Kickgen.com Legend: Mike McCoy
During a recent Kickgen.com LIVE Streaming Broadcast of the AKA Bluegrass Nationals, I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Mike McCoy during the event and enjoyed the remainder of the evening with him as a guest commentator while we covered the action together. Throughout the evening I really had the sense that a lot more people needed to know more about Mike McCoy, co-owner and promoter of the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships, but not simply as a martial artist or a promoter. I had a rare treat of seeing him hanging out at home, sharing what's on his heart, talk about his failures and victories, and watching him spend time with his wife and two daughters. It's always refreshing to see a man who is so busy and always on the go, be able to take the time to just play with and love on his family. His own family describes him as a "great father and husband". (picture to the left of Mike and his wife visiting Rome, Italy) In my opinion, this is what really sets a person apart as Legendary in our modern world. Don't be fooled into thinking he's all mushy though, as he can still kick your tail (and mine)! :)
It was a privilege to have the chance to sit and chat with a modern Legend in the martial arts world. Later I had some more questions for him, and he agreed to share some more insight about himself, personally, and about the history and future of the U.S. Open (including this year's exciting additions) and the sport of martial arts.
This installment of Kickgen.com Legends is that conversation. Please enjoy an open conversation with one of the most influential individuals in Sport Martial Arts today: Mr. Mike McCoy.
KGDoug: Mike, one of the biggest things you are involved with these days is as the owner of the U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships, and I would like to visit that topic in a moment, but for now I would like to know a little more about Mike McCoy, the Martial Artist. One doesn't reach this level in the arts without having a strong personal base. Give us some insigh
t into your own personal history and how you have evolved as a martial artist, and lead us into where you are today. (picture to right of Mike chillin' at home with one of his daughters)
Mike McCoy: In 1970 I decided that karate was something I was interested in. I loved sports, but was too small to play football and basketball. I started training in 1973 in Chinese Kenpo. When that school folded as a result of the recession that hit South Florida, I started training in Tae Kwon Do with some of my friends. That is when I realized I really liked kicking. Our instructor had freakish skills and I was hooked. I graduated from High School in ’75 and went to UF where I met Newton Harris and started training in Wado-ryu. I met Mike Sawyer that year and we began training together. When Sensei Harris moved back to Tennessee in ’76 Mike and I decided to continue the club he started. In three years it had grown to several hundred students and our Thursday night sparring class was open to all martial artists on campus. It was in 1977 that I competed in my first tournament and, again, I was hooked. I continued competing actively all over the Southeast and Florida. I earned my Black Belt in Wado-ryu in 1978 and competed in my first Black Belt event the next day. I was too beat up to spar so all I did was forms. I went on to compete in seven tournaments over the next eight weeks ending with the 1978 U.S. Open held at Eckerd College. I had to withdraw from fighting due to the number of nagging injuries I sustained training for my Black Belt and all these tournaments. It was time to heal for a little while.
KGDoug: Wow! Sounds like some real intense training and a very fast-paced timeline you were working on in those days. Who or what would you consider some of your strongest influences as a martial artist?
Mike McCoy: Master He Wa Kwon, Newton Harris, Mike Sawyer, Roy Hinkle, Bill Wallace, as well as several martial artists that I competed against in the late 70’ and early 80’s like George Chung, John Chung, Stuart Kwon, Brian Fung, Keith Hirabayashi, and others. (picture to left of Mike teaching a small group of first-day students)
KGDoug: You've seen a lot of top-level talent over the years. Who stands out to you as someone you watched or learned from that you stepped away and were like, "Ok, that guy, or girl, is a truly amazing martial artist." Someone who really stood out as someone to watch long-term, or perhaps someone who has really defined the sport of martial arts?
Mike McCoy: For me there are a few in different categories. For forms, it would have to be John Chung, George Chung, Keith Hirabayashi, and Casey Marks. In fighting it would be Bill Wallace, Billy Blanks, Raymond Daniels & Jerry Clark.
KGDoug: All pretty big names and very influential in the current generation of martial artists, no doubt. We are less than two weeks away from what is known as the "Super Bowl" of Martial Arts, which is the 2009 U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships. This is a massive event, and as an owner of the tournament, you are very intimately involved in every detail. What can we expect at this year's U.S. Open?
Mike McCoy: As usual we will have the best from all over the world. This event brings more martial artists from more places than any other event in the world. Last year we had a team from Iran. I don’t know how they get here, but they do. To highlight that, we are featuring a team-match at night between the best European fighters and the best in the U.S. It should be awesome because all of them are great. In addition we have added International Sport Jiu-Jitsu Association (ISJA) Sport Jiu-Jitsu Freestyle fighting. And the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) will also be holding an event at the same time in an adjacent ball-room. Two featured matches from ISJA and NAGA will also be featured during the U.S. Open Night of Champions on Saturday evening.
KGDoug: Reaching back again into some history...how did you come to be involved with the U.S. Open, and share with us a little about the relationship with the International Sport Karate Association (I.S.K.A.), and also with ESPN?
