The Esby Family
Dr Moore and Gord Hesse, soke and Mark Lawrence, shihan, Hoshin organization
(L) Grandmaster Tony Mayo and (R) actor Dr Vincent Lyn sign autographs for young martial artists.
O-Sensei Jack Sterns and friends
Grand Master Tom Lopez
Distinguished guests and inductees
Tournamanent Winners Awarded
O-Sensei with Grand Masters Lopez and Livingston
Master of Ceremonies Harley Swiftdeer Reagan, soke and his wife
An evening filled with celebration and friendship
Memoriam Alter
The Memoriam service:
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
Opening :
-With humility.
-With awareness of the existence of life.
-And of the sufferings that are going on around us, let us practice the
establishment of peace in our hearts and on Earth. -Thich Nhat Hanh
-May this gathering inspire us to help all beings to create a spirit of
awakening and understanding, allowing each of us a life lived in love,
peace, and harmony.
-Tonight we intend to honor those who have passed from this physical world
into the great void of Heavenly existence. We honor them as family, friend,
teacher, spouse, pioneer, and legend.
-We honor their memory
-We honor their spirit
-We honor their legacy
Bring forth the essence of our departed brothers ( memoriam alter & photos
of Bell, Oliver, and Morris brought in by bearers)
Light incense : Chris
* Every day is a new day and a new life. All things arise and subside.
Appear and disappear.
* This is a dynamic state, continuously changing.
* Nothing is permanent.
* Continuously becoming.
* Continuously becoming.
* We call this Life.
-Teachers, we honor you (Bow toward alter)
(Bowl of rice ) Brought before the alter by a representative of TWMAHOF
-With honorable awareness we offer the gift of life. May each precious grain
come to nourish the body. the mind. and the Spirit. Creating Oneness.
The relationship to a teacher, a mentor, displays no distance, be it of time
of geography. The teacher and his teachings are as close as our own heart.
The teacher is beyond near and far, for it is not only the body and the
personality one hope to learn from, but of his essence and spirit as he
carries himself though this life. The teacher plants the seeds of knowledge
and cultivates that knowledge into wisdom. The teacher is a master gardener,
and we are but seedlings that emerge to hear the fruits of a bountiful
harvest. To be a leader carries awesome responsibility.
Tonight we honor three pioneers. three legends. three brothers who have
passed before us:
Shuseki Shihon William Oliver
Professor Richard A Bell
Dr. Glenn J Morris Soke
(Pause & Silence)
Oliver
Shuseki Shihan William Oliver, was born in 1952, and he departed from this
world in 2004.
Shihan Oliver, a man known for his outstanding talent and accomplishments,
respected not only in the world of Seido, but respected throughout the globe
itself. For his life is what legends come out of.
Shuseki Shihen Oliver exuded talent and continues to be an inspiration.
Whether you knew him personally, or know him from the stories of friends and
students, there is little doubt that this man changed the lives of thousands
within the Martial Arts.
William Oliver was committed to teaching throughout the world, including
Australia, Asia, and the Caribbean. Subject of Martial Arts magazines,
television appearances on ABCs Wide World of Sports, Nickelodeon, for some
of his younger students, as well as a documentary about the 1st World
Kyokushin Championship, called "the Fighting Kings".
Shihah Oliver, a 7th degree black belt, with over 30 years of training,
passed November 20, 2004 at his dojo.
The Martial Arts community has lost a true warrior. God bless his family and
his students.
Shuseki Shihen Oliver, you will remain in the hearts of many and may your
teachings continue to flourish.
Osa
Bell
Professor Richard A Bell came into this physical existence in 1943. He
founded Sansei Isshinryu Karate-Do in 1980. Professor Bell was chief
instructor of Sansei Isshinryu Karate, until his untimely passing, from this
reality into the next, in 2005.
During his chosen path into Budo Professor Bell studied many martial systems
and styles. These included: Jutitsu, Judo, Shorin-ryu, Wado-ryu, Uechi-Ryu,
Goju, Shotakan, Okinawan Isshunryu, USA Goju, Aikido, Okenawan Kenpo, Nisei
Goju, Kendo and Tai Chi Chuan.
