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Waco “Old School” Karate from the Blood and Guts Era of Texas Karate. Photos from the 1960s and early 70s. |
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Class of Dennis Gotcher’s Southwest Karate Studio poses for a photo op in the 1970s. |
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Harold Cathey’s tournament the Texas World Open features photos of Waco champions Bob Griffin and Glen Dicus.
Tournament was won by black belt Roy Kurban of Dallas. |
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Waco’s first two black belts Royce Walston (left) owner of Walston’s printing in Woodway and Harold Cathey (right) World renowned artist.
Mr. Cathey began teaching Judo in a Waco Y and Mr. Walston was teaching Tang Soo Do.
Mr. Cathey opened his school, Mr. Cathey’s House of Taekwondo (a private fighting club) in Waco in 1966.
Taekwondo (or Korean Karate as it was more commonly known later became known as Texas Karate because of it’s aggressive style of fighting.
The pair often taught each other’s students as techniques and training was shared with a brotherhood lost in today’s martial arts market.
In 1972, Dennis Gotcher opened Southwest Karate Studio on Lake Air Drive. |
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Harold Cathey wins the breaking division of the 1967 U.S. Open Karate Championships hosted by Allen Steen (the father of Texas Karate) |
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Robert Passmore (right) and another student pose for a photo outside of Southwest Karate Studio at it’s new location on Franklin Avenue.
Many years later, Rick Lancaster (a Taekwondo from Lampassas) would open his Taekwondo School in this same location attempting to create a sense of his having belonged to the old school karate. |
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Black Belt Harold Cathey performs a demonstration of the flying side kick with the help of white belt female student Tracy Dicus at the first site of the Southwest Karate Studio on Lake Air Drive. |
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Black Belt Harold Cathey performs a demonstration of the flying side kick at Cameron Park. |
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Mr. Cathey’s House of Taekwondo (a private fighting club) on Bosque Blvd. In Waco. |
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Black Belt Dennis Gotcher and white belt Danny Passmore spar on Lake Air Drive.
This photo was on the cover of the Feb. 1972 newsletter of Richfield High School where the Passmore brothers attended school. (notice that there was no protective equipment in those days.)
Danny Passmore is the only remaining Old School Waco Karate student still teaching in Waco.
In the bottom right of the photo is black belt Royce Walston. |
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See photos from the 2008 Executive Black Belt presentation of: Paul McNamara Joe Marshall Johnny Sauls Robert Passmore |
