My dear friend and fighting Soryu Black Belt, Murdoch Buzz Darsey, asked me about my Black Belt Exam. I have always down played it. It took place in October of 1973, at 123 South Lamar, Mr Alvardos dojo in Austin. Some of the scenes leading up to this date are explained in the attached article. Jesse Ortegon was Joe Alvarados first Black Belt, and his exam was particularly brutal, particularly because of the part I played in it. Jesse was an outstanding Brown Belt, and former golden gloves boxer. When I was a purple belt, Allen Steen came down to give a clinic at Mike Usseltons dojo. Jesse, as our only was our only Brown Belt, was challenged by Usseltons top Brown Belt, to a hands only bout. Jesse tore him up, winning Steens approval. Hes worth his weight in gold. I wish I had him. Joe made sure Jesses exam would be nearly impossible to pass. In fact, it was as if he wanted him to fail, because at about round eleven, he wanted myself (a Purple Belt) and my brother (a White Belt) to go him two on one. Here is my thinking on this doubling up business. It depends on who those two fighters are. Up at Usseltons school I had been part of a Black Belt Exam where Usselton put five fighters on the examinee. I thought that was a joke. You have everybody stomping and milling around looking silly as they try to get in a lick. Now two guys, that is different, but that depends on the two guys. In this case it was me and my brother. Why us? I asked. I can take him by myself, especially in his present condition, so what is the point in the two of us taking him on? Joe was adamant, so I told my brother, Well, Im not playing this game, and were not going to look silly. Lets get it over quick. It means well have to hurt him, to spare him more damage. My brother nodded. Which one of us does it? he asked. I answered, If you get an opening take it. Same goes with me. It was over in seconds, with Jesse lying on the floor, curled up in a fetal position hurt pretty badly. Joe was hollering, Get him! Get him! Finish him! I looked at him. Nope, its over. He cant handle both of us, and were not hurting him anymore. Joe had no choice but to bow us out. I dont know how Jesse finished his 20 rounds after that, but somehow he did it, on sheer guts. Two years later, it was my turn, along with Steve Besa. What I most remember about my exam is that in the later rounds, there were one or two fighters that I wanted badly to hurt, but was restrained by the fact that I had run out of gas and needed to get through the last rounds. I enjoyed the two instances of two on one, because they were at the very end, and I was able to cut loose, but each time I caught one of the two, and began to hurt him, Joe called a break. The fact that the other guy was pounding on me didnt bother me, as in my mind I was going to deal with him as soon as I took out the guy I was trying to catch, but Joe kept breaking it up just as I was getting going. Other than the thought of possibly running out of gas, there was no one there that I was concerned about except Louis Arnold, and he didnt enter into my fights. At 190 pounds, he was just as fast as me at 147, and that 43 pound difference would have hurt me. But no, after he knocked out Steve Besa (at 260 pounds) he was done. Jesse Ortegon was my first fight, and in an attempt to block one of my kicks, the bone in one of his fingers came through the skin. He put his hand behind his back, bowed out and headed to the hospital. So I was pretty pumped up, and I sure wasnt going to be stopped by any light weight, or any heavy weight either, except maybe Lou Arnold. I had fought him, and Lou never made the same mistake twice. There was no beating him on tactics, and I would have been giving up too much weight against a man every bit as fast as me. Lou was the only man there who would have been able to stop me. Mr Alvarado gave me his own belt, and made a big speech about that and the fact that I was his second Black Belt. (Jess Ortegon informed me recently that Joe had given him his Black Belt. I didnt tell him about receiving the same privilege. I hate bursting bubbles) In fairness to Joe Alvarado, he was very sincere in his accolades concerning me. After all, he knew and had been involved with me several times in the real deal, the street. I am cognizant of the fact that there are other APD officers trained by Joe Alvarado. I would put my abilities and accomplishment on the street against theirs anytime. Joe Alvarado is the best judge of how the others rate in comparison.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Nov 2013 08:00:10 +0000
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