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August 11, 1997 -- Comment on the Nationals from Grandmaster George Nobles, Major USMC (Retired) Executive Director, Marine Martial Arts Association

Dear Hanshi ,

THANK YOU for inviting us!! We had a super time. The banquet was great and it was nice to have the opportunity to get to know folks a little better. The Sheriff and his wife were wonderful as were the young couple that were there. Thank you for allowing me to present Tom Lapuppet with his membership, I really enjoyed having the opportunity to do that especially in a group which understands what he has contributed to the martial arts and really appreciates it.

I don't know if you are aware of this (but Pat probably told you), but one of the highlights of the trip was having an opportunity to get together with him and really converse- I know it helped me a lot with getting rid of the old impressions and misunderstandings (and I hope it did the same for him).

The tournament was excellent- It is the first one that I have seen in years that was really run with a sense of budo- Competitors were polite, referees were professional and everyone was courteous to each other. I stopped going to tournaments because they lacked the very elements I have mentioned here, but I feel confident that I can bring people to your tournaments with no problems. I hope you understand what I mean. August 11, 1997 -- Comments on the Nationals from Moyer's Isshin Ryu Karate, Reading Pa

I would like to tell you of my schools success at your tournament. I brought seven students 2 adults and 5 children, we took eleven medals home. Everyone of the seven is going home a Champion. What a hat trick. The judging obviously was great or you couldn't have an Isshinryu school (Okinawan) going into a Japanese tournament and having the success we had. I changed my Kata's a little because I entered your tournaments since 1989 and knew what I had to change. If you get letters from other Okinawan schools you can feel free to tell them of my success.

And from Alistair Holden..& Tonia.

CONGRATULATIONS on a very well run event. This was my daughter (Tonia Holden)'s first national event, during which she took silver for 12 year female kumite. I hope this will be the start of many visits as she especially like the judging (as did every one else who came). The dojo she represents is the Moyer Karate School from Reading PA. We are an Isshinryu School & took 7 people to the nationals out of a school of not more than 40 people, we brought back 11 medals, 3 gold 6 silver 2 bronze. It has always seemed to be an uphill struggle competing with the Isshinryu style, but due to the judging at Ohio, we did better than usual in the Kata events.

You may be sure we'll be back next year, hopefully with a few extra people.

Thanks for a great week-end.
August 9, 1997 -- Major. James Caldwell, USAKF Chief of Referees

Thanks for you and your wife's hospitality. Congratulations on an another successful championship. We proved beyond a shadow of doubt that the USAKF is alive and well. The Hall Of Fame Banquet was a great step forward. I feel greatly honored to be honored by my peers. It will be along with the other newly installed awards be something to look forward to by others in the future.

I want extend my heartfelt thanks to all of the officials that volunteered their time and effort, for without it this championship could and would not be a success. Congratulation to those officials that attended the officials seminar and received an upgrade. Keep up the hard work. hope to see you and others that didn't attend in future seminars. This is the primary way we can maintain the quality of the USAKF officials. Keep Up The Hard Work !!

August 5, 1997 -- USAKF Nationals --Patrick Byrnes, Shihan - Bushi Budo Kan

The USA Karate Federation Summer Nationals was by my estimation a great success! The numbers were somewhat less than previous years, but the quality of competitors and the smooth, efficient way that Shihan Lapuppet kept all the rings going made it a special weekend. The referee group kept things moving along quickly, and were professional and efficient. I can remember only one minor problem in charting. It's a shame that some of the National Team members couldn't make the challenging event. I feel the more challenged-the higher an individual reaches.

The establishment of a true NATIONAL KARATE HALL OF FAME for the Traditional Martial Arts community is wonderful addition, and certainly a symbol of pride, excellence and dedication to our art.

I have been with the organization since 1984 and appreciate where we started, and where we are going. Hanshi Anderson, keep moving forward, keep the spirit, those of us with any intellect appreciate what you have done for Karate, the United States, the World Karate program, and the competitors and individuals within the program.

It is my opinion that the three major competition groups, USAKF, USANKF and AAU Karate programs should publish the winners of each National Championship and the winners need not qualify for the following year's National Championships. The membership fee's, entrance fee's should be paid to the National office or offices, and the individual may bypass the State or Regional events needed to qualify. It seems to be a waste of resources, time and money to have elite athletes continually qualify at minor events and possible have to miss a major National Championship. The US team effort to field a winning World Class Team must bring all it's resources together through a spirit of cooperation. Elite Athletes must be allowed access to one another in order to gain the experience necessary to be ready for World Competition.

Doug Selchan, Tommy Hood, Kim Morgan, and any other of National Advanced top four place finishers at each of the groups should be given special consideration in this area. Please consider the Junior competitors in this proposal as they are our future.

Any comments: Patrick Byrnes USAKFPE@AOL.COM Respectfully, Patrick Byrnes

August 4, 1997 -- USAKF Nationals --Michael J. Dunphy, Ph.D. 6th Dan, Shihan

Congratulations on a great championship. The 1997 USAKF Nationals in Akron was well attended, operated smoothly and fun for everyone involved. People were treated with dignity and given appropriate support. I am particularly honored to have been inducted into the USAKF Hall of Fame. The banquet was well done and certainly represents the start of what will be a proud tradition for the Federation. I was delighted to see so many of our strongest supporters present.

My colleagues within the referee corps were not only professional, but exercised their duties with great energy and fairness. Both athletes and coaches were generally very pleased. The USAKF is strong and growing, and I am proud to be actively involved in its ongoing development. Sincerely, Michael J. Dunphy, Ph.D. 6th Dan Shihan

August 4, 1997 -- Installation on the USAKF Hall of Fame at the 23rd Annual National Championships in Akron, Ohio

The USAKF introduced their Hall of Fame at the 23rd Annual National Championship. Since the end of the 1974 we have had the Distinguished Service Award, the USOC Karate Athlete of the Year, the Centurian Award, the George E. Anderson Distinguished Service Award, but now we have combined all of these into a real Hall of Fame and the distinguished Order of the Eagle.

We will put a site up for this most prestigious USA Karate Hall of Fame, which is located in Northeast Ohio, together with the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Inventors Hall of Fame and the new Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame.

Look for it - it will be interesting.

August 4, 1997 -- Plaudits on the 23rd Annual Nationals -- Michael Piaser

Congratulations on a successful 1997 USAKF Nationals. The tournament ran smoothly and in a timely fashion. As a referee, I appreciated Jim Caldwell's efforts as Chairman of the Referees. Mr. Caldwell treated the referees with the respect and dignity they should be due (which can not be said about his predecessors).

It was a pleasure to see a tournament without all the political crap! Thanks again,