The 2003 Australasian Martial Arts Hall Of Fame Awards was held in Canberra, ACT for the first time ever on 6th to 9th June 2003; and it was a rousing success with over a hundred and fifty people attending the awards dinner and about three hundred attending the exhibition day.
Eleven people were inducted this year from disciplines as diverse as Savate to Judo, Ninjutsu to Kali.
Held annually since 1996, the AMAHOF Awards are held in conjunction with the World Karate Union Hall Of Fame, based in the United States under WKUHOF President Master Frank Tasetano. All AMAHOF inductees will have their names read out loud and be recorded in the WKUHOF records at their annual awards night.
This year’s inductees are all from Australia, but a strong Kiwi contingent was present with a team brought over by Renshi Brian Twomey (AMAHOF ’96) from his Chu Zhen Dao Martial Arts Academy, based in Tauranga.
This year’s inductees were:
Shidoin Russell Lawrence- Instructor of the Year: Budokan Bujutsu Terrence Bridgeman-Lifetime Achievement: Savate Colin Pestell-Instructor of the Year: Savate Shihan Mervyn Nellis-Instructor of the Year, Victoria: Karate Hanshi Pat McKean-Instructor of the Year, Queensland: Karate Sensei Bradley Koopmans-Instructor of the Year: Chu Zhen Dao Sensei Barry Johnson-lnstructor of the Year: Judo Sensei Brett Gross-] Instructor of the Year: Ninjutsu Eskrimador Raymond Floro-Instructor of the Year: Kalis Illustrisimo Sensei Darrel Barret-lnstructor of the Year: Kawashi Jujutsu Shihan Sharon Pollet Instructor of the Year, New South Wales: Karate
Master Ramon Lawrence, AMAHOF President and 1996 inductee, also honoured Kancho Peter Chek (AMAHOF ‘99) with the Golden Lifetime Achievement Award. It was an emotional moment for everyone when Kancho Peter was called to the stage and a standing ovation greeted him and his award.
Grandmaster Barry Bradshaw (AMAHOF ’96), Chairman of the Australasian Sokeship Council also pulled another surprise out when he called Hanshi Pat McKean away from his dinner and, on behalf of the Shihan Kai Australia, awarded him his 9th Dan.
New Zealand also pulled a coup with the appointment of Renshi Brian Twomey to the AMAHOF Board of Directors. AMAHOF is a living organization and it bodes nobody well if the members don’t participate in it. The AMAHOF Board of Directors expects all Directors and Members to be fully supportive of the organisation without personal agenda’s or politics interfering with the smooth running of this successful and highly professional Association of martial arts personnel.
Grandmaster Barry Bradshaw at the Awards Dinner publicly endorsed the full support of the Board of Directors and members of the association to the professional running of the organisation by the President, Master Ramon Lawrence. The Constitution was voted unanimously to remain unchanged at the AGM.
The exhibition day was held at the Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah and an eager crowd was already gathering before the scheduled kick-off time.
Demonstrations were held by various clubs and all were received enthusiastically. During the breaks it was gratifying to see people cross training and stepping way out of their comfort zones by trying different methods from other systems.
Bridgeman Savate put on a well-received demo that included one fatality.’ a chair from the German Club sacrificed its life in a display on the use of the Grande Baton. Savate is called the gentleman’s art in France and includes the use of the cane, staff, knife, palm strikes, grappling and low line kicking. Terry Bridgeman, Colin Pestell and Nigel Bridgeman put a lot of effort in and impressed the audience, most of who were seeing Savate for the first time.
Other demos included Kendo, Hapkido, Muay Thai, Ninjutsu, Karate, Jujitsu, and an appearance by Kancho Peter Chek, over 80 years young and still kicking butt. When Kancho Peter called for a volunteer, he insisted on a young, strong male and it took awhile before anybody mustered up the courage to get on the mat with this living legend.
Hanshi Pat McKean did a Kata demo, but insisted he wasn’t going to be much good as he had just had a heart operation a couple of weeks before the event. Hanshi Pat’s definition of “not good” looks suspiciously like another person’s definition of “excellent”. Hanshi Pat also played on the didgeridoo whilst one of his students performed Kata, possibly a world first.
Renshi Brian Twomey with the support of Sensei Brad Koopmans did a demo on Muay Thai, and drew comments on the power of Thai kicking. Brad’s demo partner was overheard saying, as he limped away, that he was going to name his bruise “Bradley”. They later had a series of people lining up wanting to experience what a Thai kick felt like, although two pads were used for safety purposes.
Master Ramon Lawrence performed a series of Seitei laido Kata and Tamiya Ryu laijutsu that was likened to poetry in motion, and he later went on to say that the Tamiya Ryu laijutsu demo was the first time it had been publicly performed in Australia.
The ultimate in audience participation came from Grandmaster Barry Bradshaw when he called everybody to the mat and insisted that there be no onlookers. He demonstrated a few jujitsu holds then had everybody partner up and try them out with each other, regardless of size or age. Grandmaster Barry’s humorous comments kept the audience in stitches throughout his demo.
Of course, this year’s event in Canberra wouldn’t have been possible without the organizational skills of Renshi Ed Scharrer (AMAHOF ’00) and Renshi Peter Wilson (AMAHOF’01). Thanks to everybody who helped, without you it would have been impossible. Thanks also to the staff of the Heritage Hotel, Narrabundah, who took the invasion of their premises by a bunch of perpetually hungry, thirsty, and at times cranky, martial artists equably and with aplomb.
Congratulations again to 2003’s inductees, and we hope to see everybody past, present and future, at Willow Pond, Perth for AMAHOF 2004 from 4-6 June 2004.
The Kiwis (left to right) Sempai Ray Trinidad, Spence and Maree Hayter Sensei Bradley Koopmans
(this years Inductee), Sempai Rebekah and Donna Crook, Renshi Brian Twomey.
All present Hall of Famers From 1996 to today
The Board of Directors (left to right) Brian Twomey, Peter Kitak, Craig Swingler, Wayne Hanley, Hanshi Peter Chek, Peter Mortan, Renshi Edward Scharrer, Konsho Barry Bradshaw, Master Ramon Lawrence. Absent: Kyoshi Mel Lomax and Master Robert Gammell.
Hanshi Pat McKean (Australia’s newest 9th Dan)
Master Lawrence with Hanshi Peter Chek
and his Golden Lifetime Achievement Award.
This years Inductees: (left to right) Front row: Shidion Russell Lawrence, Shihan Sharon Pollet. President Ramon Lawrence, Hanshi Pat McKcan. Brett Gross, Back Row: Shlhan Mervyn Nelis Sensei Darrel Barrett. Sensei Bradley Koopmans, Master Colin Pestell, Master Terence Bridgeman, Sensei Barry Johnson, Master Raymond Floro.
