Linda Denley, Karate Superwoman From Houston, Texas
February 8th, 2010
I am really excited to talk about today’s featured martial artist!
During the 70s and 80s while living in Germany, it was a real challenge to get my hands on American karate magazines. But whenever I did, it sure felt like Christmas and I devoured every page of information and inspiration. Especially articles and reports on Linda Denley.
For those of you who have never heard of her, let me warn you in advance. After this post you will be impressed. Very impressed, with this true living martial arts legend.
A native of Houston, Texas, Linda Denley grew up one of 12 children and as a teenager she excelled at just about any sport she took up, such as track and field, in which she even qualified for the Olympics in 5 events!! She couldn’t go to the Olympic Games simply because of her professional karate winnings.
Basketball was another example of her natural athleticism, in which she could have played semi-professional for the Houston Angels, but didn’t because of her karate career.
Linda Denley was THE female competitor to beat for many years.
Her aggressive fighting style earned her the nickname “Texas Terror” and boy, did she back that up with a record that is unheard of.
Starting with Tang Soo Do karate in 1973 under Master Robert Torres, she earned her black belt within 5 years, all while collecting trophies at tournaments.
Get this: Linda Denley was the top rated female kumite competitor from 1973 until 1996. That’s right, for 23 years. I am in awe!
She fought for nine years and did not lose a match. That’s just crazy stuff.
If you’re at all familiar with prestigious karate tournaments in the U.S., then you will appreciate this piece of information, too:
Linda Denley won the Battle of Atlanta not once or twice, but eleven times. Yes, that’s right, eleven times!
The other big-time tournament on the West Coast, simply known as the Long Beach Internationals, she won an impressive four times.
She really left “a path of destruction” in countless other tournaments. At least that’s what it probably felt like for her competitors in those days.
For all her accomplishments on the karate circuit, Linda Denley has been acknowledged in so many remarkable ways such as “Competitor of the Year” and not surprisingly “Instructor of the Year 1999″.
In 1980, she was the very first female to be inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame!
Her fighting skills did not go unnoticed by the TV and movie industry either:
Linda Denley worked with Jackie Chan in “The Armour of God” and Chuck Norris in an episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger”.
Today, 6th dan Linda Denley owns the Texas Black Belt Academy in Houston and has dedicated her time and energy to helping kids reach their full potential not only inside the dojo, but in whatever they do in life.
And here, I believe Linda Denley, Karate Superwoman from Houston, Texas, is paving “a path of inspiration” for many.
Greetings! Enjoy The Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
February 7th, 2010
This sure was another exciting week at The MartialArtsReporter.com!
And here it is “The Week In Review”.
I hope you enjoy your Sunday and find the time to take in all the video clips in their entirety.
Celebrating The Life Of Brandon Lee, Who Would Have Turned 45 Today
Get A Great Lower Body Stretching Workout In Only 3 Minutes!
Here’s An Upper Body Stretching Workout In Just 3 Minutes!
Boxing Insights From My Filipino-American Barber
Jeff Imada, The Genius Behind Great Action Movies
We Will Never Forget 9/11 American Hero And Judo Champion, Jeremy Glick
I hope you come back tomorrow for a new post.
Take care. Stay safe.
We Will Never Forget 9/11 American Hero And Judo Champion, Jeremy Glick
February 6th, 2010
Jeremy Logan Glick (9/3/1970-9/11/2001) was one of several passengers who counterattacked the hijackers of United Airlines flight 93.
On September 11, 2001, “a date which will live in infamy”, thirty-one-year-old Jeremy Glick, and his fellow passengers, sacrificed their lives to prevent terrorists from flying into its Washington, D.C. target.
On that day Jeremy Glick helped save countless lives, displaying character, courage, and honor – he is an American Hero.
Did you know that Jeremy was also an accomplished martial martist? A judoka, to be exact?