In 1967 Professor Bell began teaching Martial Arts, over the years he was
entrusted the following titles and earned the following ranks:
Phd/MA, Soke, Professor, Hanshi, Shihan, 10th dan, Sansei,
Isshinryu, 8th dan, Nisei Goju, 6th dan Lee Jititsa-ryu, 5th Dan Okanawan
Isshinryu, Intermediate Level Taoist Tai Chi Chuan, 6th Kyu Kendo and 4th
Kyu USA Goju.
The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame inducted Richard A. Bell in 1994 for his
dedicated service as a deputy United States Marshal.
Sansei Isshinryu Karate Do and the World Wide Martial Arts community will
feel the loss of this great man, but his life and the system he has left
behind will remain forever in the hearts of his students and in the support
of the Martial Arts community.
Professor Richard A. Bell, on behalf of Sansei Isshin Ryu Karate and the
World Martial Arts community we pay tribute to you services, your memory and
your teachings.
Osa
Dr. Morris
Dr. Glenn J. Morris, Soke, chose this life in 1944, and passed into the next
April 1, 2006.
Soke Glenn Morris left the Hoshin Roshin Ryu Ju Tai Jutsu system as his
legacy to the world. Dr. Glenn Morris displayed the mind of a scholar, the
spirit of an artist, the heart of a warrior, and the wit of a master.
Dr. Morris trained in the Martial Arts for over 50 years studying: Jujitsu,
Judo, Tai Chi, Kung Fu, Karate, Boxing, and Wrestling. In 1965 he earned his
1st black belt in the art of Jujitsu while serving in the United States
Army.
As a Martial Arts teacher he began by instructing in Germany to the third
MED and later at Penn State University. Hoshin began in 1980 at Hillsdale
College, Michigan, and a few years later, Dr. Morris began attending
Ninjitsu seminars with Stephen Hayes. This exposure of Ninjitsu led to
further training under Hatsumi-Soke, who, in time, promoted Glenn to Kudan,
or 9th degree black belt, in the year 2000, and post humously awarded Dr
Morris his 10th dan. Additional Martial Arts accolades include: Grand Master
of the Millennium, induction to the WHFSC Hall of Fame, and member world
head of family Sokeship council.
Not only a pioneer in the Martial Arts, Soke Morris was a committed man of
Academia; possessing a PhD from Wayne State University and A Sci D from
Eurotechnical Research University.
Those that knew Dr. Morris, this time around, speak fondly of him, as a
committed and dedicated teacher, friend, Martial Arts Master extraordinaire,
storyteller, and a man with a smile, kind heart and quick wit.
The art of Hoshin Roshi Ryu Ju Tai Jutsu has come from the college campus,
traveled throughout the North American continent, and is now spreading into
the Martial Arts community of Europe. Through the dedication and initiative
of Dr. Morris, and the follow through of his senior disciples, under
leadership of Gordon Hesse, inheritor of the Hoshin system; the legacy and
dream of Dr. Glenn J. Morris, Soke, his life works and personality will
forever stay in the hearts of those he has touched and those he still has
yet to touch.
Dr. Morris, knowing your art, knowing your teachings, it would not surprise
me to hear your students say, that you are here tonight.
Sir, we honor you and your legacy.
Honsha Za Shonen
Osa
Offering of flowers (by a child or children)
-There is a beauty in all things: birth, life, death, and rebirth.
- May all beings be free from enmity
- May all beings be free from ill treatment
- May all beings be free from troubles
- May all beings be free from suffering
- May all beings be protect their own happiness
- May all beings be happy
- May the infinite Light of Wisdom and Compassion so shine within, that the
errors and vanities of the self be dispelled, so we shall understand the
changing nature of existence and awaken into Spiritual Peace.
On this day, September 2, 2006, before the World Martial Arts community, we
honor and pay tribute to their memory:
Shuseki Shihan William Oliver
Professor Richard A. Bell
Dr. Glenn J. Morris, Soke
What people are saying about the 2006 Awards Event
Subject: to all woma members and brothers abnd sisters
We've just returned from the Martial Arts Hall of Fame event in Cleveland.
