The Pair-A-Docs Report
– from Down Under!
By: Dr. Braff and Dr.
Hufford
Dr. Braff and Dr. Hufford travel around the WORLD spreading
the word about Unity and Diversity in the martial arts, San-Ryu-Do Iaijutsu, Combative
Sports Weaponry, and Kodaijin Ki-Do on an International Scale. Combative Sports Weaponry includes Kenjutsu
and Kobudo, and the Docs believe that it is a Martial Arts Discipline that can
unify all of the martial arts by creating a tournament event that any martial
artist from any style can compete on an even playing field with all other
martial artists.
UMA Hall of Fame & Tournament –
Universal Martial Arts HoF
and tournament, held by Professor Silverio Guerra, was
3-days of Vendors, Seminars, and World Champion Competition that culminated in a
Gala Banquet with over 300+ in attendance. Dr. Braff and Dr. Hufford held two well
attended seminars on SanRyudo Iaijutsu and Combative
Sports Weaponry on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.
Saturday morning began with a bang as everyone
gathered to kick-off the UMA HoF
World Championships Martial Arts tournament. During the first half of the tournament Dr.
Braff and Dr. Hufford participated as center judges in both empty hand and
weapons forms. Then they kicked it up a
notch by organizing and directing the “ISF South-West Combative Sports Weaponry
Championship.” They held five open
divisions (grandmaster to kyu ranks). It was exciting to watch notables such as
Prof. Christopher Francis (
That evening Dr. Braff, Dr.
Hufford, and SanRyuDo Directors, Joseph Pierro and Chrisptopher Francis,
along with friends George Marenco and George Marenco II were inducted into the Prestigious UMA Hall of
Fame. Dr. Braff was inducted as "Founder
of the Year." Dr. Hufford was
inducted as “Senior Master of the Year.” Master Pierro was
inducted as “Master of the Year.” Master
Pierro teaches Shaolin Kenpo
and SanRyuDo Iaijutsu in Jupiter, FL. Prof. Christopher Francis was inducted as
“Universal Grand Master of the Year Ju-Jitsu. Professor Francis teaches Kana-ryu Ju-Jitsu and SanRyuDo Iaijutsu in
In addition to the inductions
into the UMA HoF, Dr. Hufford was Awarded Ku-Dan (9th
Degree Black Belt) in Nihon To-Jutsu
Karate-Do Kai and appointed as a lifetime member to the Supreme Sokeship Council. It
was a wonderful dinner and awards ceremony.
USMA Hall of Fame and Training Camp -
The United States Martial Arts Association Training
Camp and Hall of Fame, held by O’Sensei Phil Porter,
was a 4-day training camp in various martial arts. Dr. Braff and Dr. Hufford, along with Richard Bustillo, Cacoy Canete, Steve Jimerfield, and
others, were Seminar Instructors at the Training Camp. Dr. Hufford and Dr. Braff taught SanRyuDo Iaijutsu. Many other topics such as Stick Fighting,
Judo, Ju-Jitsu, and Police Tactics Training were
taught. The camp was attended by 150
plus participants.
The camp ended with a wonderful banquet where Dr. Hufford and Dr. Braff received recognition along with Master Pierro (FL) and his students, Mr. Seiger
and Mr. Dempich (WI). Dr. Hufford received “Founder of the Year” and
Dr. Braff received “Most Distinguished Grand Master of the Year.” In addition Dr. Braff was appointed a charter
member of the USMA Grand Masters Council.
WKU Hall of Fame and Tournament -
The World Karate Union Hall of Fame and annual tournament
was held in the Beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. It was July Fourth weekend when 40 plus SanRyuDo members and guests came together with over 300
other martial artists and guests to receive honors from the WKU.
Saturday was a day of seminars where Dr. Braff taught
SanRyuDo Iaijutsu, Dr. Hufford taught Combative
Sports Weaponry, Master Pierro (FL) taught Shaolin Kenpo Basics, and Master LaPanne
(NH) taught Shaolin Kenpo Self-Defense along with
Gary Alexander teaching Isshin-Ryu Defense tactics
and others such as stick fighting and ju-jitsu.
Dr. Hufford’s and Dr. Braff’s
students manned the International SanRyuDo booth where
CONNECT, NETWORK, and SHARE is the motto.
The infamous actor / martial artist Hank Garrett (Three Days of the
Condor and Car 54 Where are You?) was signing autographs
and donating all of the proceeds to charity.
Master Ramon Lawrence (also a KIAI member) was present representing
AMAHOF / WKU from
The evening brought on the
honors with Dr. Braff receiving two awards – “Most Distinguished Board Member”
and “Head Founder of the Year,” and his students (Josh and Brett) received
Instructor of the Year. Dr. Hufford received
“Soke of the Year” and his students (Kyle, Brendan, Jake, Bill, Matt, Josh,
Felix, Taylor, Felix, Steve, and Mike) all received awards for “Instructor of
the Year.” Grandmasters Christopher
Francis (Tinidad), Ruben Torres (NY), Giovanni
Acevedo (PR), Sonny Barker (CA), and Hanshi Steve Barnett (UK) received “Grand
Master of the Year.” Masters Joe Pierro (FL), Matt LaPanne (NH),
Wayne “Tea’ Thomas (MD), John Scott (MD), and Rafael Figueroa (NY), all associates
and friends of SanRyuDo, received “Master of the
Year.” Mike Patt
(OH), representing our Brazilian Ju-Jitsu and
Grappling friends, received “Promoter of the Year” for his organization of Mixed
Martial Arts events. After the awards,
all were treated to a SPECTACULAR 4th of July Fireworks celebration at Camel
Back mountain. There was Karaoke in the
lounge until early morning.
