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United Goju Karate Association Flashback - 1969!

The 1960's were an important period of time in Oklahoma Karate and Japanese Goju Ryu Karate history as the first generation of Gogen Yamaguchi's students branched out. These students would eventually bring forth the next generation. Lou Angel, one of these first generation students who received his 3rd degree Black Belt from Gogen Yamaguchi after studying with him in Japan, brought Japanese Goju Ryu Karate to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he eventually launched the Midwest Goju Karate Association from which, years later, the United Goju Karate Association has its roots.

In 1969 in North Tulsa, the 4th annual All Goju Midwest Karate Championship was being held, hosted by the W.L. Hutcherson Branch YMCA Karate Club. This event was a very important milestone in the history of Oklahoma karate. The Karate Instructor for the W.L. Hutcherson YMCA Karate Club, and Director of the tournament was none other than Mr. Howard Fields, pictured left. It is important to remember the historical context of those days - karate ranks typically took a much longer time investment to receive, and Howard Fields was appointed to be the Director for this very important North Tulsa karate tournament as he was of the highest rank - pictured here as a Yellow Belt in Japanese Goju Ryu Karate. Of course, today Grandmaster Howard Fields is recognized as 10th DAN (as noted here in April 2009). His efforts in those days helped lay the foundation for not only pioneering karate in Oklahoma, but the success of karate in North Tulsa and the Midwest Goju Karate Association.

From the Tulsa Institute of Karate and Director of the Midwest Goju Karate Association, Lou Angel (pictured right as 4th DAN in 1969) sanctioned the 4th annual All Goju Midwest Karate Championships. Lou Angel was also the Chief Referee for the event, and helped insure the success of the tournament. Like Mr. Howard Fields' karate school in 1969, Lou Angel helped birth karate schools throughout Oklahoma and especially around the Tulsa area. Schools listed as participating in the 1969 Midwest Karate Championships included schools from: Muskogee, Okmulgee, Tulsa-Brookside, Sapulpa (still in operation today under Mr. Ted Soliday), Skiatook, Coffeyville Kansas, Paris Arkansas, University of Tulsa, Elk City, Oral Roberts University, Bartlesville, Wewoka, Tahlequah, Eastside YMCA, Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, and Lincoln Illinois.

Sapulpa Institute of Karate Founder and Sensei Darrell Maggard pictured in 1968 with fellow Midwest Japanese Goju Ryu Karate Legends Lou Angel, Bill Briscoe, and Bob Santini. Sensei Darrell Maggard founded the Sapulpa Institute of Karate and has been a mentor and teacher to Mr. Ted Soliday, 9th DAN - as well as a current serving board member to the United Goju Karate Association along with Sensei Bob Santini and Mr. Bill Briscoe, 9th DAN. Mr. Lou Angel, 10th DAN, founded the original Institute of Karate in Tulsa and is credited as the original pioneer bringing Japanese Goju Ryu Karate to the Midwest. He later founded the NCMA (National College of Martial Arts) in Joplin, MO.
	Ted Soliday, breaking cement blocks
	Ted Soliday (red background) pictured behind his son Teddy
	Darrell Maggard, Ed Williams, and Ted Soliday
	From left to right: Bill Briscoe 9th DAN, Wild Bunch Karate Association Bob Kenny 9th DAN, Wild Bunch Karate Association Rocky Conway 5th DAN, Goju James Key 3rd DAN, Goju Ted Soliday Darrell Maggard 2nd DAN, Goju
	From right to left: Darrell Maggard 2nd DAN, Goju Thomas "Thunderkick" Longacre, 2nd DAN Ted Soliday Scott Collins 5th DAN, Goju
	Instructors at the Sapulpa Institute of Karate, Teddy Soliday consults with Mr. Soliday.
	From right to left: Ted Soliday, 9th DAN, Goju Leon Longacre, 7th DAN, Goju Thomas "Thunderkick" Longacre, 2nd DAN, Goju Mike Norris, Vice President of World Combat League

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