WHAT a GREAT weekend! This event was a first class event all the way. 6 of
us traveled down from Canada to meet up with Soke and Jack for this event.
We had never been to Cleveland before, so we didn't know what to expect.
It's a huge city and found most of the people to be very friendly. We
arrived on the Friday morning at the hotel, and what a hotel! The Wyndham.
Very classy. I don't think I've ever had better service at a hotel in my
life. From the valets, to the bell hops, to the regular staff ~ everyone was
friendly (and we Canadians know friendly) and were very good at what they
did.
After catching up on some missing sleep, we went to meet the people from the
Hall of Fame organization and get some more information on the event details
before we had to pick up Soke around dinner time. At that point we all got
to meet 3 or 4 of the board members, and the Soke of the Sokes ~ Dr. E.A.
Moore himself. Dr. Moore was a good friend with our Dr. Glenn Morris. I had
been in contact with Dr. Moore for the last several months, so it was great
to finally meet him. This gentleman is a fine person, and great supporter of
Glenn and Hoshin in general. He has been around quite awhile, and is in fact
the originator of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. At this time we also got to
meet 3 people that would quickly become some of the best friends we'll ever
meet: Rick Wilmott-soke & Chris Bashaw-soke from New Hampshire, along with
Chris's lady friend Dee. Chris and Rick have followed Glenn's books and
teachings for some time and were actually looking forward to meeting the
group of us at this event. In fact, Rick was inducted into the Hall of Fame
on the same night Glenn was, oh, so many years ago. These brothers of Budo
became fast friends with us as we began swapping Glenn stories and getting
to know each other. Chris and Rick are not only experienced martial artist
in both the internal and external ways, but were also new members on the
Executive Board of Directors for the Hall of Fame, and had a great deal to
do with the success of the event.
Later on in the afternoon, I was asked by Dr. Moore to join him for a
meeting with his Executive Board of Directors, which I very humbly attended.
Let me tell you about the type of people that were on this board. There were
doctors from the sports medicine field; multiple different Soke from ryus
I've never even heard of let alone know existed; some of the Soke with
20,000 students and others with more 60 years of martial arts training; 1
gentleman from the Hollywood side of the martial arts (he's been in many
movies with Jackie Chan). People from all styles, backgrounds, races, walks
of life, etc. all here for one reason: celebrating the spirit of Budo.
Later that afternoon we picked up Soke from the airport and then went out
for a great sushi dinner before a meet and greet back at the hotel. We had
the pleasure of meeting all of the board members, along with many other
people from around the world that were in attendance. I can't remember how
many countries were represented, but there quite a few. We had a great
time, and went to bed late as always :)
Saturday was kind of a free day for most of us. There was a Karate
tournament in the morning, but we mostly went to see some of the sights that
Cleveland had to offer during the day, with the anticipation of the big
event that evening.
The awards banquet was spectacular to say the least. Everyone was very well
dressed (all of the guys in our group were in tuxedos, and the ladies were
in beautiful formal dresses) The building that the banquet was held was
incredible! It was an old school gentleman's club that had to be worth
several hundred million dollars (easily). The entire place was marble, gold,
and dark wood everywhere. I wish you could see the pictures in my mind,
because I don't know how to describe what we saw. There were marble statues
and huge Ming vases ~ talk about classy!
The awards ceremony started with the memorial. The World Martial Arts Hall
of Fame and Sokeship Council recognized Shuseki Shihon William Oliver,
Professor Richard A Bell, and our own Dr. Glenn J Morris-Soke with an
incredibly moving ceremony given by Chris Bashaw-soke. The ceremony was
performed with a live band performing traditional Buddhist drumming in the
background. We have been given a copy of the script Chris used which we
will send to the list in a follow-up e-mail. The ceremony was very emotional
for many people. A beautifully framed picture of each of the people being
remembered, was sat on a table in front of the whole group. Chris spoke
about each person, and Dr. Moore and Dr. Lee blessed them while Chris
continued his speech. It was very well done, and I believe that they did
Glenn and Hoshin a great honour.
