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 2005 - Reprint
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In The Kick!
An Old Karate Pro
by Phillip Moss, Contributing Writer
Long Beach, CA - April 9, 1983 -
1978 Malaysia 3rd Annual All Asia Open Invitational, All Styles Champion returns
to training in the hopes of representing the United States in the Olympics.
In the Spring of 1978 an Army
Lieutenant in the Special Forces entered a competition that was revered as a
new beginning for Martial Artists in the modern world of Karate competition.
What had not happened was a non-Asian ever entering this competition. In its
third year, this competition now invites world wide competitors to display their
martial arts skills. There is not any prize money to be earned, there are not
any fancy trophies to display, just a simple scroll and a black belt with the
winners name on it.
What is at stake here is pride,
honor and talent. Not to mention ones good health.
So in comes this seasoned combat
veteran from the United States Military to show the Asian World that there is
talent in America when it comes to the Martial Arts. And come in he did, not
only did he compete in 14 separate contests, but he won this coveted honor by
placing first in the overall Kumite.
The competitors are scored on
Style, Form and Combat techniques.
The competition is sanctioned by the South East Asia Martial Arts Association in
the Philippines.
Ray Sabb was the only *Lo Fo to ever win in
this competition.
He has been training since the age of 7 when he
started studying Kung Fu until 1981. Ray was wounded while serving with the military. When
he competed in the 70's he was in the Army and spent quite a bit of time in
southeast Asia, mostly in the Philippines.
Now he hopes to compete in the Olympic Summer
games at some point and we wish him well.
*Lo FO - Non Asian
-Phillip Moss is a contributing sports writer
who covers the Martial Arts in the Los Angeles Area for the Long Beach Voice. |
