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Dear Friends & Fellow Martial Artist,
I received this email today from Steven Allred of the WV Athletic Commission, I found it to be very disappointing to say the least. Every martial artist in the state of West Virginia should be equally disturbed when there are people who don't know the difference between a front kick and a door knob governing our sport!
I have been involved with the martial arts 38 years, I have competed all around the world and my very first martial arts tournament was here in WV (1974). Since then I have competed in Karate, Kickboxing, Boxing, Judo, and NHB when very few people even knew what it was. By far Sport Jujitsu is the safest and we have the records to prove it.
The Commission's first attempt to get rid of our sport was based on the fact that are gloves were not safe. I provided them with documented evidence from highly qualified physicians that stated, out of 5,000 sport jujitsu bouts there were No serious injuries. I also provided them documented evidence there were two deaths in one year in "Toughman" competitions. Toughman competitors wear 12 & 14 ounce boxing gloves. Yet the Commission sees nothing wrong with allowing these type of events???
Mr. Allred told me that Roger Jarrett could hold his tournaments because karate is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and they (Commission) have no jurisdiction over an Olympic sport. The International Ju-Jitsu Federation is also recognized by the IOC. At this time Karate is no more an Olympic Medal sport than hopscotch. When I informed him of this, he then said that any competition that allows choking would NEVER be allowed in WV as long as he is Commissioner. What about Judo Mr. Allred? It has been an Olympic sport since the 1960s and someone is getting choked in every event. Does this mean that Judo too is banned in WV? I also provided this Commission with documented evidence that No Deaths have ever occurred in competition due to a choke hold. This Commission seems to believe that having your brains slammed against your skull by punches until you lose conscience is much more humane than being slowly put to sleep by a neck restraint.
Their ignorance of our sport is unsurpassable and their decision to ban our sport here in WV is absolutely unacceptable! I do not plan to sit idly by while twisted politics disposes of a sport that is accepted every where but West Virginia. Regardless of our martial arts background and differences we may have, in order to change the decision of the WV Athletic Commission (if that means changing every person on that Commission) we must stand together. If we fight these people together we will win!
Sincerely your friend in the arts,
Ernie Boggs
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