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Bermuda's godfather of karate

1930 Born February 18, Paget Bermuda 1945 First martial art boxing,Bermuda 1947 Moved to New York 1950-3 Served in U. S. Army, boxer 1955-67 Merchant seaman U S. merchant marine. Studied karate in the Manila, Philippines with Latino Gonzalez Studied karate in Kobe, Japan Studied karate with principal teacher, Peter Urban, New York Studied and trained with Chuck Merriman and Frank Ruiz, New York 1967-9 Bouncer and karate performer at "the Scene" run by Steve Paul in New York 1969 Auxiliary policeman, New York: citation 1970 Returned to Bermuda, founded Bermuda Karate Institute 1972 Promoted first karate tournament in Bermuda 1973 Organized the first Bermuda Karate Federation aimed at international competition and recognized by Government, promoted first public demonstration of self-defense in Bermuda 1974 Presented first kung-fu/wu-shu exhibition in Bermuda with students of Alan Lee 1975 Headed first Bermuda team in competition abroad - S. Henry Cho's tournament, headed first Bermuda team in WUKO (now WKF) 1976 Promoted first international team competition in Bermuda 1980 Entered and won his first open kata competition at the Battle of the Zodiac in Jamaica, New York 1983 Promoted the first Bermuda Open Karate Championships (to be celebrated for the 16th time in 1998), which has attracted competitors from the U S . Canada, England, Germany and Argentina 1985-8 Promoted the BIG (Bermuda International Grandchampionships), the first international professional karate competition in Bermuda which was voted into the PKL (Professional Karate League) Hall of Fame as the best tournament in North America in 1988; the years of BIG provided a substantial economic benefit to Bermuda through the estimated 250 people who came to the island each year for the event, some of whom became repeat visitors 1987 Served as Assistant Coach of the Atlantic Karate Team, with Assistant Coach Tokey Hill a former WUKO world champion, and Head Coach Chuck Merriman who coached the U S. team to several gold and silver medals in WUKO competition 1988-90 Continued as Assistant Coach of the Trans World Oil Karate Team, which grew from the Atlantic Karate Team, composed of top martial arts champions from the U S and Canada, achieving an outstanding unbeaten team and individual record throughout their competitive history 1988 Ranked sixth in senior kata by PKL on the North American open circuit - the only Bermudian ever to achieve a rating; first and only Bermudian featured on the cover of an international martial arts magazine September "BLACK BELT" Skipper has also been written up in martial arts magazines in Italy and India. 1989 Division winner and grandchampion runner-up at LAMA Nationals in Chicago beating among others Kevin Thompson, 3 times triple world champion In WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations) 1991 Coached first Bermuda team in WAKO competition in London in October, including first Bermudian to win a medal in international martial arts competition - David Simons bronze soft forms; placed fifth in hard weapons in open kata division 1992 Coached first Bermuda team in World Karate Organization (WKO - formerly WKF in Mestre, Italy winning gold medal for senior kata - as a result of this performance 20 English and 2 Argentine competitors attended the 11th Bermuda Open Karate Championships the following year 1993 First place in senior kata division (for 9th and 10th dans only) at Gotay's All Goju Invitational in New York. April 1994 Second in senior forms at the Battle of Boston a performance which was highlighted in "SPORT KARATE" magazine; also first place of 15 masters in the senior kata division of Al Gotay's All Golu Invitational In New York May 1994 Received Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honor in the Queen's Birthday List for his contributions to martial arts in Bermuda, first Bermudian martial artist to receive this distinction; he sent an honorary black belt to Queen Elizabeth on this occasion October 1994 Coached the first Bermuda team to include a gold medal winner in sparring in international competition, Gladwin "Roots" Phillips in men's traditional sparring under 66 kg at the 2nd WKO World Championships in Buenos Aires Argentina. also in October won a gold medal in senior forms at the Goodwill Tournament of the Miyagi Chojun Festival in Niantic, Connecticut, and received an award from the organizing committee recognizing him as the founder of karate in Bermuda and for his international achievements 1995 June Won first place in over-35 kata at the Nisei Goju Open in New York, went on to win kata grandchampionship, beating under-35 winners in Okinawan/Japanese, Goju, Tae Kwon Do and Jiu-jitsu divisions September inducted into Hall of Fame of the World Head of Family Sokeship Council with headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida November Placed first in grandmasters (over 45) kata at Welch's All Okinawan/Japanese Traditional Karate Tournament in Washington, D. C. May 1996 Won first place in over-35 kata at Canadian Karate Organization Open Championships in Hamilton, Ontario, where son Zenji took gold in men's kata and bronze in weapons 1996 Featured in Ron Van Clief's book "The Black Heroes of the Martial Arts" May 1997 Won first place in senior masters kata at the House of the Samurai Invitational in Londonderry, New Hampshire, with Kent Simmons in second November 1997 Promoted 2nd World Karate Organization Panamerican Karate Championships, bringing to Bermuda teams from Algeria, Brazil, Canada, and USA September 1998 First in over 50 kata at Battle of Boston February 1999 Headed Bermuda Karate Organization Team at WKO event in Curitiba, Brazil with 11 golds; senior forms grandchampion; junior BKO team member Talia Iris triple gold May 1999 First masters kata House of Samurai Londonderry, New Hampshire September 1999 First over 50 forms and third over 40 weapons Battle of Boston

Today is now!

Skipper has been interested and active in some form of martial art for over 50 years and maintains an active schedule of training and teaching in karate and iaido. He also incorporates weight training into his personal workout program and is an advocate of weight training for martial artists. From 1988 to 199O he was active in seniors kata on the open circuit in North America, placing in the top four at a number of prestigious tournaments. One of his best performances was in October 1989 at the LAMA Nationals in Chicago, where he placed first in that category and was runner-up to grandchampion Hosung Pak for overall kata grandchampion. Hosung later did the martial arts part for "Raphael" in Ninja Turtles lI. Skipper had arthoscopic repairs to his knee in September 1990 and had to halt most of his competitive activity, but made an excellent recovery with conscientious application of physiotherapy. From 1988 Skipper has maintained a membership for Bermuda in WAKO and since 1990 also in WKO (previously WKF and IPKF). To promote Bermuda's participation in the competitions of these two organizations he formed a Bermuda charity with the name WAKO/WKO BERMUDA, which was provisionally recognized from January 1992 to January 1994 and then received indefinite nonprofit status. The aim of WAKO/WKO Bermuda is to develop local athletes in the martial arts to the level of international competitiveness, to encourage local martial arts competitions and to financially assist Bermudian martial artists to represent Bermuda abroad. Skipper as coach of the combined team, has maintained a team training schedule for the WKO and WAKO events since 199O, TEAM WKO Bermuda's entry at the World Championships in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada will mark the seventh time he has taken a Bermuda team to a world championship In the years since the opening of Bermuda Karate Institute, Skipper has taught hundreds of people, possibly over 1000, the basics of karate technique and karate philosophy of life. Many of his students have achieved black belt rank or higher. Several including his wife Kristina, Kent Simmons, Gladwin Roots' Phillips! and his son Zenji have reached instructor level under his direction. Kent and Roots both hit new peaks in their competitive careers in 1996 by winning international and local events. Skipper's activities in competing abroad! fostering local and international participation and promoting Bermuda through the martial arts have generated millions of dollars of revenue, with the BIG years stimulating at least two million dollars. Skipper likes to encapsulate his philosophy of the karate life and training in the following favorite quote from his instructor, Peter Urban: "Strength comes from health, speed comes from efforts, technique comes from experience, will power comes from faith, serenity comes from old knowledge, progress comes from new knowledge. - Today is now!"