As I was looking over the Martial Arts History Museum website to see if Steven had accepted their invitation to appear to their August 21st ceremony (which it appears he did not),I came across this. I know nothing about martial arts, nor about this particular organization, but I thought some of you might find it interesting.
ESTABLISHING AN OFFICIAL MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME
One of the main things that we have not had in the martial arts is an official HALL OF FAME. Granted, we have had many little hall of fames and many association hall of fames and these are all fine and good, however, we have never had an official Hall of Fame. At one time, some twenty years ago the Black Belt Hall of Fame was once considered the most prestigious hall of the art, however, these types of halls are selected by magazine editors and not the martial arts pioneers who should be a major part of the selection committee.
A Hall of Fame is an extremely important part of martial arts history. These are the people that the community jointly recognizes as significant achievers in the art. These are the people that the newspapers, media and other forms of communication look to for martial arts information. That is why only a non-profit organization can properly create an official Hall of Fame. A non-profit organization must be non-bias, not dependent on advertising revenue, not part of any association and the selection committee must be made up of the Hall of Fame inductees themselves.
That is why in 1999, the Martial Arts History Museum took it upon themselves to create a Hall of Fame that both the community and world will recognize. A Hall that is based on years of achievements of an individual and not a Hall for people with less than 25 years of practicing.
Each year, the previous Hall of Fame inductees write in their nominees. The museum will then assemble all the nominee names and print out a huge ballot. The ballot, which will list all the names including a small bio, will be given to the inductees for voting. From this list, they will select 10 individuals. The 10 with the most votes will be inducted into the next years HALL OF FAME.
We feel that the museum inductees should be the ones who select the next 10 inductees. We feel this is the most fair voting process than any publication, organization or association can offer. A Hall of Fame Award worthy of distinction.
1) Official Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.
In order to appropriately recognize the commitments and pioneering efforts of the Martial Arts community, the Museum introduced the Martial Arts History Museum with the launching of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
The inductees are: Bruce Lee, Fumio Demura, Benny Urquidez, Bong Soo Han, Jhoon Rhee, Al Dacascos, Chuck Norris, Tak Kubota, Toshiro Mifune, Cynthia Rothrock
2) 10 New Inductees into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
This year, voters across the world selected 10 prestigious pioneers to be inducted into the Official Martial Arts History Museum's Martial Arts Hall of Fame. It is by your votes alone that the 10 inductees are selected.
The inductees are: Ed Parker, Gichon Funakoshi, Dan Inosanto, Mas Oyama, Morihei Ueshiba, Yip Man, Bill Wallace, Wong Fei Hung, Gene LeBell, Tadashi Yamash*ta.
3) The Martial Arts History Museum presents the 2001 Inductees.
Through a nomination process of 30 candidates, the martial arts public from around the world selected their choices of 10 individuals to be inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Official Hall of Fame.
The inductees are: Y.C. Wong, Haeng Ung Lee, Jackie Chan, Ted Wong, Jimmy H. Woo, Paulie Zink, Joe Lewis, Don Wilson, Helio Gracie, Richard Bustillo.
4) The Martial Arts History Museum is Proud to Announce the Inductees for 2002.
Officially recognized by the Martial Arts History Museum, the Museum is proud to announce the latest ten inductees into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. This year, the Museum recorded thousands of votes from martial artists all over the world selecting their top ten choices out of 30 candidates.
The inductees are: Ralph Castro, Joo Bang Lee, Karen Sheperd, Robert Trias, Douglas Wong, Eric Lee, Ernie Reyes, Jigoro Kano, Hee Il Cho, James Lew.
5) Official Inductees of the 2003 Hall of Fame Museum Ceremony introduced the 2003 Hall of Fame Inductees.
The Stardust in Las Vegas welcomed the newest Hall of Fame inductees. Hosted by film director Art Camacho, it was one of the most powerful martial arts events of the year. This year, the Museum recorded 140,340 votes from martial artists from all over the world selecting their top ten choices out of 30 candidates.
The inductees are: Cecil Peoples, Chan Pui, Bill Ryusaki, Lilly Rodriguez, Doc Fai Wong, Kathy Long, Billy Blanks, Gerald Okamura, Howard Jackson, Donnie Williams.
