LaPuppet with a final side-kick and wins also against Louis Delgado. In the same tournament, Delgado beats Norris, Jerry Taylor beats Joseph Hayes, Norris beats LaPuppet, Tanaka beats Sanders and Taylor beat s Tanaka. These could be traditional Karate.

In 1968, Aaron Banks organizes the "Orient vs US" tournament. Joe Lewis lost against N. Tanaka, from Shotokan, and living in the USA. According to the journal "Black Belt" from dec 1968, Joe Lewis was penalized for violent banned blows and had a bad conduct on the canvas. In the same tournament, Joe Hayes beats Bob Chin, a kung-fu man. Dwight "Hawk" Frazier beats Shoen, a Bando style player. Shigeru Numano, Gensei-Ryu style, beats Luis Delgado. Ron Marchini beats Hoy Lee, Bando style. Chuck Norris beats Theodore Wong, Shotokan. US team wins against Orient. The audience had a bad attitude against the Orient Team.

World Professional Karate Championship. The following information is drawn from May 1969 Black Belt issue. This professional karate meeting is organized by Aaron Banks on November 24th 1968. It takes place at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. There is possibly 3 rounds per fights.

David Moon, Texas, def Canadian Wally Slocki, by 39 to 38. The match was tight and the crowd enthusiastic. Kazuyoshi Tanaka of Japan meets Skipper Mullins, for the lightweights world title. Skipper Mullins would have earned the title of the lightweights at the professional championship in Dallas, a few weeks ago. Mullins dominates the Japanese and win by 91 to 66.

Chuck Norris wants to take revenge, facing Louis Delgado, his defeat collected the year before, during the encounter between West Coast and East Coast. Delgado is more than 10 years younger than his opponent. Norris sends Delgado to the canvas, with a punch, in the first round. In the second, Delgado sends his opponent to the canvas, with a kick in the mouth. The fight resumed so fierce and in the end, Chuck Norris wins by 101 to 93. According to other versions, Delgado would have suffered from a broken arm.

Mike Stone dominates widely against Bob Taiani, alias Tara Takayuki. At a certain point, the doctor finds that Mike Stone has broken his ankle. Despite this, the game resumed and Stone wins by 93 to 70.

Joe Lewis, presented as the "Bad-Boy from Karate" in the journal Black Belt, meets Victor Moore. Both fighters, dressed in black, use many kicks. Joe Lewis is cut above the eye. In the end, the crowd applauds the fighters and Lewis wins by 84 to 66. Each winner would have earned U.S. $ 600 .--. Only Chuck Norris would have defended his title the following year, against an unknown opponent.

Something is surprising. In this article, the name "World Championships" is used only once, and it concerns only the battle between Tanaka and Mullins. A question remains. When this tournament became a World Championship for all participants, as seems to show the various current enrolment in records.

We should not confuse this tournament with the "World Professional Karate Championships WPKC ", organized in February 1968, in Kansas City, by Jim Harrison.

At the full-contact time, Aaron Banks creates the "World Professional Karate Organization / WPKO" and organizes on May 10, 1975, an evening with 4 World Championships, Joe Hess in the heavyweights, Fred Miller in the light heavyweights, Kasim Dubur (Dubar) in the middleweights and Benny Urquidez in the lightweights. In this blog, a special article is about this tournament.

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Mike Anderson :

Born in the USA, he practices various sports, including Taekwondo since 1961. he was a student of Jhoon Rhee.

Mike Anderson is studying in Germany, where he teaches his art. He teaches the Taekwondo to Georg Brückner, head of the Brückner Institut in Berlin, fighting sports pioneer in Germany.

Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson participates in various tournaments in Europe, before returning to the USA. He publishes the newspaper "Professional Karate" .

We have already spoken about Mike Anderson in the article about the Sept. 17, 1974 in Los-Angeles and the creation of the PKA, two weeks after.

He leaves PKA, which he created, before founding WMAA. This federation becomes the WAKO, with Anderson as President for many years. Brückner is in charge of the development of the WAKO in Europe.

Thereafter, Anderson will organize various competitions in full-contact, as the evening in Paris in 1976, with the USA team against Europe (mentioned in another article).

His tournament :

Mike Anderson is organizing the tournament named Top-Ten National or Top-Ten Grand National. In 1973, Jhoon Rhee protections are used for the first (or second) time in history, in his tournament. In 1974, the tournament becomes the Top-Ten National Professional Karate and includes a competition of professional Katas.

Main results :

1972: Chuck Loven wins a title and Bill Wallace wins another title
1973: Howard Jackson wins the title of Grand Champion
1974: No title of Grand Champion
Gordon Franks beats Cecil Peoples for the lightweights
Bill Wallace beats Flem Evans for the middleweights
Jim Butin beats Jeff Smith for the light heavyweights
Eddy "Monster Man" Everett beats Joe Lewis for the heavyweights

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Joe Corley :

He starts with Tang Soo Do in 1963 and receives his black belt in 1966. He opens his first school in 1967, at age 21.

Joe Corley Wallace met Bill in 1975,
For the world title means PKA in full-contact.

Currently, Joe Corley still teaches karate.

His tournament :

Joe Corley has organized in Atlanta the "Battle of Atlanta"since 1970. At the time, only two weight classes exist, heavyweights and lightweights. The Battle of Atlanta was first organized in traditional karate, and after in professional before introducing the full-contact.

In 1973, 800 fighters took part in the competition. Since then, the tournament has not ceased to grow and be the subject of numerous TV reports.

The name of the tournament is also a famous battle during the Civil War.

Main results :

1970: Joe Lewis beats Mitchell Bobrow for the heavyweights and Joe Hayes for the Grand Championship.
1973: Howard Jackson wins the title.
1974: Howard Jackson wins the title, beating Fred Wren by 8-5 and Jeff Smith by 4-3 . In the final, he beats Mike Warren. For the 3rd place, Jeff Smith beats Eddy Everett 3-2.
In 1975, Joe Corley meets Bill Wallace, for the middleweights title in full-contact, in front of 12,000 spectators. Bill Wallace wins by tko in the 9th rounds.
In 1977, Ross Scott beats Jerry Rhome by ko, in full-contact.

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Conclusion :

The success of tournaments corresponded with the emergence of outstanding champions, as Joe or Bill Lewis Wallace, among others. In addition, media coverage has been ensured, surfing with the incredible success of the martial arts, during this time.

Howard Jackson, a very talented champion

Introduction :

Howard Jackson, 5'5'', 145 lbs, was born in 1951, in a poor family of the USA, and very quickly becomes an orphan. He practices Tang Soo Do. He joins the Marines and trains with Chuck Norris and Bob Wall's team.

Traditional Karate :

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

Jackson wins the Top Ten Grand Champion, in St. Louis in 1973, beating Johnny Lee for the Grand Champion. He twice wins the Grand Champion of the Battle of Atlanta, in 1973 and 1974. In 1973, Jackson beats Glenn Keeney and Bill Wallace, in the semi-finals and Jeff Smith in the finals. In 1974, Howard Jackson beats Fred Wren 8-5 and Jeff Smith by 4-3. In the final, he beats Mike Warren.

Atlanta, 1973. Jackson, on the canvas, beats Jeff Smith.

In 1974, he wins the US Championships in Dallas, beating Larry Carnahan and Fred Wren.

In July 1974, he loses against Gordon Franks at the Top Ten Nationals. During that match, Howard Jackson is already suffering from a knee injury, suffered during the Rocky Mountain Championships, after rolling on an waste, during a match.

Professional Karate :

In 1974, at the United States Professional Championships in Dallas, Howard Jackson beats Larry Carnahan.

During the tour of the USA team in Europe, to select opponents for Los Angeles, Howard Jackson beats Frank Knittel by 4/0, in Berlin, in May 1974.

Semi-contact or points-karate :

We do not know anything of his career in this sport, few distinct from other at the time. Here is the link to a fight, certainly in semi-contact, disputed by Howard Jackson. Http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=YWv03e99IxM

Full-contact :

During the first full-contact World Championships, on Sept. 14th 1974, in Los Angeles, Howard Jackson is announced as the big favourite in his category, the lightweights. His opponent in the semi-final is Ramon Smith, 22 years old, of the Dominican Republic. He is hired two weeks before the championships, to replace Jose Luis Olivares, Mexico. The latter is a practitioner of Taekwondo. With Ramiro Guzman and Isaias Duenas, he wins the team bronze medal, at the first World Championships, in Seoul, in 1973.

