04/01/2022
Today marks my 44th year in Kung-Fu.
I first began training on April 1, 1978. It's been an amazing journey. I've met many people, taught many students, and traveled many places. My goal has always been to help as many people as possible in life! Kung-Fu has also given me the discipline to push through no matter what's in front of you. I hope to be able to pass on knowledge for another 35 yrs. I remember the first tournament I went to in 1979 in Fostoria, Ohio, and the tournament director after addressing the competitors coming (almost running) over to me and saying, "I don't care what you do today, you ain't winning anything!" The young man next to me who happened to be a karate student asked me, how can he say that if he hasn't seen you do anything yet? I said this is my first tournament...lol. My big brother Mike Riddle and I would try and compete at as many karate tournaments as possible because back then, there were not kung-fu events. We were asked more than once to remove our kung-fu uniforms and replace them with a karate uniform which we always refused. I recall one event when we walked in carrying our Kung-Fu weapons, they promptly got on the PA system to announce...all weapon divisions are canceled today. This treatment only made me train harder to show that Chinese Kung-Fu was NOT a soft art as they so often claimed. Mike and I loved to fight and I recall being invited to come spar karate students at a local YMCA. We fought non stop w/o rest every student there. Then we heard them call for Mr??? who came from a back room and looked like Paul Bunyan...lol Mike and I had a short debate cause we both wanted the honor of fighting their champion. Then Mike used his trump card...He reminded me that as my big brother, it was his option and I agreed. Mike made short work of their champion and we left. I miss those days. I'm glad th have been a trail blazer placing Kung-Fu on the tournament circuit and my students compete in open competition today to show the beauty of kung-fu. I hope my students have this same drive and determination to never back down & never quit!Today marks my 35th year in Chinese Kung-Fu. I first began training April 1, 1978. It's been an amazing journey. I've met many people, taught many students and traveled many places. My goal has always been to help as many people as possible in life! Kung-Fu has also given me the discipline to push through no matter whats in front of you. I hope to be able to pass on knowledge for another 35 yrs. I remember the first tournament I went to in 1979 in Fostoria, Ohio and the tournament directer after addressing the competitors coming (almost running) over to me and saying, "I don't care what you do today, you ain't winning anything!" The young man next to me who happened to be a karate student asked me, how can he say that if he hasn't seen you do anything yet? I said this is my first tournament...lol. My big brother Mike Riddle and I would try and compete at as many karate tournaments as possible because back then, there were not kung-fu events. We were asked more then once to remove our kung-fu uniforms and replace with a karate uniform which we always refused. I recall one event when we walked in carrying our Kung-Fu weapons, they promptly got on the PA system to announce...all weapon divisions are canceled today. This treatment only made me train harder to show that Chinese Kung-Fu was NOT a soft art as they so often claimed. Mike and I loved to fight and I recall being invited to come spar karate students at a local YMCA. We fought non stop w/o rest every student there. Then we heard them call for Mr??? who came from a back room and looked like Paul Bunyan...lol Mike and I had a short debate cause we both wanted the honor of fighting their champion. Then Mike used his trump card...He reminded me that as my big brother, it was his option and I agreed. Mike made short work of their champion and we left. I miss those days. I'm glad th have been a trail blazer placing Kung-Fu on the tournament circuit and my students compete in open competition today to show the beauty of kung-fu. I hope my students have this same drive and determination to never back down & never quit!