The actual awards part of the evening began by the giving out of their
highest award. This was given to a gentleman whom they call Papa-san. He's
been in the MA for more than 60-some years, several military tours of duty,
trained in traditional karate systems for many years in Japan, and the list
goes on. He was awarded the rank and title of O-Sensei. (He was also an Army
Ranger, so he and Soke had a great conversation at the meet and greet on the
previous night). There were several awards given out over the night and a
handful of people were inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame,
with our very own Gord Hessie-soke and myself being two of those honoured
people. Soke was presented this incredible gold inlaid belt with his name
and rank woven into the fabric - very unique and prestigious. Each of the
inductees was given a beautiful bronze samurai statue as part of the award,
along with the huge certificates that go with the respective awards. There
were several other interesting people recognized during the night, including
a gentleman that is a police officer (and martial artist) that was at 9/11.
He was one of the many who survived the attack and was pulling people out of
the falling building. There were so many other great people that we met and
talked to (as you can tell, I've had a hard time remembering all the names).
After the awards were over, the dancing began and everyone finished the
night whooping it up in style.
All in all, a fantastic time was had by all. I would like to thank my
students Donna, Michael, Jack, Pauline and Lindsay for coming and supporting
Soke and the ryu at this event with me. It was one weekend I will definitely
not forget. We've added a few pictures to the website, so check them out:
http://www.hoshin.com/wmahof.htm I wish the rest of you could have been
there.
Mark and Tina
Kawartha Hoshin Training Centre
Mailto:khtc@...
www.khtc.ca & www.hoshin.com
From: Manong T
Sent: Monday, September 11, 2006 1:04 PM
Subject: World Hall of Fame
Hello Everyone,
My wife and I just want to "Thank everyone" for a fabulous weekend and Hall of Fame Event. Just got home and am now catching up on my email. We wholeheartedly agree with Papasaan and his comments about the way the event
was conducted. We would only add it was nothing short of "FABULOUS
FABULOUS FABULOUS" AND IF ANYONE MISSES NEXT YEARS EVENT SHAME ON THEM. I am convinced that it will supercede the 2006. Everyone of the council members and all those associated truly went above and beyond what could be expected.
I really enjoyed meeting and talking to all of you. Can't wait till next year. If you are ever in my area, Wisconsin, Please call and/or stop by.
As one of the new council members, I look forward to working with all of you in helping make the 2007 Hall of Fame the greatest.
My best regards to one and all,
Manong Tom and Sherry Lopez
Osu Professor Moore,
I trust that you and your family are all well. We returned home safely and I immediately resumed teaching all my classes.
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful and most successful banquet and induction ceremony held in Cleveland Ohio, also to thank you for inducting me into The World Martial Arts Hall Of Fame, and for all the other recognitions conferred on me by your good self.
I am looking foreword to the future in which our relationship and friendship will continue to grow into something that will be of great benefit to karate-ka all over. I particularly would like to see, TWMAHOF become a household name in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South East Asia, I am sure with yourself at the helm this is achievable. Just imagine bridges that will be built, which will bring people from all over together in the name of the Martial Arts.
Hanshi Olen Lane is a wonderful man, a true gentleman, warrior and scholar, we cannot thank him and Sensei Mary enough for their gracious hospitality, it made it possible for us to make the long journey. God willing, one of many more to come. I think working together we surely could make a difference.
When I was with Mr. Nakamura I travelled twenty-four time to the USA, Japan, the UK, Ireland, Scotland, India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Egypt, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and to many parts of Southern Africa, all to promote Karate-do, that's my passion. Now I pray that I remain in good health, enjoy my energy, and continue to be inspired to teach and never to stop learning. Meeting you has renewed my quest.
May you remain in good health, by God's Grace.
Your in the Noble Arts.
Solly Said Hanshi
Ken Fude Ryu
www.kenfuderyu.co.zaBest in Martial Arts Hall of Fame
(Barbados)
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