Ramon Smith also practices Taekwondo, but his name does not appear among those of the medallists, at any World Championships.

Howard Jackson is still injured with his knee. He loses on points against Ramon Smith, in 3 rounds. Throughout the match, the two opponents are trying to put themselves to the ground.

Howard Jackson (left) against Ramon Smith

After a return to the competition in 1976 with a points victory over Sam Montgomery, Howard Jackson beats Ricci Wynn, kenpo, in Hawaii. In the first round, Wynn sent Jackson through the ropes. At the end of the round, Jackson connected with a left hook that knocked Wynn out.

Howard Jackson loses by tko in the 4th, against Benny Urquidez, in the lightweights, in Las Vegas, on 04.23.1977. Short video : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDYP1qPJ1M.

Howard Jackson beats also Ricci Wynn, Miguel Saunders, Sam Montgomery, Ray McCallum, Jerry Galarza, Tabata and Toshio Arima. He becomes the no 1 challenger, for the WKA and the PKA.

In 1979, Howard Jackson beats on points Richard Jackson.

In 1980, Howard Jackson wins the WKA World Champion title, in the welterweights, beating the Japanese Yoshimitsu Tamashiro, on points, in Las Vegas.

Kick-Boxing :

In 1981, he beats Miyaso Chiba and becomes WKA Kick-Boxing World Champion, in the light middleweights.

He also fights against Toshio Tabata, Arima and Ozaki, without further specification.

Howard Jackson (left), during a match kick-boxing

On 04.21.1984, Jackson meets the Dutch Andre Brilleman and loses his WKA full-contact title on points in 12 rounds. At this time, Jackson is unbeaten since 4 years. Http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7269965542845058107.

Jackson is sent to the canvas in the 1st round, after a hook from his opponent, and in the 2nd, after a low-kick.

Andre Brilleman, practicing kick-boxing in the Mejiro Gym, is part of the drugs market and is assassinated in 1985.

Howard Jackson as a record with 23 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, and 12 ko, according to the Ok's Full Contact Report 1984.

Boxing :

Howard Jackson also practices boxing, with a record of 15 wins (8 kos), 12 losses and 3 draws, from 1977 to 1982, according to boxrec.

One of his opponents, Pete Ranzany, is well known. Jackson loses against him by ko in the 8th. Ranzany disputes and loses, meanwhile, fights against the future or former World Champions, Pipino Cuevas, Sugar Ray Leonard, Wilfred Benitez and Milton McCrory.

Howard Jackson boxer (left)

Howard Jackson disputes the title of Nevada Champion, in the welterweights, in 1979. He beats Jimmy Jackson, on points, after 12 rounds, before losing the title on points, also after 12 rounds.

Once, he was ranked No. 6 in the WBA rankings, for the welterweights.

Conclusions :

With his very fast execution, Howard Jackson could beat opponents larger and heavier than him. Many excerpts from his fighting are available at : http://www.howardjackson.net/

He was announced as having won major titles (except World Champion Title), both in karate, semi-contact, full-contact and kick-boxing.

1974: Berlin. European professional karate debuts and not the full-contact.

Introduction :

On May 17th 1974, at the Deutschlandhalle 8, in West Berlin, a Karate all styles European tournament is organized, with 200 participants. In the press, it is advertised as "The First European Professional Karate Championships" and is open to all black belts, whatever their style.

This tournament is organized by Georg Brückner, head of the Karate Institut in Berlin. The advertising state that a seminar also take place on May 18th 1974, with the American fighters. Mike Anderson, head of the newspaper "Professional Karate", was in charge of the production of the event and hired the US fighters. The two aforementioned worked together in Germany during the 1960's, practicing Taekwondo, among others.

Poster of the championships

On the poster, the match-maker announces the all-styles karate European Championships, only open to black belts, with four weight categories. A team tournament is also mentioned, between the United States and Europe. No details are given about the rules of the fights and the protections used. The term "professional" is not used.

Special message :

If you have any information about this tournament, please send them to me (articles, photos, results). Thank you.

During the evening, several demonstrations were presented by Byong Yu, Hidy Ochiai and Al Dacascos, who will also be on the agenda of the September 14, 1974, in Los Angeles. The same goes for Jim Harrison and Takayuki Mikami, as referees, and the widow of Bruce Lee, as a special guest.

The tournament between Europeans :

Our sources are the "Professional Karate Magazine" issues of summer 1974 and winter 1975, the "Black Belt" dec 1974, and this version WAKO story. [1].

The fights occurred in 4 categories. The combatants have no protections and the fights take place with contact, but no KO authorized. The winners win $ 400 of the time and are invited to Los Angeles. 7,000 spectators are present.

Bernd Grothe, right, vs Wolfgang Holtkemper

The finals results of this first European tournament, sometimes also called the European Championships are as follows :

Lightweights : Frank Knittel/Germany beats ?
Middleweights : Bernd Grothe/Germany beats Wolfgang Holtkemper/Germany
Light heavyweights : Budimir Vejnovic/Germany or Yugoslavia beats Harald Schrader/Germany
Heavyweights : Frank Brodar/Germany or Yugoslavia beats Ivan Oliviari/Netherlands.

We know that Bernd Grothe, 23 years old, is policeman in Berlin. Budimir Vejnovic owns a casino. He will be stabbed a few weeks thereafter, but may participate to the World Championships in Los Angeles. Brodar Frank is 25 years old, measuring 5'11 'and weighs 195 lbs.

Fights against the selection of USA :

Bill Wallace against Bernd Grothe.

Some European fighters are opposed on the same day to a selection of Americans, fights on points. American fighters wear Jhoon Rhee protections, while the Europeans are not so equipped. On iconography, it is easy to recognize pictures of the fights, the Americans are with Gi dressed, in the colours of the USA, while the Europeans are in white.

Howard Jackson vs Frank Knittel
And not Howard Johnson in Los Angeles - as mentioned.

The results are as follows :

Lightweights : Howard Jackson beats by Frank Knittel 4 / 0
Middleweights : Bill Wallace beats Bernd Grothe, 5 / 0.
Light heavyweights : Jeff Smith def Harald Schrader, 5 / 0
Heavyweights : Joe Lewis def Budimir Vejnovic, 5/0Par 5 / 0
Heavyweights : Jim Butin beats Ivan Oliviari, the replacement of European heavyweight champion , Franc Brodar, wounded in a hand.

USA vs. Netherlands :

According to the newspapers cited above, the US team also travels to the Netherlands, at a meeting organised by Jan Stoker, of Den Hague. The fights take place without protections. Bill Wallace is back in the USA and Al Dacascos fights at his place.

The USA beat first a Taekwondo Dutch team, 25 / 0. According to the excellent book written by Willem Brunekreef, "The Golden Kyokushin and K-1 Encyclopedia, these fights were held in Rotterdam. The Americans were invited by the organizer Jan Willem Stoker. The Dutch team was with Jan Koster, Cees Janse, Ivan Olivari, Erwin Gijsbertha and Louis Fortes.

The Americans also beat a Dutch Kyokushinkai team, composed of fighters with a lower rank than the black belt. It was from the school of Peter Stolp. It was suggested to the Dutchmen to let fight black belts of their school, but Peter or Ronald Kredijt, Kyokushinkai team leader, reportedly replied that the Americans were no fighters and that the black belts were too strong for them. Brunekreef mentions that was vs the Koykushikai team that the US team won 25-1.

After various verbal exchanges, Peter Kredijt accepts a challenge from Jeff Smith

Kredijt is sent three times to the canvas, and is KO.

Thank you very much to Mike Anderson, for the information he has provided to us.

Where are they now ?

Apart from the fights disputed in Los Angeles, we did not find any trace of the European fighters.

Jim Butin is not selected for the World Championships. On his site, it is mentioned that he won the bronze medal at the first World Championship of Taekwondo in Seoul/Korea, in 1973. This assertion is not confirmed on the site of the World Taekwondo Federation, which cites Joe Hayes and Mike Warren as medallists for the USA. However, the team from the USA, in which Jim Butin is part, won the silver medal.