ESTABLISHING AN OFFICIAL MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME
One of the main things that we have not had in the martial arts is an official HALL OF FAME. Granted, we have had many little hall of fames and many association hall of fames and these are all fine and good, however, we have never had an official Hall of Fame. At one time, some twenty years ago the Black Belt Hall of Fame was once considered the most prestigious hall of the art, however, these types of halls are selected by magazine editors and not the martial arts pioneers who should be a major part of the selection committee.
A Hall of Fame is an extremely important part of martial arts history. These are the people that the community jointly recognizes as significant achievers in the art. These are the people that the newspapers, media and other forms of communication look to for martial arts information. That is why only a non-profit organization can properly create an official Hall of Fame. A non-profit organization must be non-bias, not dependent on advertising revenue, not part of any association and the selection committee must be made up of the Hall of Fame inductees themselves.
That is why in 1999, the Martial Arts History Museum took it upon themselves to create a Hall of Fame that both the community and world will recognize. A Hall that is based on years of achievements of an individual and not a Hall for people with less than 25 years of practicing.
Each year, the previous Hall of Fame inductees write in their nominees. The museum will then assemble all the nominee names and print out a huge ballot. The ballot, which will list all the names including a small bio, will be given to the inductees for voting. From this list, they will select 10 individuals. The 10 with the most votes will be inducted into the next years HALL OF FAME.
We feel that the museum inductees should be the ones who select the next 10 inductees. We feel this is the most fair voting process than any publication, organization or association can offer. A Hall of Fame Award worthy of distinction.
1) Official Martial Arts History Museum Hall of Fame.
In order to appropriately recognize the commitments and pioneering efforts of the Martial Arts community, the Museum introduced the Martial Arts History Museum with the launching of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
The inductees are: Bruce Lee, Fumio Demura, Benny Urquidez, Bong Soo Han, Jhoon Rhee, Al Dacascos, Chuck Norris, Tak Kubota, Toshiro Mifune, Cynthia Rothrock
2) 10 New Inductees into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame.
This year, voters across the world selected 10 prestigious pioneers to be inducted into the Official Martial Arts History Museum's Martial Arts Hall of Fame. It is by your votes alone that the 10 inductees are selected.
The inductees are: Ed Parker, Gichon Funakoshi, Dan Inosanto, Mas Oyama, Morihei Ueshiba, Yip Man, Bill Wallace, Wong Fei Hung, Gene LeBell, Tadashi Yamash*ta.
3) The Martial Arts History Museum presents the 2001 Inductees.
Through a nomination process of 30 candidates, the martial arts public from around the world selected their choices of 10 individuals to be inducted into the Martial Arts History Museum's Official Hall of Fame.
The inductees are: Y.C. Wong, Haeng Ung Lee, Jackie Chan, Ted Wong, Jimmy H. Woo, Paulie Zink, Joe Lewis, Don Wilson, Helio Gracie, Richard Bustillo.
4) The Martial Arts History Museum is Proud to Announce the Inductees for 2002.
Officially recognized by the Martial Arts History Museum, the Museum is proud to announce the latest ten inductees into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame. This year, the Museum recorded thousands of votes from martial artists all over the world selecting their top ten choices out of 30 candidates.
The inductees are: Ralph Castro, Joo Bang Lee, Karen Sheperd, Robert Trias, Douglas Wong, Eric Lee, Ernie Reyes, Jigoro Kano, Hee Il Cho, James Lew.
5) Official Inductees of the 2003 Hall of Fame Museum Ceremony introduced the 2003 Hall of Fame Inductees.
The Stardust in Las Vegas welcomed the newest Hall of Fame inductees. Hosted by film director Art Camacho, it was one of the most powerful martial arts events of the year. This year, the Museum recorded 140,340 votes from martial artists from all over the world selecting their top ten choices out of 30 candidates.
The inductees are: Cecil Peoples, Chan Pui, Bill Ryusaki, Lilly Rodriguez, Doc Fai Wong, Kathy Long, Billy Blanks, Gerald Okamura, Howard Jackson, Donnie Williams.
