There is an old saying in Puerto Rico, (Nadie es Poeta en su Patria) in English it would translate as “No one is a Poet in their Homeland”. The reason for this saying is that no matter how good or talented you are, they would never give you the credit or recognition you deserve. Most of our well known puertorrican actors and singers had to go out of their country to be recognized or become famous.

This also happens in the Martial Arts World in which you can be doing an great job as a Leader, Instructor, Trainer, Student, Competitor or any other outstanding contribution for your country or community and they’re just taken for granted.

Even though these special people or Martial Artist are not doing what they do for recognition or awards, they do it because it is in their hearts, they do it because that’s what makes them feel good, they love what they do.

I applause all those founders, promoters and organizers of the various Hall of Fame and other Awards for their contribution towards the recognition of these VIP and special people that help keep the Martial Arts alive and in a high standard of perfection.

When I started practicing the Martial Arts I decided that if I was going to start this lifetime endeavor I had to do it the best way I could no matter what.

Before I started organizing the LAMAS Hall of Fame I was well known and had developed a high level of recognition as an excellent Martial Artist in my country. I don’t want to go into my Biography in this article for that just visit my humble website, www.geocities.com/okinawa_bill/.

In 1993 I founded the Latin-American Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards. I started using the slogan, “Dedicated to the Recognition of the True Martial Artist Worldwide”. The reason for this slogan was that I believe that anyone that really has dedicated him/herself in full or partially to the true practice, learning and teaching in the way of the Martial Arts, is a True Martial Artist.

Our 15th Anniversary Hall of Fame Awards Banquet was held on June 1st, 2007 at the luxurious Embassy Suite Hotel & Casino in Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico. It took a year of hard work and preparation for this year’s event to be recognized by our guest, nominees and peers as one of the best Hall of Fame awards event in the history of the Martial Arts.

In this event I destroy the saying “No one is a Poet in their Homeland”. I gave credit and recognition to those who really deserve it.

We are proud to inform that the following True Martial Artists have been remember, recognize and Inducted into the LAMAS World-Wide Hall of Fame for their contribution in the Martial Arts:

THE INDUCTEES ARE:

Gilberto Rodriguez, Hanshi (Posthumous) = Martial Arts Legend Award
Prof. Jaime Abregana = Martial Arts Legend Award
Prof. Jedan Figueroa = Martial Arts Legend Award
Lucy Rodriguez, Kyoshi = Martial Arts Legend Award
Alda Anduze, Hanshi = Grand Master of the Year Award
Rick Greene, Soke = Soke (Founder) of the Year Award
Bolivar Ramirez, Soke = Soke (Founder) of the Year Award
Julio Zarate, Shihan = Shihan of the Year Award
Ricardo Emerson, Kyoshi = Pioneer of the Year Award
Roselio Fernandez, Shihan = Pioneer of the Year Award
Victor Fontanez, Sabuhnim = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Jaime Lazu, Sabuhnim = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Juan E. Gonzalez, Shihan = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Master Dennis Vega = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Master Quoc L. Tran = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Pedro J. Nieves, Shihan = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Daniel Salas, Shihan = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Jurey E. Gomez, Sifu = Master Instructor of the Year Award
Rafael A. Amill, Sabuhnim = Instructor of the Year Award
Juan Burgos Lopez, Shihan = Instructor of the Year Award
Samuel Mercado, Shihan = Instructor of the Year Award
Carlos A. Candelaria, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Victor Liriano, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Gilberto Hernandez, Shihan = Instructor of the Year Award
Richard Rivera, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Bryan Jackson, Renshi = Instructor of the Year Award
Danny Veloz, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Eduardo Soberal, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Nelson Cardona, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Inocencio Molina, Sensei = Instructor of the Year Award
Vicente Guzman, Hanshi = Law Enforcement Instructor Award
Juan Grullon, Sempai = Assistant Instructor of the Year Award
Luis Soto, Yudansha = Black Belt of the Year Award
Angel F. Diaz, Yudansha = Jr. Black Belt of the Year Award
Jorge (Cano) Gonzalez, Shihan = Outstanding Senior Competitor Award
Angel Muniz, Sensei = Outstanding Kick-Boxing Competitor Award

I want to thank all the Nominees, guest and all those that stood by me and gave me their support toward the success of this prestigious event.

Looking forward to seeing you again in the near future, May God bless you all and like they say in the Star Wars Saga, may the Force be with you always.

Domo Arigato!

COMBAT WARRIOR E-MAGAZINE June 2007 / CombatWarriorMag.com