Jim Butin meets, and sometimes beats, the most famous fighters of the era, like Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace and Joe Lewis. In 1975, he loses to Jeff Smith, by tko in the 5th round, for the PKA title of the light heavyweights.

Georg Brückner, sometimes called George F. Brueckner, set up a full-contact tournament in Berlin in September 1975, with the PKA World Championship between Ramiro Guzman and Gordon Franks. This event is the subject of a separate article.

Georg Brückner, referee during a unidentified battle.

He also organizes the so-called first European Championships in Gelsenkirchen in May 1976, which select the European fighters for the US selection. These tests are the subject of an article in this blog. This "European Championship" was not recognised by any federation.

The WAKO is founded in 1977 and organized the first full-contact and light-contact European and World Championships, under the aegis of this federation.

Conclusions :

The winners of the 1974 tournament are among the European fighters selected to meet the USA team at the first full-contact World Championships, which are the subject of a separate article in this blog.

It should be noted that these fighters are Germans or Yugoslavs, all listed on the school's website for Brückner, as having been students of the latter [2], except Brodar. These fighters (Frank Knittel, Bernd Grothe and Budemir Veymovic "Yejnovic, Vejnovic?") are not listed on the excellent website of the German Karate [3], as having been Germany champions.

We found no video of this first European tournament. He was reportedly filmed by a television from Europe and the American Armed Forces Network.

[1] Wako Story at this address : http://www.tungeheuer.de/index.php?id=21

[2] Institut Brückner : http://www.selbstverteidigung-sl.de/kikboxsen.htm

[3] Karate in Germany : http://www.chronik-karate.de/index.php?y=1974

Ross Scott, the man who shot Joe Lewis

Introduction :

Ross Scott was originally from Anderson/Indiana and was born in 1952?. He is 6'2'' tall, which is more than 190 cm. We have no information about his debuts. His trainer was Glenn Keeney.

Traditional Karate :

1974 : Ross Scott meet Darrell Lassiter, during the Midwest Suburban, at Chicago.

1974 : Ross Scott beats Johnny Lee, Eddy Everett and Wayne Washington for the USKA Grand Nationals. Scott is only brown belt at this time and wins the heavyweight title. For the Grand Champion, he loses against Parker Shelton.

1974 : Ross Scott wins the US Karate Team Championships, with the Komokai team from Indiana.

Against Wayne Washington (on the ground).

Also in traditional Karate, Pat Hardy beats Ross Scott in 1975?.

1975: Ohio State Professional Karate Championships. Ross Scott beats K.A. Jones and wins USD 1,000 .--.

Against Larry Davenport (right) 1978

Full-Contact :

July 1975 : Ross Scott def Louis Arnold, by TKO, at St. Louis Nationals.

1986 : Ross Scott loses against Johnny Linebarger, for the USKA Championships. Video of the fight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd1u2L4O4UY

The surprise vs Joe Lewis :

On August 24th 1975 : Atlantic City/New Jersey. Joe Lewis loses against Ross Scott, in a non-title match. Ross Scott has previously disputed only one match in full-contact and can be considered as a journeyman. Joe Lewis, 3 weeks before, has lost on points in a 3 rounds non-title fight, against Ted Limoz, boxer from Hawaii.

Against Ross Scott, Lewis injuries his right shoulder, possibly in the 3rd round, following a missed blow. The match was stopped for about 5 minutes, before returning. Ross Scott gives numerous kick in the head of Lewis, who blocks a large number of them.

Against Joe Lewis (left)

It is often said that Joe Lewis was penalized for lack of kicking thrown, in violation of the rule "six kicks per round rule." Both the "Professional Karate" Nov.-Dec. 1975 and "Black Belt" of Dec 1975 contradict this version.

Joe Lewis loses on points in 7 rounds, 17-12. Scott wins 3 rounds and Lewis 2, the others being considered draw.

Both fighters are wounded in the face.

Some newspaper of the time mention that Joe Lewis got married on the day before the match and that his father died recently. The victory of Ross Scott is a real surprise, Joe Lewis is the precursor of full-contact and seems invincible.

A short video of the fight : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=RjRxhtFrbQA

Others fights :

00.00.1976 : Ross Scott beats Johnny Lee by ko in the 3rd round. Lee has never disputed a full-contact before. The PKA title is vacant, because Joe Lewis was dismissed following his two defeats above mentioned. Johnny Lee replaced at the last moment Ernie "Radar" Smith. Johnny Lee has won the heavyweights title during the 1973 Top Ten, but had lost against Howard Jackson, for the Grand Champion.

1976 : Ross Scott beats one opponent (Merisicum of El Paso ?), in 20 seconds, in Dallas.

1976 : Ross Scott beats Travis Lee Everitt in only two rounds, in Houston.

01.10.1976: World Series of Martial Arts Championships in Hawaii. We are not sure of the following. Ross Scott beats Victor Rapoza by ko ? during a first fight, at this date. According to the March 1980 Black-Belt issue, they made a draw. The same evening, Dana Goodson (or Goodsen) def Ross Scott, by ko ? The fight, according to other sources, would have taken place in 1981 ?

00.02.1977 : Ross Scott def Pat "Hawk" Hardy, by ko in the 1st round. Ross Scott goes to the canvas, at the beginning of the match.

00.03.1977 : Battle of Atlanta : Ross Scott def Jerry Rhome. Ross falls twice in the 3rd round, from punches to the head. In the 7th round, Ross Scott strikes Rhome, which remains defenceless. Short video : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=PGhKPdPf6ws.

00.04.1977 : Ross Scott def Everett Eddy, by ko in the first round, for the PKA title, in Las Vegas. Short video : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=HsvqDs30-L4. Scott is announced as unbeaten before this fight, with 13 wins.

00.00.1978: Cleveland. Jacquet Bazemore beats Scott Ross, in a non-title match. In the Official Karate November 1980 issue, the fight is cited as a one-round non-title fight in a split decision, two years ago ?

15.06.1980: Ross Scott beats Jacquet Bazemore. The fight is stopped in the 3rd round, for the PKA title. Bazemore went 5 times to the canvas before the stop of the fight. Video of the fight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJm_js7ZiH4

00.08.1980 : Ross Scott loses against Demetrius "Oaktree" Edward, by ko in the 7th round, for the PKA title. Edward has also fought in boxing, competing from 1979 to 1986, (21 fights, 5 victories in the early stages of their careers, 14 defeats and 2 draws).

00.00.1981 : Ross Scott should have lost a rematch vs Demetrius "Oaktree" Edward, according to Karate Kickboxing Magazine, Septembre 1981 issue.

1983 : John Jackson beats Ross Scott by ko, for the PKA US Nationals.

Ross Scott withdrew in 1988.

Against Joe Lewis (left)

Record :

Full-contact
1st version : 30 fights and 3 victories for the world title. A second version, mentioned in the newspaper Kick Illustrated in July 1981, gave a record of 17 wins and 3 losses.

Style :

Taking advantage of his superior size and weight, Ross Scott gives numerous heavy kicks, half-height and proceeds with non academic punches. The fights take place on closed rings .

To see videos of his fights: http://www.pka-kickboxing.com/pka-kickboxing-history.html

Currently, Ross Scott is announced as the 5th dan black belt. He teaches karate in the USA.

Dominique "The King" Valera

Introduction :

Dominique Valera was born on June 18th 1947 in Lyon, France. He is 178 cm tall and is weighs is 82 kg. He begins with the judo, and after the traditional Karate. He becomes on several occasions France Champion, between 1966 and 1975. He also wins 4 titles of European Champion and 4 other titles of European Teams Champion .

In 1968, Valera is second at the European Championships, loosing vs Guy Sauvin, and he is first in 1969, beating Gilbert Gruss.

In 1970, in Hamburg/Germany, Valera loses against Richard Scherer, from the German team and the French team loses also against Germany.

In the individuals, Valera beats Censterdine/England, Veen/Netherlands and Higgins/England. In finals, he beats the French Gilbert Gruss.