I found out that he was trained by trained by Nagayasu Ogasawara, 8th degree Black Belt, who was head judo coach at West Point United States Military Academy Judo Club from 1989 until 1996. Mr. Ogasawara received 1994 National Collegiate Coach of the Year and 1996 Olympic Coach of the Year in Judo.
Nagayasu Ogasawara’s jaw dropped when he saw Jeremy Glick at the 1993 national collegiate judo championships in San Francisco. Ogasawara was coaching Army’s team. Jeremy Glick, a college senior, was at the tournament alone and believe it or not, competing independently.
“He had no team. He had no coach,” said Ogasawara, who had taught Glick judo from the age of 7 until he left for college. “So I said, ‘OK, I’ll coach you.’
Jeremy Glick went on to win the title of US National Collegiate Judo champion in 1993, while he was a student at the University of Rochester.
On September 11, 2002, Glick was awarded the Medal for Heroism, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Sons of The American Revolution.
He was also awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award in 2002.
In September 2008, the United States Judo Association (USJA), awarded Jeremy Glick with an Honorary 10th Degree Black Belt.
Jeff Imada, The Genius Behind Great Action Movies
February 5th, 2010
When you talk about movies like Rush Hour, Armageddon, Lethal Weapon 4, The Bourne Ultimatum, Gone In Sixty Seconds, The Last Samurai, The Fight Club, just to mention a few, I am sure the action-filled scenes are the first thing that come to mind.
And when you think about it, some of the most popular movies became box-office successes due to the spectacular stunts and fight scenes displayed on the Big Screen.
Without the stunt and fight professionals, who by the way usually aren’t household names like those of the celebrities on the Red Carpet, many movie productions would never turn out the way they do.
One of these professionals, who deserve more credit for what they do and someone whom I truly admire, is Jeff Imada.
And yes, the movies I listed above were strongly influenced by Jeff Imada. He either did many of the stunts or coordinated them! Man, this guy must have been in hundreds of great movie productions. It’s absolutely mind-boggling!
Beyond Tinseltown, Jeff Imada is highly recognized and revered on the martial arts circuit for his mastery of Jeet Kune Do (JKD) and Filipino Martial Arts (FMA).
Born in 1955 in Southern California, Jeff Imada started studying martial arts at the age of 15. So, let’s see, that would have been 1970.
That makes it already 40 years of solid martial arts training experience and what I haven’t mentioned so far in this post:
Jeff Imada is a master student/protege of the world-famous, Guro Dan Inosanto. Remember him?
Jeff was also a very good friend of Brandon Lee, back in the day. Later on, he was the primary fight choreographer in Brandon Lee’s successful movie, ‘The Crow’.
He has been a stuntman, stunt coordinator and fight choreographer in countless movie productions that have become financial box-office hits, also because of his ingenuity and professionalism.
I was reminded of him just some time ago after I heard about ‘The Book Of Eli’ starring Denzel Washington and Mila Kunis.
In one of the many interviews promoting this movie, Denzel mentioned Dan Inosanto (remember him?) and Jeff Imada in connection with training for the fight scenes.
He’s bringing it, so you better be ready!
Boxing Insights From My Filipino-American Barber
February 4th, 2010
It was really time to get my hair cut. I kept on putting it off because of busyness. Does that ever happen to you, too?
If you have been following this blog during the last couple of months y’all know that I have a favorite barber. Just check the archives on the right.
Let’s just call him “Danny”. He is a naturalized U.S. American and originally from the Philippines. Like all Filipinos I have met so far, he too is just the nicest guy you can entrust your hair-styling needs with.
We always talk about the Philippines and fighting arts such as Arnis, Eskrima, Kali and of course Western boxing. Also because the arguably best boxer of all time is Filipino. Most of you probably know whom I am talking about: Manny Pacquiao (did I spell that right?).