Sunday was the annual tournament. Over 100 competitors came together to compete. TEAM DRAGON FIRE and
BOC World Martial Arts Games 5 -
Teams from around the globe came to the World Games V
to compete. TEAM GBR (UK), TEAM
TRINIDAD, TEAM
Weapons Directors Dr. Braff and Dr. Hufford organized
and ran the Weapons and CSW Divisions. They
were also Center Judges along with Master Pistella
(TSD), Master Paik (TSD), Master Kim (Hapkido), and many other excellent martial arts masters. Team Dragon Fire and Team San-Ryu-Do came to the
Greater Columbus Convention Center to compete in Full-Contact Weapons
Sparring. Team
Grand Master Choi hosted a great dinner following the tournament where
the tournament directors, staff, and supporters were honored. Master Kevin Cullen - Ateru
Worldwide Association - not only sang the Star-Spangled Banner to open each day
of activities, but he also became the piano man and played beautifully for an
evening of music and dancing after the dinner.
It was an enjoyable time for all.
AMA Hall of Fame - Surfer's
AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE, OY, OY, OY!! G’DAY MATES – Dr. Braff and Dr. Hufford here, reporting to you from DOWN UNDER. We are here at the Gold Coast in sunny and beautiful
Surfer’s
In Australia AMAHOF is growing and expanding. It is like an elephant – slow to get moving –
but once going it will plow through the jungle. RIDE THE ELEPHANT!!
We attended the AMAHOF board of directors meeting
with Ramon Lawrence, Peter “Frog” Morton, Mal Lomax, and other board members, and we participated in the AMAMHOF Sokeship Council and Promotions Board
meeting. What a great honor to share in
another countries martial arts process.
After the meetings of the day was the AMAHOF
banquet. Dr. Braff gave a keynote speech
from WKU-USA. After that Dr. Braff was
inducted into AMAHOF for “International Lifetime Achievements in the Martial
Arts” and Dr. Hufford was inducted for “Lifetime Achievements in the Martial
Arts.” We were both given lifetime
appointments to the AMAHOF Sokeship Council.
Sunday was the “Day of the Masters" - A seminar event
where many
USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame -
It was a day of clinics that ended in a Gala Banquet
with over 200+ in attendance. Dr. Braff
and Dr. Hufford along with their students Josh, Katie, and Kyle put on a one-hour
SanRyuDo Iaijutsu clinic at 8:30AM – Man, only the diehards
showed up that morning.
That evening Dr. Braff, Dr. Hufford, and their students were inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Dr. Braff received "Grand Master of the Year - Kenjutsu." Dr. Hufford received “Master of the Year – Kenjutsu.” Josh Braff received “Instructor of the Year-SanRyuDo,” Katie Hale received “Female Competitor of the Year,” and Kyle Hufford received "Instructor of the Year – Nihon To-Jutsu Karate-Do.” It was a wonderful dinner and awards ceremony.
Grand Master Choi's Moogong Spring Camp -
At the Spring Training Camp 2005 Dr. Braff and Dr.
Hufford taught a San-Ryu-Do Iaijutsu and a Combative Sports Weaponry
seminar. One part of the weekend included
testing and grading of lower belts and black belts with a big award ceremony
afterwards. It was amazing to see
multiple tests and promotions of 50 plus students all in one place at the same
time. Impressive!!
G.M. Choi's Kimoodo was interesting and invigorating. Kimoodo is an
excellent method for regaining and maintaining ones health. Many other instructors were in attendance
teaching Hapkido, Gumdo, Kali, Sparring, and
Forms. The camp always includes a great
dinner prepared and cooked to perfection by Mrs. Choi. You have to love her Kimchee!! Spicy!!
Dr. Braff and Dr. Hufford were both presented with Certificates of
Appreciation for their contributions to the Moogong
Spring Camp.
Masters Present Seminars at Dragon Fire Martial Arts
It has been a summer for
seminars on Kana-Ryu Ju-Jitsu, Sei
Tei Iaido, Lions Kenpo
& Karate, San-Ryu-Do Iaijutsu, and Combative Sports Weaponry at Dragon Fire
Martial Arts in
The ISF can
be found on-line at www.sanryudo.com
Dr. Braff
can be contacted at sanryudo1@aol.com
Nihon To-Jutsu Karate-Do Kai can be found on-line at www.goshindo.us/kai/kai.html
Dr. Hufford
can be contacted at samurai@goshindo.us
End of Page