1970 European Championships pictures

Valera reaches the 3rd place at the first World Karate Championships, in 1970, in Tokyo.Valera beats first Stanley Knighton/England and Sims/New-Zeland. In the quarter-finals, Valera beats Jorga/Yougoslavia. In semi-finals, Valera loses against the Japanese Wada.

Valera, rights, vs Knighton, Tokyo 1970.

It is sometimes mentioned that the French Team wins bronze medal, in 1970, in Tokyo. The American newspapers of the time, as Black Belt in March 1971, suggested that the team USA B finished 4th, after having beaten France. The first three teams are Japanese. To avoid controversy, we join the page of the newspaper No. 11 of 1970, from the German federation, showing the matches between teams and mentioning the elimination of France in the quarter-finals, http://www.%20chronik-karate.de/material/1970_11_DJB-Magazin.pdf

Down left, a reference to the elimination of the French Team by the USA.

To be complete, the excellent French site http://senseiruns.free.fr/index.php?page=pionniers presents this image, showing the French team as bronze medalist in 1970 ?

Who was bronze medalist in 1970 ?

It's sometimes mentioned that Dominique Valera wins the Internationals Challenges (or World Cups) in Cannes/France in May 1969 and in New-York in August 1969. It is also stated that it was Karate fights tournaments, with KO on the body authorized.

We have found information about the tournament in New-York, the ICMA Convention and Commemorative Karate Championships in 1969. Valera beats first the Japanese Toyotaro Miyazaki and after beats Hawk Frazier, in a contested bout. Official Karate Magazine tell he had lost the fight and had a bad attitude after the fight. It is not written that contact was allowed during the fights.

Dominique Valera (with the belt) and Hawk Frazier, to his right, N.Y. 1969

In 1972, during the European Championships in Brussels/Belgium, the weight classes appear for the first time. In +80 kg, Valera def Otremba/Germany, Sturzebecher/Germany and Kallenbach/Netherlands, in the finals. The French team beats England.

Valera also wins the World Teams Champion title in 1972, in Paris.

In 1975, Valera makes his return during the European Championships and beats Willy Vos/Germany. In the finals, French team beats Switzerland.

In the heavyweights during the individuals, Fitkin/England beats Valera for his first fight. Valera loses against Codrington/England, who wins the finals. Valera finishes at the 3rd place.

In all categories, Valera def Günter Mohr/Germany, but loses in the semi-finals against the French Abdiranan, who will win the finals. Valera finishes at the 3rd place.

Long-Beach 1975 :

In 1975, he is disqualified for bad behaviour at the World Championships in Long-Beach/California. After being disqualified for excessive contact against his opponent, P. Antonio Rivera, Dominican Republic, Valera hits some referees. This little riot can be seen here : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=wCEvTQeqNn4 and http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=5ijFbF5SYpI.

Rivera wins the third place at this World Championships. Dominique Valera is excluded of the WUKO.

Antonio Rivera left.

The French team, World Champion titleholder, has already been eliminated in the first round, the day before, against Australia. Dominique Valera has also lost his fight.

Full-Contact :

Dominique Valera visits a full-contact tournament in Berlin, in 1975, during the World Championship between Gordon Franks and Ramiro Guzman. He has an opportunity to make sparring with Bill Wallace. Dominated in this new form of fighting, the Frenchman goes to Memphis/USA, to train with the above cited. The French fighter is largely accompanied in his trip by the French newspaper Karate, which is transforming this journey into a real history.

Back in Europe, Dominica Valera gets various victories facing opponents, also beginners on the matter.

Regarding the difficulties for the implantation of Full-Contact in France, it appears that in 1976, the Directorate of the Sports, from the Ministry of Sports and Youth (MJS), has banned the teaching of Full-Contact. In 1978, the Full-Contact turns into American Boxing, with the creation of a National Committee of American Boxing (CNBA). In 1981, the MJS places CNBA under the authority of the French-Boxing Federation. In 1981, the French Federation of American Boxing is created. In 1982, the National Federation of American Boxing is introduced. The acceptance by the MJS of these federations will come later.

Dec 1976 Karate issue.
The handcuffs symbolize the ban on the Full-Contact

In 1976, during the match between a team from the USA to a European selection, he participated with the American team, and beats the German Kunibert Back by ko in the first round. Some articles of the time claim that the final blow reached the German after the command of the referee to break. The images are on You Tube: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y3rWkAYegc

Valera (left) against Kunibert Back

In 1978, he meets Jeff Smith in Paris for the PKA light heavyweights World Title and loses on points, in 9 rounds. The fighters are wearing boxing gloves, and no more full-contact gloves.

Ippon newspaper. Jeff Smith beats Dominique Valera

In 1979, in Madrid, Valera beats Angelo Jacquot, by ko et Ret., before the end of the fight scheduled for 7 rounds.

Pictures of the fight between Valera and Jacquot

In 1980, Valera is opposed to Dan Maracuso, for the PKA light heavyweights World Title and loses by ko, in the 6th round.

Against Dan Maracuso (left)

The question of recognition of the European title is set. In the Valera case, it was the WAKO Pro title. Indeed, the status between professionals and amateurs seems not clear at this time. For example, his opponent in 1976, Kunibert Back, fights in many amateur European Championships after his professional match against Valera.

We can find traces of Valera's opponents, only as winners, with the exception of the Norwegian Skog. Smith and Maracuso, World champions, have well-established records. Flavio Galessi has won numerous amateur WAKO championships. Fighters who lost against Dominique Valera seem to have left no trace in sport history. The exception is Kunibert Back, and his record mentioned in the article Full-Contact Development in Europe.

Conclusions :

The Valera nickname at the time was "The King" or "The Big Cat". His full-contact coach was Jacky Gerbet.

In traditional Karate, Dominica Valera is known for his sweeps, a legacy of his years of judo.

Currently, Dominique Valera has various schools and organizes Karate clinics, both traditional (aka Karate-Contact) and full-contact and is announced as a 8th Dan.

Many videos demonstrations against Bill Wallace or Rouffus are available on You Tube.

Record :

Traditional Karate
France Champion
1966/1969/1970/1972/1973 and 1975 (open) and in the heavyweights 72/73/75

European Champion
1968 2nd against Guy Sauvin/France
1969 1st against Gilbert Gruss/France
1970 1st against Gilbert Gruss/France
1971 1st
1972 1st against Kallenbach/France

European Team Champion
1968 1st against of Belgium
1969 1st against the United Kingdom
1970 2nd against Germany
1972 1st against England
1975 1st against Switzerland

1970 World Championships
Third place in the Open, behind Wada/Japan, Carnio/Canada and tied with Tullener/USA.

1972 World Championships
First place with his team, against Italy

Full-Contact :

Dominique Valera says he fought 5 times in the USA, before his return to France.
6. 05.10.1976: beats Basnight by ko in the 2nd round, in Paris
7. 05.25.1976: def K. Back by ko in the 1st round in Paris
8. 10.10.1976: def V. Safranic by ko in the 1st round, in Vienna/Austria, European Championship
9. 12.08.1976: def V. Safranic by ko in the 3rd round in Zagreb/YU, European Championship
10. 06.04.1977: def Angelo Jacquot, retirement in the 3, Paris, European Championship
11. 06.00.1977: lost to Skog, from Norway, by ko, Marseille, European Championship
12. 00.00.1978: def Angelo Jacquot, ko 5, European Championship in Geneva/Switzerland
13. 12.02.1977: win over Mike Lambert, by ko in 3, Lyon
14. 05.22.1978: lost on points in 9 rounds against Jeff Smith, Light heavyweights World Championship, Paris
15. 02.28.1979: def Angelo Jacquot by ko or ret, in Madrid, for the European Championship.
16. 03.22.1980: lost by ko in the 3rd round against Dan Maracuso, Light heavyweights World Championship, Brussels/Belgium
17. 11.00.1980: lost to Flavio Galessi, on cut, European Championships
18. 00.00.1982: beats Angelo Jacquot, by ko in the 3rd round, the last battle of Valera.

According to the official site of Dominique Valera, Karate Contact :

18 professional full-contact fights (14 wins, 4 losses), including four victorious European Championships (1976 and 1977) and two World Championships attempts (1978 and 1980).

Total (karate and full-contact mixed) :

701 fights, 674 wins, 17 defeats and 10 draws.