Alright, so we got over the news that Floyd (Mayweather Jr.) just isn’t that into Manny (Pacquiao) and their fight scheduled for this coming March has been cancelled, for now anyway.
Instead, Floyd will be fighting Shane (Mosley) on May 1 and Manny (Pacquiao) vs. Joshua (Clottey) mid March. Both fights are welterweight division bouts.
That’s sounds interesting, but I needed to know more (the investigative reporter that I am!):
My question: “Danny, why isn’t Floyd fighting against Manny?”
His answer: “Because Floyd is suing Manny for taking drugs!!!!”
My reaction: “What?? ?*&%$#.”
His answer: “Let me explain this to you, my priend. Alright?!’
My response: “Are you sure you’re not cutting my hair too short?”
His answer: “You keep on coming back to see me. So no, it’s not too short! Now listen to me, my priend. Mayweather is calling for random blood tests for all future opponents including Pacquiao, because he wants to clean up boxing. Haha. He requested this after they had all agreed on random urine testing, even though it’s not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission that regulates all professional boxing fights. Manny was alright with 3 blood tests, but not within 24 days of the fight and then he went along with a blood test right after the fight. Do you understand, my priend?
My response: “Hmm. Yeah, sure. So are they ever going to fight? Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, I mean.”
His final answer (because my hair was really getting kinda short, even though he would never admit that): “This would be the most lucrative fight in all of boxing history. If Mayweather and Pacquiao do step into the same ring at the same time, the prize money could possibly gross US$200 million. So I think everybody involved is going to do whatever it takes to make this happen.”
My response: “Now I get it. By the way, my hair looks great and you are a true artist, Danny, my Filipino-American barber. Talk to you again in a couple of weeks.”
Here’s An Upper Body Stretching Workout In Just 3 Minutes!
February 3rd, 2010
Yesterday I introduced a really cool lower body stretching routine that takes only about 3 minutes.
Well, I didn’t want to wait too long to share with you today’s “Upper Body Stretching Workout”.
The benefits and implementation I described yesterday apply here just the same.
Our stretching today focuses on our arms, triceps, shoulders, chest, back and neck.
Even if we are missing our regular workout at the dojo, gym or whatever because of time constraints due to work, travel etc. we can always get these stretch routines in, right?! Even in front of the computer or TV, in a hotel room or even on the beach.
Without further ado: “Upper Body Stretching Workout”.
Get A Great Lower Body Stretching Workout In Only 3 Minutes!
February 2nd, 2010
No matter what kind of martial art you practice or not, it’s pretty safe to say that appropriate stretching before AND after any workout can offer a number of benefits such as:
- Increase of range of motion
- Reduce the risk of injury
- Prevent sore muscles after your workout
I speak from personal experience. Maybe some of you out there can relate.
Very often we don’t take the time for proper warming up AND cooling down. It is soooo important, especially the older you, I mean, I get. Haha.
Years ago, we did a lot of ballistic stretching which I today would not favor for lower body stretching. I now prefer static stretching, whereas you stretch a muscle to the point of a tolerable discomfort or better warming sensation and then hold for a defined period like 30 seconds. Just don’t overdo it! Work with your body, not against it.
This has worked for me very well and I just wanted to pass it on to you.
To close today’s post, of course I will not leave you without some visuals:
I came across one of the most effective lower body stretching workouts that really takes only 3 minutes to do.
I highly recommend stretching before AND after your actual workout.
In my humble opinion, it doesn’t matter whether you are a martial artist or not, you will benefit from it. Give it a try and let me know how you like it.
Celebrating The Life Of Brandon Lee, Who Would Have Turned 45 Today
February 1st, 2010
Happy Monday, everybody!
Where did the weekend go? I dunno.
I have been thinking about posting something about Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee.
Now, get this: I was planning on posting about him today, February 1, and during my research I find out that today would have been his birthday.
This cannot be a coincidence!
Brandon Lee would have turned 45 today. And here again somebody who left us on this planet way too prematurely.