Mike McCoy: In 1979, I began competing again and Mike Sawyer and I began promoting. Over the next 4 years we promoted several tournaments and Kickboxing events, some were televised on ESPN through the PKA. In 1980, the U.S. Open was sold to a local (Tampa) trophy supplier who asked Mike and I to help him run it. Four years later he sold it to us thoroughly frustrated with the event and we promptly moved it to Orlando in 1984. In 1985, we moved it to Daytona Beach where it remained as an October event for many years. As the event grew we realized we needed better hotels and venues and a better airport, so we moved it back to Orlando. About 13 years later, we moved it to July 4th weekend, and on to Disney property in 1999. (picture to right of Mike McCoy, Ryan Sawyer, and Mike Sawyer, visiting Scotland)
The I.S.K.A. was formed in 1986 to continue to grow kickboxing and sport karate and we landed a deal for ESPN2 in the late 80’s. After years of trying we got the U.S. Open itself, without kickboxing, back on ESPN2 in 1998. In the 80’s the event incorporated kickboxing and point karate for the show. There are four owners of the I.S.K.A. of which I am one. I own the U.S. Open with Mike Sawyer and it serves as the I.S.K.A.’s World Championships each year.
KGDoug: No doubt, you have worked tirelessly to bring martial artists the world over a top-level event each year, and each year you continue to heighten the awareness of the sport which has to be a gift to school owners all over the country! You have seen the martial arts grow in significant ways over the past couple of decades, and I personally believe we are entering a new era for martial arts as a sport. Part of your vision is to bring awareness and visibility of Sport Martial Arts to its highest level. How are you approaching this and what can people like myself, or our readers, do to help "raise the bar", so to speak, for Sport Martial Arts? (picture to left of Friday's Demo Team presentation at the U.S. Open in 2007)
Mike McCoy: Well, we need greater awareness and that comes through exposure. That used to mean T.V., and only T.V. The internet has changed a lot of that but T.V. is still important for us. We are pursuing a circuit of events to be aired by a major cable channel that will allow our fans and enthusiasts to follow their favorite athletes all year long, or at least a preset season, just like other sports. This will in turn attract sponsors which will provide us the funding to pay these talented athletes REAL prize money so they can make a living competing. When we can achieve this we will have created a real sport.
KGDoug: I know a lot of martial artists are out there right now saying, "Yes! Thank you Mike. GO, GO, GO!" Ok, so a mom or dad is watching the U.S. Open on ESPN2 this year and they say, "Hey I want to know how to get my family involved in something like this!" What do you say to them? How do they choose a school, a style? Where do they begin with regards to competition? Is this for all ages or is this primarily for certain age groups?
Mike McCoy: This sport is for everyone, that’s what’s so cool. That’s also why the U.S. Open has 540 divisions. Everything from 5-year old beginner divisions, to 50 & over Black Belt divisions. All schools do not encourage their students to compete and competition is not for everyone. Find a school with lots of trophies inside and ask them if they compete on a regular basis. Style is not as important since these tournaments are "open" where style is not emphasized, but all are welcomed. The best in the sport come from every imaginable style.
KGDoug: Looking ahead 5 to 10 years...what does the world of Sport Martial Arts look like?
Mike McCoy: We have an internationally televised sport with a defined season and athletes making six-figures a year.
KGDoug: That's a beautiful thing! Give us one or two of your best memories of the U.S. Open from the past, and tell us what you are looking forward to for this year...what do you think will stand out as a "defining moment"?
Mike McCoy: The memory that stands out the most was Saturday morning October something, 1984, about half-way through the event. I was wondering how we were going to get the event finished in time to set up for the night-time show which was being televised by ESPN, and what the heck was I thinking when I decided to take on this monster. I was 27 years old and in WAY over my head.
The second memory that stands out was 1998, when we finally got the event back on ESPN2 doing just point karate. I was sure this was the beginning of a great future for the Open and the sport. It hasn’t happened yet, but it will.
As far as a defining moment this year, I really don’t know. It will be really interesting to see what the international participation will be. We have pushed hard marketing around the world and I believe that is critical to really becoming the “Olympics” of martial arts events. The addition of NAGA and ISJA is also another big step toward that goal. Offering more, and varied types of competition to martial artists of all styles in a family-friendly environment at the Happiest Place on Earth.
KGDoug: Thanks, Mike. I know I speak for so many when I say I appreciate all you have done and continue to do to bring us the U.S. Open each and every year. You are a great inspiration to this generation of martial artists, and will continue to be as the world of Sport Martial Arts continues to grow. I look forward to seeing you at this year's U.S. Open World Martial Arts Championships, July 3-4, 2009, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL. For more info and to register or get your tickets for the event, please visit www.USOpen-Karate.com or call (352) 331-0260. (picture to left of U.S. Open Night of Champions stage being prepared for the evening's main event...soon to be prepared once again for some of the world's best Martial Artists!)
Thanks again for giving us some insight into your life and the U.S. Open, Mike. Much success to you, and to all of you who will be competing at this year's event!
Have An Extraordinary Day!
Doug McGannon
KG Username: KGDoug
Follow Doug on Twitter!
www.QuestForTheUSOpen.com
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