According to the newspaper 1982 Karate Magazine, above mentioned, Dominique Valera announced that his 4th fight against Jacquod would be the 700th. As he won, a traditional karate fight ? is missing to reach 701, because we already have the 18 full-contact fights ?

Full-Contact development in Europe

Main dates of full-contact in Europe.
September 21st 1975.

At the Deutschlandarena, in Berlin, a tournament is organized by Bruckner and Mike Anderson, the latter was in charge of the production of the event.

300 fighters arrive from all Europe and fight with protections, in light-contact, according to the newspaper "Karate Illustrated" from March 1976. We know two results, according to Mike Anderson. Thank you to him for the information.

Who knows this fighters, from the 1975 Berlin Tournament ?

Rainer Budich, Germany and Budimir Vejnovich, a man from Serbia living in Germany, won in their respective weights categories. It's possible that Jan Kunst et Ron Kuyt, from Netherlands, also win ? In his book "Ontleende Kracht", Tom Harinck mentions this victory, with mention about this semi-contact karate style. Ron Kuyt (Chakuriki) fights in Gelsenkirchen in 1976 (third place) and during the first WAKO European World Championships in 1978 (1st place), and also in the first Kick-Boxing European Championships in Amsterdam (1st place). In 1980, Jan Kunst fights Andre Brilleman in kick-boxing, and loses before the limit ?

Vejnovich has already won the first professional karate tournament, in 1974, in Berlin in light heavyweights, and fought Joe Lewis thereafter. In Los Angeles, also in 1974, during the first World Championships, he lost against Jeff Smith, still in light heavyweights.

Dominica Valera came to study this new form of fighting. He said that it was no more Karate. Bill Wallace, is holding a session of sparring with Valera. After 10 minutes, the French acknowledged that he had no chance against the American.

The Feb 1976 German Karate newspaper, translation of the French newspaper, does not mention this fight between Valera and Wallace. The newspaper mentions only that Bill Wallace did an exhibition against two of the winners of the amateur categories and gives no results of the tournament.

Special message :

If you have any kind of information about this tournament, please send me photos, results, articles. Thank you in advance.

During the evening, takes place a fight in 8 rounds, between Ramiro Guzman/Mexico and Gordon Franks/USA, for the PKA lightweights World Championships.

Guzman (left) against Franks.

Ramiro Guzman (born in 1954) practiced first Taekwondo, while living in America. In Houston/Texas, he won the first place in kata, during the 1971 Kim Soo Us Taekwondo Karate Championships. The same year, Ramiro Guzman is at the First Annual Black Belt Grand Championships. Guzman, 16 years old, loses against Joe Hayes on points 2-0. He went to the first World Championships in Korea, in 1973, where he won the bronze medal, with Isaias Duenas, in the teams Championships. Always in the Taekwondo World Championships, in 1975, he won the silver medal in bantamweights. In 1974, he is registered as a student at the Mexico University.

Gordon Franks, (born in 1955) only 18 years old, took part in the US Championships team, in 1973, in which he made a draw against James Buttin, 50 pounds heavier. Franks battled for the Washington/DC team.

In 1973, Franks loses against David Richer at the Tae Kyun Championships lightweight black belt Finals.

In 1974, at the Top Ten Nationals, Gordon Franks beats Cecil Peoples, Mike Warren and Howard Jackson.

In Berlin, Gordon Franks beats Ramiro Guzman on points, in 9 rounds. He is the first black American to win a title. The battle was contested on a platform, without ropes. The images are available on You Tube: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=XIcwANJ6Sh8.

Where are they now ?

Thereafter, Gordon Franks defends his title against Tony Lopez, USA, in 12 rounds in Atlanta, on 11.30.1978. Previously, Gordon Franks has only disputed a 3 and a 5 rounds non-title bouts. He loses a fight against Paul Vizzio and wins on points in 7 rounds a non-title fight against Tommy Williams, in 1979. He wins a fight on points against Larry Sanders, in 1980, after a visit to the canvas. In august 1980, Gordon Franks loses his title against Cliff Thomas, by tko in the 3rd round. Video at this address : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=B3s3RTp2qVs. His record could be 18-1.

Ramiro Guzman defends his title in 1976 against Kwan Suk, by ko in the 7th round. In 1979, he wins the bronze medal in the flyweights, in the Taekwondo World Championships.

May 2nd 1976.

Source for this paragraph is the official newspaper of French Karate June 1976.

At Gelsenkirchen, Germany, a full-contact tournament is organized, without a ring. 60 to 70 participants are divided into 7 weight categories. The fights took place in 2 rounds of 3 minutes.

In the category 63-69 kg, Paschy Roger, a former member of the French traditional Karate team, wins his weight category. He beats first the Dutch Kick-Boxing fighter Jhon de Ruyter, by ko. In the final, he beats Kemal Zeriat, instructor in Germany. The latter had beaten the French Gros at the same tournament.

In the heavyweights, the German Kunibert Back wins his class when he was only 18 years old and has only a brown belt. The German favourite, Thomas Born, was beaten before the final.

The winners earn the right to go to Paris to meet the team in the United States.

It should be noted that the winner of light heavyweights, Leicester, born in the USA, will be replaced by Koschnick/Germany, for Paris. Similarly, the winner of the super-fly, Arthur Amos, will be replaced by Lair/Germany (Korea).

Some have called this tournament the first full-contact European Championships, but the site of the WAKO does not list it.

During the evening, Dominique Valera performs a exhibition against the French Guy Mialot .

Two fights in Geselkirchen
Cosantino (up and right)

Results :
-57 kg :
1. Arthur Amos , 2. Lair (Lan Ung Kim ?), 3. Ihrig
- 63 kg :
1. Joseph Cosantino, 2. Tuhirima, 3. Anslinger
- 69 kg :
1. Roger Paschy, 2. Kemal Zeriat, 3. Kuyj (Ron Kuyt), 3. Zucarelli
- 75 kg :
1. Dieter Herdel, 2. Grossmann, 3. Reinertsen
- 82.5 kg :
1. Leicester, 2. Koschnick (Koschick, Koschik ?), 3. Sabljic
- 90.5 kg :
1. Kunibert Back, 2. Perless, 3. V.D. Velden
+ 91 kg :
1. Castelain, 2. Krug

May 25th 1976.

Source for this paragraph is the official newspaper of French Karate July 1976.

Palais des Sports in Paris. The French singer Johnny Hallyday promotes this fights and appears on television. The composition of the teams is surprising. The USA's team is composed of 2 Mexicans (Ramiro Guzman and Isaias Duenas), 3 Americans (Gordon Franks, Jeff Smith and Bill Wallace) and a Frenchman, (Dominica Valera).

The European team is composed of people from Germany, Lan Ung Kim , practicing Taekwondo, Giuseppe Cosantino, Arno Koschnick, Jörg Schmidt, Dieter Herdel and Kunibert Back. Only Jörg Schmidt is mentioned as a fighter of the Bruckner Institute. Roger Paschy, who won his selection, waived two days before the fight. He should have met Duenas.

Fights :

Fighters are wearing gloves and foot protections, and a protective helmet. For the headgear, it was decided shortly before the games. Dominica Valera and Kunibert Back refuse to fight with the helmet. The battles take place in 3 rounds, on a platform, without ropes.

Ramiro Guzman beats on points Lan Ung Kim, sometimes referred as Lair. The latter clings throughout the fight. Guzman makes him fall to the ground with many O-Soto-Gari, coming more from judo than from full-contact.

Guzman against Kim

Gordon Franks beats Giuseppe Cosantino, on points. Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3HiemyMxsY

Jörg Schmidt fights against Isaias Duenas, and leads until the 3rd round. The German has his nose broken and the match is stopped. Victory for Duenas. Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP2pkpseSvo

Bill Wallace beats by ko Dieter Herdel, in less than 20 seconds, with a side kick. Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d4iCH3b0Us

Jeff Smith beats on points Arno Koschnik, who felt to the ground 6 times.

Jeff Smith vs. Koschnick

Valera, who trains since 7 months in the USA, beats Kunibert Back by KO in the first round. According to some versions, he hits the German when the referee ordered a break : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y3rWkAYegc.

According to the newspapers of this time, the audience would have been a little frustrated by the show, too much uneven.

Where are they now ?