He was a very aspiring movie star and according to acclaimed movie critic, Roger Ebert, after watching Brandon Lee’s performance in “The Crow“, Brandon Lee clearly demonstrated that he might have become an action star, had he lived.
I totally agree with Roger Ebert.
You might remember that Brandon Lee was accidently shot and killed on March 31, 1993 at the age of only 28 while filming “The Crow“.
This is really sad, also because he was scheduled to get married to his fiancee, Eliza Hutton, on April 17.
Brandon Lee definitely had the looks for the Big Screen, but he was more than just another pretty face. After acquiring acting skills at the world-famous Lee Strasberg Academy and being part of a theater group, he was able to put it all together with his martial arts expertise that he was taught by Guro Dan Inosanto.
Before starring in The Crow, which became a box-office hit after his untimely death, Brandon Lee actually performed in a number of productions such as Kung Fu: The Movie, Kung Fu: The Next Generation, Legacy of Rage, Showdown in Little Tokyo, and a movie that I really enjoyed at the time it was released in 1992, Rapid Fire.
I know that a lot of people have focused on the final fight scene or showdown, but I really like the initial fight scene, because you get a pretty good idea of how Brandon Lee applies a lot of the JKD principles his father defined and how he uses any type of tool, weapon or whatever he can get his hands on to save his character, Jake Lo.
Besides the impressive fighting skills he put on display in the 5 min. clip below, I also admire his philosophic perspective he so thoughtfully selected for his wedding invitations:
“Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being that you can’t even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four, or five times more? Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless…”
Celebrating The Life of Brandon Bruce Lee, February 1, 1965 – March 31, 1993
Wow! Another Week In Review At TheMartialArtsReporter.com
January 31st, 2010
Thank you so much for following me here at TheMartialArtsReporter.com
If you’re interested in a specific topic relating to martial arts that we haven’t covered yet or if you’re keen on reading more about something we have talked about here, please feel free to let me know. I welcome your comments. Thanks.
So here it is: Another Week In Review At The MartialArtsReporter.com
Almost 70 years ago, James Cagney, First Martial Artist To Star In A Movie
And it all started in 1946: Robert Trias, Founder Of The First U.S. Karate School
I really mean it: Every Month Should Be Women’s Self-Defense Awareness Month
Reporting from Beverly Hills: Emil Farkas, “Sensei To The Stars” And A Lot More
Just kidding: “Is UFC’s Dana White Rooting For Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell Or Tito “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Ortiz? “
And to end the week on a thoughtful note: The Five Virtues Of The Fighting Arts
Have a great Sunday!
Talk to you tomorrow.
The Five Virtues Of The Fighting Arts
January 30th, 2010
Today I would like to touch on a topic or better a perspective that I have been thinking about some time now.
With the worldwide popularization of various martial arts or better fighting arts, too many of these disciplines have been extremely misinterpreted and thus falsely represented.
Due to commercialization and dilution for sporting applications, just to name two, it appears to me that the true values of the fighting arts continue to be contorted.
In times of excessive thirst for fame, power and egotism, it is pivotal to point out how the fighting arts can nurture the human spirit in many gratifying ways.
Countless practitioners of the fighting arts have found a way of life which is referred to as Gojo or “Five Virtues” which were already defined by Confucius (551-479 BC), one the world’s most quoted Chinese philosophers.
Based on the Confucian philosophy, especially the Japanese fighting arts are founded on the these 5 virtues:
- Benevolence
- Knowledge
- Justice
- Trust
- Etiquette
Even if a number of fighting arts, which were true martial arts at one time, have been transformed and adapted from battlefield applications to cultivate physical and moral fitness such as Judo, which derived form Jujutsu, they pretty much have similar goals according to martial scholar Dave Lowry, namely:
“A perfection of character, a pursuit of life’s truths, and a polishing of the spirit.”
Just something to think about.
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