A Good Day in Chicago -- Ken Claims Two 1st Place Titles and Advances to Grand Champion Round
Ken
Gullette, instructor at Kung Fu Quad Cities and a student of the internal arts,
surprised some of Chicago's top martial artists on October 19th, 2003 when he
came in from the Quad Cities and won the "Master's" black belt fighting division
(age 50+) and then advanced to the final round for Grand Champion by defeating
the winner of the 34-39 age division. Ken finished second in the Grand
Champion match. The tournament was the Gen-Ki Karate and Kung Fu
Championships, sponsored by Master Jerry Weiss. It is one of two major
tournaments held each year in Chicago.
In forms competition, Ken won 1st place in the Chinese/Kung Fu/Soft Styles division (all ages) with the 12-animal Hsing-I form called "Hsingichuan." It was the first time Ken had run the form in a tournament and he was competing with a group that included a world champion. In performing Hsingichuan, Ken focused on proper body mechanics and relaxed explosive power.
There were four black belt fighting divisions broken down by age group: 18-34, 35-39, 40-49, and 50+. No fighters were allowed to fight outside their age group. Ken fought and defeated two strong and aggressive fighters in the 50+ division. Then, the center judge asked if he would like to compete for the Grand Championship.
"He looked at me as if he expected me to decline the offer," Ken said. "I don't think many 50+ fighters expect to win Grand Champion." But Ken accepted the offer and was matched against Demitrius Chick, winner of the 34-39 division. It was a very tough match, but Ken tied it at 4-4 and then won the final point as Demitrius charged in with a flurry of punches. Ken saw an opening and landed a punch to the head.
At the beginning of the match with Demitrius Chick, the center judge had bowed both fighters in and said, "Go." But Chick was still putting on his gloves. Ken waited. "If I were you," said the center judge, "I would hit him. I said go." But Ken laughed and waited until Chick was ready. Again the center judge turned to Ken and said, "You are showing extraordinary courtesy, but you have the right to attack him." Ken waited until Chick had his gloves on. "Fair play and courtesy is more important to me than a trophy," Ken says. "I didn't want to score that way."
After defeating Chick, Ken was out-pointed in the Grand Champion round by a 9-time World Champion, Larry Tankson (http://www.tackarate.com/aboutus.htm). At the end of the match, the center judge brought both fighters together and he turned to Ken. "I want to tell you that I believe you showed outstanding character here today," he told Ken in front of the other fighter. "Not only outstanding character but also outstanding skill. You fought four matches in a very short amount of time and you took it to them. That shows a tremendous amount of heart. You don't know how much I appreciate that. I want your name and contact information so that I can personally invite you to future tournaments."
One of Ken's top priorities in attending tournaments is to make a positive contribution to the atmosphere of an event. In a highly-charged atmosphere like Chicago, where black belts sometimes get angry or dispute calls, Ken believes in remaining centered, making friends and competing at his best. In Chicago fighting matches, hard contact is allowed. In fact, you have to hit the opponent in order to score a point. Sometimes anger erupts. But Ken enjoys the competition, and when an opponent lands a good kick or punch, Ken congratulates him.
"This is a sport," Ken says. "It isn't worth getting upset about. I have been through so many ups and downs in my life, and seen enough real tragedy, that I understand that winning or losing a trophy isn't going to make much of an impact on the quality of my life. So it isn't worth it to hurt someone or to act like a jerk."
It meant a lot to Ken to win 1st place performing an internal form from Hsing-I. He wanted to perform Tai Chi but there was no Tai Chi competition in the tournament. "Winning for a Hsing-I form against strong competition was exciting," he says. "I suppose this tournament meant a lot to me because at my age, when top martial artists in a major city like Chicago get together and I can compete with them and win, it shows what hard work can do. It has given me motivation to keep getting better. When 20 top karate and kung fu black belts fight in Chicago and I'm one of the last two standing, it's something to celebrate after 30 years in the martial arts."
"One thing that really bothers me," Ken says, "is the designation that the internal arts and kung fu are 'soft' arts. One of the reasons I go to tournaments like this, where I compete against so many karate black belts, is that I want to show them there is nothing soft about Tai Chi, Hsing-I or Bagua. And I think I made my point today. If good internal artists would do more of this, we can change the way Americans think about Tai Chi."
Ken began studying kung fu 30 years ago, on September 20, 1973, after being inspired by Bruce Lee and the Kung Fu TV show. It became a way of life -- and the philosophy became the foundation of his spiritual life.
You are welcome to study and practice with Ken at Kung Fu Quad Cities. Call him at (563) 370-6323 or email Ken at kungfu4u@aol.com.