Kunibert Back becomes ITF Taekwondo European Champion, in 1977 or 1978 and is the second in the WAKO European full-contact Championships, in 1977. The same year, Jörg Schmidt is the third in his category. In 1978, during the Championships between Bill Wallace and Daryl Tyler, Kunibert Back is intended to fight the Italian Full-Contact Champion, Colantuoni Sandro. We don't know the result of this fight.

Dieter Herdel beats Hans Von der Meer, Netherlands, during the 1978 World Championship between Bill Wallace and Daryl Tyler, in Monaco. Dieter Herdel is second in the WAKO European Championships in 1978, second in the World Championships in 1979 and second in the European Championships in 1980.

Lan Ung Kim is now 8th dan in Taekwondo and teaches in Germany.

Formation :

Sources for this paragraph is the French Newspaper Karate, August 1976.

Before the fights, many courses were led by the American fighters. Participants were mostly Europeans.

The physical condition necessary for the practice of Full-Contact has been highlighted by Jeff Smith. Bill Wallace has explained his "Superfoot" and Joe Lewis the "secrets" of his success.

Conclusions :

Germany has played a central role in the development of full-contact in Europe. German fighters won several medals at the first official WAKO European Championships.

In Europe, it was not until 1978 that the center of gravity moves in France, with Dominique Valera, cited in another article.

The Europeans, who meet the USA, both in 1974 and 1976, were most journeymen as serious contenders.

Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, simply gifted

Introduction :

For once, this article is suffering more of overabundance of data than of a lack of sources. Despite this, it's always very difficult to analyse information and transform them into certainties. In addition, many fights of Benny Urquidez have been the subject of controversy. Some of them will be mentioned in this article, with a reference to an interview of "The Jet", who describes his version of the events.

Benny "The Jet" Urquidez was born June 20, 1952 in Los Angeles / USA. He was the second of a family of 9 children. His mother Lupe was a wrestler, known as Crazy-Linda, and his father Arnold was a boxer. Benny started boxing at age of 5 and martial arts with 8. He received his black belt in Karate with 14.

Karate :

1967-1972 :

One article in october 1967 Black-Belt issue mentioned the second place of Benny Urquidez (then aged 15) at the All-Star Championships in Los Angeles, in 1967. He was then a white belt and lost to Russell Koontz.

In 1970, during the 7th Annual Internationals in Long Beach, organized by Ed Parker, Benny Urquidez is second of the lightweights, behind Byong Yu.

In 1972, Benny Urquidez fights in the Santa Monica Kempo Open and loses against Brian Strian.

En 1972, Benny Urquidez beats Fred Alegria and Moomijan for the lightweight title ,at the Las Vegas Grand Title. During the tournament for the Grand Champion, Benny Urquidez lost against John Natividad, due to a left ridge hand. Benny Urquidez had already met Natividad before, and each time the score had been close.

Urquidez beats Datu Lowell Manabe, of the Hawaii team.

1973 :

This section is based on the December 1973 Black Belt issue. In August 1973, during the Internationals Karate Championships in Long Beach, organized by Ed Parker, he fights against John Natividad. He received the same premium as the winner, USD 2'500 .--. This battle is considered the best fight ever in points karate. John Natividad, a native of Hawaii, practices Tang Soo Do and is a student of Chuck Norris. Natividad had already won numerous tournaments before this victory.

Benny Urquidez beats Kraig Smith by 3-0 and wins the lightweights title. John Natividad def Choo Choo Mayes for the light-heavyweights title. For the Grand Champion title, Natividad beats Ralph Algegria by 2-0 and Benny Urquidez defeats Bob Burbidge, by 3-2. In the finals, John Natividad wins the first round against Benny Urquidez by 3-2. In the second round, John Natividad received a penalty for a reverse punch, with face contact. Urquidez leads by 6-4 at the end of the 2nd round. In the 3rd round, a spinning back kick ? from Benny Urquidez struck Natividad squarely in the jaw. Urquidez is penalized. At the end of the 3rd round, the fighters are at 12-12. During the overtime, Natividad gives a reverse punch and win the match by 13-12.

Benny Urquidez (black jacket) vs John Natividad, Internationals, Long Beach, 1973.

In 1973, Benny Urquidez wins Mountains Karate Championships.

1974 :

During the 1974 edition of the Mountains Karate Championships, he beats Buch Batie for the Grand Champion and wins twice USD 500 .--.

In 1974, during the Ed Parker's Internationals d'Ed Parker, Benny finished in the third place, in the lightweights division.

That same year, during the Western Pro/Am Karate Championships in Oakland/CA, Benny Urquidez beats Cornin, before losing against Kurban. At this time, the newspapers call him Benny "The Spitfire".

In 1974, he participates with Ed Parker, in a journey in England and Belgium. A movie was filmed during this trip, with the name "The New Gladiators". A battle is shown between Urquidez and Roy Kurban. Below are the various excerpts: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=9mA16yBHcws and http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=85NtSLSt6LM&feature=related

In may 1974, during the PAWAK tournament, Benny Urquidez lost to Joe Lewis, 4-1.

Tommy Lee's World Series of Martial Arts Championships :

It is a special article about the WSMAC in this blog.

In ca 1974, Bobby Chacon trained in boxing with Bobby Chacon (super-featherweights World champion) and Randy Shields (welter Nord American champion)

November 15th, 1974, Benny Urquidez is involved in the World Series of Martial Arts Championships, in Hawaii, organized by Tommy Lee, a surfer from Asia. This tournament has no weight divisions and full-contact is authorized. The tournament takes place over 2 days. It was a ring. This open championship, organized by Tommy Lee, brings together 58 participants, from many sort of martial arts. Elbow and knee blows are allowed. Fighters wear protections. Urquidez beats Bill Rosehill by ko in the third round, Futi Semanu by ko in the second, Tom Mossman in the second and Burnis White by ko in the second round.

In finals, Urquidez beats Goodson in 3 rounds, on points and not by ko in the 4th, as sometimes mentioned, videos http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=yblJ9VqHW8w. Thanks to Shawn for his WSMAC videos.

The winner receives $ 5,000 .--. It is sometimes mentioned he had retained his title 3 times after his tournament.

Benny Urquidez (left) vs Dana Goodson

Dana Goodson is a practitioner of Kempo Karate. After this tournament, he also fights in boxing (4 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat from 1978 to 1983), in thai-boxing, as well as in full-contact. He beats Scott Ross, in a non-title fight, before losing against Maurice Smith, during a title fight.

1975 :

May 16th, 1975, in Los Angeles, at the second edition of the WSMAC, Urquidez beats Roland Talton, BKF, by ko in the 2nd, and Bill Henderson (Kung-Fu), also by ko in the 2nd .

June 21st, 1975, in Hawaii, during the third edition of Tommy Lee's WSMAC, in 1975, Benny Urquidez beats Sanun Plypoolsup, for injury in the 2nd round. For the finals of the lightweights, Benny Urquidez beats Burnis White by tko in the 2nd. White has injured his foot.

In October 1975, again for WSMAC, Benny Urquidez beats Bill Henderson by ko in the 2nd, in Los Angeles. We are not sure of this fight.

In his book "King of the Ring", published in 1995, by Pro Action Publishing, Benny Urquidez mentions having beaten Sanun Plypoolsup in Hawaii in May 1975 and Ken Riley in June 1975, also in Hawaii. The fights and the dates of WSMAC are not identical to those mentioned in the Oriental Fighting Arts of November 1975.

Full-Contact and Kick-Boxing :

On May 10th, 1975, in New York, Aaron Banks organizes 4 championships of the world, crowned by the WPKO. The winners are Joe Hess/NY in the heavyweights, Fred Miller/NY in the light heavyweights, Kasim Dubar/NY in the middleweights and Benny Urquidez/Los Angeles in the lightweights. This show was sold to ABC Wide World of Sport, creating a conflict with the PKA. The latter has also sold its first product at this channel. Urquidez beats Tayari Casel. The latter practice Kung-Fu. It was his first fight in full-contact. Casel spend part of the fight on the ground, from which he tries to strike Urquidez. In this blog, a special article is about this tournament.

Thereafter, Urquidez beats Marcelino Torres by ko in the 1st round, during a match between the USA and Puerto-Rico.

