Sensei Stephen Simms |
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| The Black
Belt Light Weight Championship at the June BKG Invitational Karate Tournament
was won by Sensei Steve Simms, the Fighting Sensei of Karate N Motion.
It's always additional pressure when the chief instructor - and in Sensei Steve's case, the coach of the Karate N Motion Fighting Team - has to perform in front of their students. There is that little added pressure to do well. And at the same time, since the Black Belts fight last, there is the energy drain of having to wait through the anxiety of everyone else on the team going through competition, before ever taking the floor for your own match. Nevertheless, Sensei was able to rise to the occasion, and set a fine example for the excited team of on lookers representing the Karate N Motion Fighting Team. |
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| The BKG
June 2004 event was not the first time Sensei Steve ever won a tournament.
In fact, back when he came up through the ranks - he did it; "the old
fashioned way." He had to earn every belt, which meant having to win
at every rank along the way to the coveted Black Belt. You see, Sensei Steve
had it a little bit tougher than most. He is the son of Grandmaster Alan
Simms. Sensei Steve, at 22 year old, a 3rd degree Black Belt in the Goshi Shun tradition, started taking karate when he was just 5 years old. That early age wasn't the first time he'd ever been in the gym either. He had been accustomed to playing in the Karate School, since he could -- well Play! |
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| However, when he reached 5 years of
age...he was given a uniform and told he'd have to listen to what the instructor
was saying, cause he was officially joining the karate class.
Over the next 12 years Sensei Steve was instructed by the best of the Goshi Shun fighters, their fighting Sensei, and the most Senior Master level instructors of the martial arts system. His Godfather was known as "Country
James" - and next to the renown National Champion, Isa, James
was the "first" most recognized and trophied competitor
under the direct care of Sensei Alan. Sensei Steve's other mentors
went on to become national and international stars in the karate
world. His was reared, as are all Karate N Motion competitors, in
a fine tradition of Goshi Shun excellence. The shoes that the students
must fit into, may be Big - but all students are given the tools
and preparation they need to succeed. Our young and future Sensei Steve was a gamer. In fact, he was sometimes too game! Fact is that he became known as the bad boy prankster among the youngest of the karateka. When he was just six years old he was often seen sneaking up behind the more celebrated Black Belt adults, who'd be stretching on the floor, and deliver to them a sharp "whack" with the Shinai Sticks - the wooden bamboo swords. That resulted in a chase around the gym and Steve's hasty retreat to his ever protective great grandmother who just happened to live with him in the family's residence over top of the karate school. Every promotion that Sensei Steve received was precipitated by some show of excellence on his part, which usually meant that he either won or distinguished himself in a tournament. In fact, it was at the BKG event some 8 or 9 years ago that Sensei Steve earned his Purple Belt - having taken first place honors in the Green Belt competition. That might have been considered by then Purple Belt Steve to be more of an accomplishment, since he'd been a green belt for over 5 years...-it's tough when your father is the Head Master. The problem was that generally students were promoted from Green Belt up to Brown Belt. There was no Purple Belt at the time. However, not wanting the young Steve to get to Black Belt too soon, Sensei Alan added the Purple Belt to the promotion after Green Belt - just for Sensei Steve. He had to wait another couple of years to get to Brown Belt. Along the way he gained experience in the midst of legions of skilled competitors from the various Goshi Shun Schools. |
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Today, he directs our fighting team. They seek to be the very Best that they can Be. And their leader - is the Black Belt Champion from the recent BKG June 2004 Tournament. Congrats Sensei |
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