Master Sanchez and Sensei Butch would train for days and nights at home, just to try to be the best at what they do.  This partnership that started out as white belts grew even faster when we added the third musketeer.  This guy was amazing; with all his years of training, Master Sanchez himself could not perform kicks like this student.  So with Master Sanchez and his speed, Sensei Butch and his power, we needed technique and grace, this was achieved in the student Mike Bress (Sensei Mike). Sensei Mike already a higher rank in Isshin Ryu then Master Sanchez and Sensei Butch, he was a perfect fit.  Years and years of training for all of us brought the first black belt in Isshin Ryu to our friend Sensei Mike.  The day was great, it was like Sensei Butch and Master Sanchez both received their black belts in Isshin Ryu.    

    It would not be until later when both Sensei Butch and Master Sanchez would receive black belts on the same day.  The bond that carried us together as white belts grew even stronger as black belts.  What started out as Karate partners eventually transformed into an incredible friendship.  Training even harder than ever, Master Sanchez, Sensei Butch and Sensei Mike faced life choices.  With Sensei Butch in pursuit of a family, and Sensei Mike in pursuit of a career.  This left Master Sanchez to continue his training and forced him to train even harder without the support of his best friends. 

     With a new System under his belt and the urge to learn more, Master Sanchez sought out such arts as Kendo, Iadio “Sword Fighting”, and Filipino stick fighting.  It wasn’t until Master Sanchez started to take Kempo and training in Aikido, when he discovered that there has to be a better way to train.  After several conversations with his long time friends from Isshin Ryu, Sensei Butch Klawon and Sensei Mike Bress, he decided to take all material he had written down over the years and formulate a new system, U.W.M.A. American Freestyle Martial Arts.

    * Next month we get to look at the beginning of U.W.M.A’s powerful self-defense, and the formation of a system.