The PKA recognized for a certain period Urquidez as one of its champions, before being dismiss for having participated in various other battles, without authorization.

Benny fought for the NKL National Karate League of Chuck Norris, winning the title of the lightweights, before NKL became later the WKA. In NKL, Benny Urquidez won many battles scheduled for 3 or 5 rounds.

On the May 28th 1975, he beats Eddie Andujar, on points in Los Angeles.

In his book "King of the Ring", Benny Urquidez mentions a NKL fight which took place in December 1975, in Detroit. Urquidez won by ko in the 2nd round. He said he was first disqualified for having put his opponent ko with 4 fist punches. The rules stated a kick for every 3 punches. The match was aired on ABC Sports Reports. The decision was changed later by the NKL, to a victory for Benny Urquidez. The name of his opponent is not mentioned.

1976 :

In June 1976, he beats a second time Sanun Plypollsup, in Dallas, by decision in the 8th round, always for the WSMAC.

Special message :

If you have any information (results, photos, etc.) about Tommy Lee's World Series of Martial Arts, in 1974, 1975 and 1976, thank you very much for sending me this data.

1977 :

Howard Hanson creates WKA and confronts the Japanese kick-boxing champions to Americans full-contact fighters. Benny Urquidez fights for WKA since 1977, after the PKA had removed his title. The WKA allows shots in the legs, unlike the PKA.

Urquidez does not hesitate to meet experienced fighters from kick-boxing or thai-boxing, unlike the other full-contact precursors.

Controversy :

Many fights of Benny Urquidez are the subject of controversy, about their results.

In 1977, he meets Narongnoi Kiatbandit, practising Thai-Boxing. This WKA fight, in Los Angeles, is recorded as a No-Contest in 9 rounds. According to some sources, Kiatbandit has won the fight, while Benny Urquidez claims to have won this match. In his book, he said that the officials had fear of a riot in the Arena (Benny was ahead on points), and gave a No-Contest Decision. John Corcoran confirmed the riot in the Arena, in his book "The Original Martial Arts Encyclopedia" but doesn't mention a decision to avoid the riot.

The fight can be found under these links : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF6CcHEXWlM, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojfJJXAy1CM, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OwhhB3PVWo We can see that both fighters are counted after a trip to the canvas and that the knee blows were banned, given the warnings received by Kiatbandit. Unfortunately, the decision of the judges is not filmed, even if we notice that objects are thrown on the canvas from the attendance.

According to the newspaper August 1977 Karate Illustrated, the knees were banned, but the judges evidently did not take off points from (name used in this newspaper) Narong Noi's total score, until the 7th round. At this point, Noi send Urquidez to the canvas with a knee and the referee threatened to disqualify the Thai. Noi's handlers thought Benny was given too much time and started to pull Noi from the ring in protest.

The referee was Joey Orbillo, former boxer and former coach of Joe Lewis. Before the last round, Urquidez leads with 113-110 and the fight ends with 125-125, after the Urquidez knock down in the final seconds. As the riot began in the arena between various communities, the result is announced as "no decision".

Viewing the film, we see that during the 7th round, the referee, after the knee received by Urquidez, stopped the fight 20 seconds before Narongnoi threated to leave the ring.

Also in timing the film, we see that during the 9th round, the kick that sended Urquidez to the canvas arrived after 1 minutes and 30 seconds. The time used to sent the Thai in the neutral corner and to count Urquidez lasted 17 seconds and must not be counted. The round and the match was then announced as finished. In summary, the round lasted only 1 minutes and 30 seconds, instead of the 2 minutes scheduled round.

In the semi-main event, the Thai Nate (Nade) Saknarong beats Earnst Hart Jr., by ko in the 5th round. Saknarong has been sent to the canvas three times in the 1st round. and each fighter also scored a knock-down in the 4th. This first fight has maybe put the pressure on the attendance before the event between Urquidez and Kiatbandit.

According to Samattapol Uttamayotin, from Thailand, Mr. Sawang Sawangkawat, manager of the above two Thais fighters, reportedly wrote an article in a 1977 weekly newspaper called Boxing. M. Sawangkawat has detailed both fights. His details correspond completely with the version given by the August 1977 Black-Belt Magazine and to the chronometric counting above mentionned. Mr. Sawangkawat reports that fighters must wear foot protections and that the Americans had added legs protections (hidden by their trousers. The Thais wore shorts). The elbow and knee blows were banned, as throwns).

Thanks to Samttapol Uttamayotin for all relevant information regarding these two fights.

1978 :

In 1978, a last controversy, at the end of the first fight with Onuki. Urquidez send his opponent on the ground, with a hip movement and the Japanese seem unable to recover, maybe because a injured shoulder. This first match will be terminated first by a victory of Onuki (see this illegal movement), changed later with an NC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeVkYvvAcD0. In his biography, Urquidez mentions a victory in the 2nd round.

In 1978, Benny Urquidez meets Prayout Sittiboonlert, also practising Thai-Boxing. This WKA fight, in Japan, was an exhibition on 5 rounds, according to Benny Urquidez, without weigh-in. The decision was first given to Sittiboonlert. After, the result was changed to a No-Contest in 6 rounds. Another version mentions that it was a qualifying match to meet Fujiwara and that Sittiboonlert was declared the winner on points at the end of a real battle, in 6 rounds of 2 minutes. Many knees blows from Sittiboonlert.1 Two Short videos from this fight : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=o_TGpwCLqvc and http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=JcewWVOswpg. In his biography record, Urquidez cites Sittiboonlert as an "unreported thai."

Here are two pictures of an article of the tritten, written in Japanese, which refers to the defeat of Benny Urquidez against Prayout Srisompob (not Sittiboonlert ?) in August 2nd, 1978. It was a fight with 6 rounds of 2 minutes and the Thai often reaches his opponent with knee strikes. Notice the picture showing the raised arm of the Thai. We can't see if the arm of the American is also raised ?

The referee is at the left of Urquidez and he doesn't rise the Thai hand. Please notice that the referee does not hold Urquidez's arm in his other hand. It is therefore not a picture of the decision.

Thank you to Mr Shingo Fukushima, of Japan, for his information.

An Japanese article about the defeat of Urquidez vs Prayout Srisompob ?

1980 :

In 1980, Benny Urquidez meets Billy Jackson, in full-contact, for the WKA. According to the version given by Benny Urquidez in his book, Jackson was a last minute replacement for what was supposed to be non-title bout. The leg kicks have been prohibited, to please Jackson. At the end of the 7 rounds, points would have been deducted to Urquidez for leg kicks. Billy Jackson would have been unfairly declared the winner. According to other sources, Benny Urquidez would have lost on points during a real fight. The decision was changed after to a No-Contest. Urquidez is counted by the referee.1 Short video from this fight : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=CSlQemKf0t0

We have no evidence to determine us about these three games, with the exception of the fact that the extracts above mentioned seem to be more fights than exhibitions.

1981 :

In 1981, Benny Urquidez takes part to an American team, headed by WKA President, Howard Hanson, during the "Road to Hong-Kong". In this city, Urquidez fights Kong Fu Tak, a local kung-fu champion and beats him before the end of the fight. It's sometimes mentioned that it was a death match. If you see the video, it is more a fight in kick-boxing style, with protections for the hands and feet and is disputed without a ring, with a referee. http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=DGhypNLFr6g Kong Fu Tak will beat Billy Chow in a Thai-Boxing fight.

In his record (see below), Benny Urquidez says he has beaten Nobuya Azuka by decision in 5 rounds, in Japan, in April 1989. The fight was maybe an simple exhibition.

The famous back kick.

Record :

Thank you to M. Fukushima Shingo for his information about the Urquidez record.

This record is based on Urquidez' book "King of the Ring" Pro Action Publishing 1995, for his fights and is corrected by us for the dates, places and the results in relations with controversy. Besides, there are even differences between this record and the record found on Urquidez personal website. For this reason, we can not guarantee the accuracy of the data.

