For ones fortunate enough to attend Sid Campbell’s forty-year anniversary celebration and luau will assuredly attest to the fact it was one party that will not be forgotten in a long, long time.  It was a much anticipated event that lived up to the hype and may well be considered the event of the year for the martial arts community Bay Area and perhaps well beyond.

 

The odds are that all of honored guests that attended met more internationally recognized martial arts great grandmasters, grandmasters, masters, sigung, sifu, kyoshi, renshi, guro, shihan, sensei, etc. in one event than he or she could have ever imagined was possible in a lifetime.

 

This exclusively lavish gala was held on January 13, 2007 at the prestigious Albert DeWitt “O” (Officer's) Club on Alameda Point in Alameda, California. The opening festivities commenced at 5:00 PM and was continuous fun until midnight. It was a packed to capacity extravaganza with a multi-faceted venue that covered the gamut with respects to karate grandmaster Campbell’s life and times as a career martial arts teacher.

 

What was immediately evident as guests entered the reception lobby was the allure of Hawaiian music that resonated throughout the facility. Immediately upon entry, every special guest was presented with a colorful lei that added to the spirit of aloha…which was the theme of this years fete. Since many of the men wore either formal attire or Hawaiian shirts and the women dressed in formal evening gowns the attire was perfect for such an auspicious event was about to unfold.

 

Add to that the spaciousness and warm comfort of the “O” Club on a chilly night in mid-January and one soon forget about the coolness and brisk chill that permeated the Bay Area that evening.  Inside the ballroom chandeliers were bedazzling and the décor was just perfect for  the specialness of the evening venue.

 

Event director Mr. Joe Baca and his coordination staff wanted the celebration and luau to symbolize the many facets of hanshi Sid Campbell’s life over the last four decades. By typical traditional standards this was not the usual annual World Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate-do and Kobudo Association (WOSKKA) gathering where the organization’s membership honor its own in a formal setting. More  specifically, the organizers wanted to share with all his friends a great time and also honor Campbell for his numerous martial arts achievements that have deservedly earned him the distinction of being one of the true American karate pioneers. In fact, Sid Campbell was the first American to open an Okinawan Kobayashi-ryu karate school in the western world.

 

The theme was traditional Hawaiian and the luau feast was reminiscent of actually being the islands and sharing in an óhana family tradition on that special night.

 

Among the distinguished guests, dignitaries and martial arts pioneers that attended to honor the lifework and achievements of American karate pioneer Sid Campbell were great grandmaster Al Novak, great grandmaster Charles Gaylord, grandmaster Eric Lee, grandmaster Bob Wall, grandmaster Dan Tosh, grandmaster Richard Lee, grandmaster Max Pallen, Sr., grandmaster Bob Maschmeier, grandmaster John Olivier, grandmaster Carlos Navarro, grandmaster Felix Macias, Sr., grandmaster Rubie Navarro, professor Gary Lee, professor Joe Olivarez, professor Frank Wohler, master Ernie Reyes, Sr., master Margie Reyes, master Tony Thompson, master Robin Taberna, master Jordan Pallen, master Joseph Pallen, master Lou Davis, master Nikko Lozado, Kaiso Dave Bendekeit, Master Jess Palmer, master Jimmy Willis, master Annie Shear, guro Gary Cagaanan, guro Jeff Finder, kyoshi Chris Sasville, master Thomas You, master Marc Stoner, master Doug Arndt, master Carlos DeLeon, renshi Tim Hall, shihan Sid Rayford, renshi Tim Wessling, renshi Luis Zapanta, renshi George DelCid, renshi Calvin Tam, renshi Phil Clark, renshi Manny Madlansacay, Jr., renshi Terry Gillett, renshi Leita Stevens, renshi Jacqueline Clarke, renshi Danny L. Tosh, sigung Mark Gerry,  sifu Crystal Suan, sifu Serene Terrazas, sifu Wayne Lee, sifu Greglon Lee, sifu Douglas Lee, Sifu Felix Macias, Jr., sifu Harry Mok, sifu Zee Lo, sifu Raj Singh, sifu Mary Lynn Morales, sensei Shelley Tosh,  sensei Scott Sandkohl, sensei Johnny “B” Baldizan, sensei Richard Baca, sensei Anthony James, Jr., sensei Michael Garner, sensei Christopher Wallace, sensei Byron Buckley, sensei David Heaslip, sensei Javonte Mabon, Sensei Javon Mabon, Sensei Wayne Tobin, sensei Eddie Campbell,  sensei Roger Thomas, sensei Jim Payton, sensei Tim Converse, sensei Amy Mosley, sensei Mark Gano, sensei Jennifer Foster, sensei Tiffany Harris, sensei John Rasmussen, sensei Alfredo Guerra, sensei Steve Centivich, sensei Alex Deziga, sensei Brandon Callentine, sensei Don Anderson, sensei Charlie Meder,  sensei Tony Deziga, sensei Robert Ryland, sensei Richard Cantu and sensei Geoff Mires.

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Karate Grandmaster Sid Campbell’s 40 Year Anniversary Celebration and Luau was the Party of a Lifetime

…Nashville Recording Artist Eddie Campbell Sings a Tribute for His Brother.

Alameda, CA—January 13, 2007