Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame Now Accepting Nominations

This is from the 2010 IHOF Tournament. It was one of the few times at IHOF that Teri and I competed together. I can’t believe I don’t have any pictures from the award banquet.

Wow, hard to believe it’s that time of year again! The Isshinryu Hall of Fame (IHOF) is accepting nominations for its Annual Awards, which will be presented at the Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame 2011 Awards Celebration and Banquet July 29, 2011. If you’re involved in Isshinryu karate (or know someone who is) you can nominate that person for one or more of these categories:

• Young Female Karate-Ka of the Year (12 & Under)
• Young Male Karate-Ka of the Year (12 & Under)
• Young Female Karate-Ka of the Year (13 to 17)
• Young Male Karate-Ka of the Year (13 to 17)
• Female Karate-Ka of the Year
• Male Karate-Ka of the Year
• Female Instructor of the Year
• Male Instructor of the Year
• Junior Female Competitor of the Year
• Junior Male Competitor of the Year
• Female Competitor of the Year
• Male Competitor of the Year
• Isshin-Ryu Sensei of Sensei (6th Dan or Higher)
• Dojo of the Year
• Outstanding Contribution
• Spirit of Isshin-Ryu
• Induction into the Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame

You can find the nomination information at http://ihof.us/2011_nomination_form.html. So make sure to nominate a deserving Isshinryu karate-ka, sensei or dojo.

Every year, IHOF holds an awards banquet on Friday. It’s kind of formal, but still fun: a chance to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. There’s also a tournament on Saturday and an after party Saturday night for those of us who stick around. We posted pictures from last year’s after party on FKK’s Facebook page.

If you’ve never been, it’s a great experience. This year will be extra special as the event moves to Chattanooga, Tennessee, so we can pay tribute to Grand Master Harold Mitchum. (And by “we,” I mean the people in attendance. I don’t mean to imply involvement with IHOF; I just really like the event.)
IHOF has a series of registration deadlines, slowly increasing in fees as the event draws closer, so your best bet is to get in at the first deadline which is May 1. The details can be found at the IHOF Web site, http://www.ihof.us/. And don’t forget to nominate someone.