WSMAC, Full-Contact or Kick-Boxing

Lightweights :
11.14.1974 : Bill Rosehill, wko 3, Hawaii, WSMAC
11.14.1974 : Futi Semanu, wko2, Hawaii, WSMAC
11.14.1974 : Tom Mossman, w au 2ème, Hawaii, WSMAC
11.15.1974 : Burnis White, wko2, Hawaii, WSMAC
11.15.1974 : Dana Goodson, wp3, Hawaii, WSMAC
12.00.1974 : Burnis White, wko 4, Hawaii, WSMAC
02.00.1975 : Butch Bell, wtko2, Atlanta/USA, NKL
03.00.1975 : Ken Kolodziej, wko 4 (ou 3), Milwauke
03.00.1975 : unreported, wko 2, Atlanta, NKL
04.00.1975 : Demetrius Havanas, wp3, Dallas, NKL
05.10.1975 : Tayari Casel, wp3, New-York, WPKO
05.16.1975 : Ronald Talton, wko 2, Los Angeles, WSMAC
06.21.1975 : Sanun Plypoolsup, wtko2, Hawaii, WSMAC
06.00.1975 : Ken Riley, wko2, Hawaii, WSMAC
06.28.1975 : Eddie Andujar, wp3, NKL Los Angeles, NKL
07.00.1975 : Sammy Pace, wko1, Los Angeles, NKL
08.00.1975 : Marcelino Torres, wko1, Puerto-Rico, NKL
10.00.1975 : Bill Henderson, wko 2, Los Angeles, WSMAC
12.00.1975 : unreported, wko 2, Détroit, NKL
00.00.1976 : unreported, wko 1, Détroit, NKL
00.00.1976 : Ernest Hart Jr, w 1st, Los Angeles, NKL
06.00.1976 : Sanun Plypollsup, wp8, Dallas, WSMAC
00.00.1976 : unreported thaï, wko 3, Tijuana/Mexico, NKL
08.28.1976 : Ernest Hart jr, wp9, Hawaii, NKL
10.01.1976 : Eddie Andujar, wko 8, Los Angeles, PKA
03.12.1977 : Narongnoi Kiatbandit, nc 9, Los Angeles, WKA (controversy)
04.23.1977 : Howard Jackson, wko 4, Las Vegas, PKA
07.00.1977 : unreported, wko 1, Tijuana/Mexico, WKA
Super lightweights :
08.02.1977 : Katsuyuki Suzuki, wko6, Tokyo, WKA/AJKBA
11.14.1977 : Kunimatsu Okao, wko 4, Tokyo, WKA/AJKBA
04.00.1978 : Dave Paul, wkot4, Vancouver, WKA
04.00.1978 : Takeshi Naito, wko 1, Osaka, KATOGI
05.01.1978 : Shinobu Onuki, nc, Tokyo, WKA/AJKBA (controversy)
08.02.1978 : Prayuth Sittiboonlert, nc 6, Tokyo, KATOGI (controversy)
05.02.1979 : Rick Simmerly, wko 6, Lake Tahoe, WKA
09.01.1979 : Frank Holloway, wp 9, Ensenada/Mexico, WKA
10.00.1979, Yoshimitsu Tamashiro, wp 9, Tokyo, WKA
01.02.1980 : Shinobu Onuki, wko 7, Las Vegas, WKA
04.02.1980 : Frank Holloway, wp 9, Vancouver, WKA
08.00.1980 : Billy Jackson, nc 7, Palm-Beach, WKA ou PKA (controversy)
04.00.1981 : Kong Fu Tak , wko 4, Hong-Kong, WKA
06.00.1982 : Yutaka Koshikawa, wtko6, Vancouver, WKA
01.00.1983 : Kunimasa Nagae, wko4, Tokyo, WKA
09.00.1983 : Iron Fujimoto, wko 6, Tokyo, WKA
Welterweights :
01.00.1984 . Ivan Sprang, wtko 6, Amsterdam, MTN
11.00.1985 : Tom Laroche, wp12, Los Angeles, WKA
04.00.1989 : Nobuya Azuka, wp5, Tokyo, AJPW (controversy)
12.00.1993 : Yoshihisa Tagami, wp, Las Vegas, WKA

In full-contact, or kick-boxing, Benny Urquidez has a record of 57 victories, 0 defeat and 0 draw, with 49 ko and 3 no-contests. He claims to have a record of 63-0, with 49 ko.

Kick Illustrated Magazine of July 1981, mentionned a record of 52 wins, 1 defeat, 1 draw and 42 kos. Official Karate Magazine, in November 1984 and September 1985, refers a record of 56 wins, 1 defeat and 1 draw, with 47 ko.

According to his book "king of the Ring", he has 48 fights, 45 wins and 3 NC.

Technical :

Benny Urquidez demonstrates a complete technical with both fists and feet. His brand remains the reverse kick, sometimes skipped. Here is a perfect example of ko with this technical, executed against Takeshi Naito, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nITZU2sOy1o

He wore often or always, red trousers, facing opponents in shorts, during kick-boxing fights.

Benny Urquidez created the UKIDOKAN Karate. According to some sources, he hold 9 black belts (judo, kenpo/Hawaiian fighting techniques or developed by Ed Parker, taekwondo, Lima Lama/martial art of Hawaii, kung fu, ju-jitsu, aikido and karate). Other sources report that his family has 9 brothers and sisters, all of whom have a black belt.

In 1984, Benny Urquidez has open with his brother-in-law, Blinky Rodriguez, the famous kick-boxing training place named the "Jet-Center".

Family :

Arnold Urquidez :

Among this family, is Arnold Urquidez, born in 1941 and older than Benny, who allegedly trained him and who has worked for the WKA, as indicated in the article in this blog, devoted to this federation. Arnold took part at a tournament in 1968, in Chicago, losing against James Koncevic. In 1968, during a competition between Mainland and Hawaii, Arnold has won two fights against Yosoke Soga and Stanley Sogai, before losing against Homer Leong. Arnold would have lost against Chuck Norris, during a karate fight. He won the 1970 heavyweight title at the Internationals. He managed the team "Urquidez bros", which took part to teams tournament.

Lilly Urquidez Rodriguez :

Lilly Urquidez Rodriguez, one of the sisters of the family, began with Kenpo, then Shotokan and Judo. She also practiced full-contact, (win against Carlotta Lee, in 1977, via TKO, in the 4th lost against Marion Bermudez, win against Reiko Tachibana in 1977, win against Saskia Van Rijswijk in 1982 and defeat against Lucia Rijkers, by tko in the first, in 1983). She would have a record of 32 fights with 2 defeats.

Lilly has done at least one professional boxing fight, in 1979, winning against Ms. Lear Tony Rodriguez on points, according to boxrec. Ms. Urquidez announces 17 wins and 2 defeats. She mentions a defeat against Lady Tiger.

Lilly was married to William Blinky Rodriguez, full-contact fighter. The wife and her husband have disputed a boxing fight, the same evening, on November 16th, 1979.

Blinky Rodriguez :

Blinky has lost, among others, against Bill Wallace and Rob Kaman (ko 2nd), with one win by ko, against Jean-Yves Theriault. In 1977, he has lost a split decision against Macoto Hirato, in Tokyo. On the March 29th, 1980, Blinky loses on points against Bob Ryan, for the WKA Super-Middleweight World Title. Video of the fight : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHhebxVG38Q

His record is 34 victories, 4 defeats.

Rodriguez has also fought 5 professional boxing fights, 3 wins and 2 defeats, according to boxrec. He announced a record of 7 wins, 1 defeat.

In conclusion, he participated at the first World Series of Martial Arts, in 1974, where he won his first fight against Dennis Lyttle, video http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=DvB5xnKF1t0 before losing the second on points, against Dana Goodson, video http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=xTCRxRcBh48.

During these WSMAC, Adam "Smiley" Urquidez, Benny's brother, lost on points against Burnis White. Smiley also lost against Joe Lewis, during the PAWAK tournament, in may 1974. An exhibition at the first WUKO World Championships in 1975, disputed between Adam and Benny, is on You Tube.

In the family are Eva/Alexis, Mando, Linda, Delores, Ruben/Reuben, Alfred and Bruno Urquidez, also practicing martial arts.

Conclusions :

Benny Urquidez fights are available, including on You Tube. He shows the fighting qualities, rare for the time, when faced with other full-contact initiators, who did not appear to completely dominate the fight to ko.

[1] http://images.google.ch/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mikemiles.com/photo%