NSEYET

In Part 2 of Insight with Ray Hughes, 85-year-old karate veteran Sensei Bill Damon continues sharing his remarkable journey through more than six decades of martial arts.
Sensei Damon takes us behind the scenes of the formation of the United States National Karate Federation (USNKF), recalling the political struggles, difficult decisions, and influential personalities who helped shape organized karate in America.
He also reflects on operating a dojo during the Vietnam War, when many young men sought karate training not for trophies, but for survival.
The conversation then turns to a thought-provoking question: Has traditional karate lost its way?
Sensei Damon offers his candid perspective on modern competition, the importance of understanding kata bunkai, and the growing distinction between karate as a martial art and karate as a sport.
At 85, his passion for karate remains strong, and his commitment to training continues.
Join host Ray Hughes for an engaging conversation about karate's history, its evolution, and the importance of preserving the art for future generations.

In Part 1 of this two-part INSIGHT interview, host Ray Hughes sits down with Sensei Bill Damon to explore his experiences in traditional karate and the changing role of martial arts over the years.
Sensei Damon recalls the Vietnam War era, when young men facing the possibility of military service entered karate dojos seeking practical self-defense and survival skills. It was a time when karate was viewed very differently from the competition-oriented martial arts we often see today.
Join us for a conversation about karate history, tradition, and the experiences that shaped a generation of martial artists.
INSIGHT with Ray Hughes — Preserving the stories, history, and wisdom of traditional martial artists.
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Meet our next INSIGHT guest, Sensei Lee Gray, an 85-year-old martial artist whose journey began in Okinawa in 1960 while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
In Part 2, Sensei Gray shares his return to his hometown of Amarillo, Texas, after retiring from the Marine Corps. He became a prison guard in a psychiatric unit—an environment where practical, real-world martial arts skills were put to the test.
The conversation then turns to karate itself, as Sensei Gray reflects on traditional karate and competition. You can hear in his voice the struggle of a lifelong traditional martial artist trying to reconcile the two.

Meet our next INSIGHT guest, Sensei Lee Gray, an 85-year-old martial artist whose journey began in Okinawa in 1960 while serving in the United States Marine Corps.
In this preview, Sensei Gray shares his search for a karate school that offered a more authentic Okinawan experience—something beyond the American GI training available at the time. That search would shape a lifetime dedicated to traditional martial arts.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Sensei Gary Tsutsui reflects on the second half of his martial arts journey, sharing the experiences, lessons, and philosophy that shaped his career. He also offers his perspective on the current state of traditional karate, discussing how training has evolved, the role of competition, and what he believes is essential to preserving the values of traditional martial arts.

A fantastic discussion with Sensei Isao Gary Tsutsui (1946–present), a distinguished Shotokan karate instructor and founder of Colorado Budokan in Denver, Colorado. With nearly 60 years dedicated to karate, he earned widespread respect as an instructor, mentor, and competitor. Trained and studied under the great late Senseis Yaguchi and Yamazaki, he was the first American to medal in kata at the 1977 WUKO World Championships. 

Part 2 of my conversation with Sensei Rick Hobusch, exploring his insights on the early Japanese karate instructors in the United States, their training philosophies, and his views on today’s karate and competitive landscape.

“Sensei Rick Hobusch reflects on his journey through the early days of karate in America, training under newly arrived Japanese instructors in the late 1960s—and the challenge of staying true to his values while navigating an organization shaped by both strong influences and darker elements.”
 

“Final installment of our three-part discussion with Sensei Marlon Moore, sharing his early martial arts experiences and perspectives from the mid-1970s.”

Join Part 2 of the conversation with Sensei Marlon Moore as he shares insights from the early years of dojo ownership and management. Surrounded by senior instructors and well-established dojos, he reflects on the challenges and struggles of building a school in those formative days. He also offers his unique perspective on the influence of the early Japanese instructors and the first generation of American martial arts teachers who helped shape the art in the United States.