Liu Youshu “William” – Taiwan (Born: 1935 and died: 2008)
Mr Youshu had studied American University then becoming the deaf school teacher in Taipei, Taiwan.
He had admired to support our ISMAF organization to help some Taiwanese martial arts athletes.
He had been brought a Karate champion, Wen Tsai Wang in Tokyo in 1989 at the World Championship to win the medal.
In the end he had decided to organize the world championship in Taipei in 1993.
At the end his myocardial infarction died on August 8, 2008.
Great honorary always for him as an unforgettable generous man for ISMAF / IMAFD
Filippo Pasquali – Italy (born: 1970 and died: 1998)
1st Dan black belt of Karate Goju Ryu.
The sad for always our want from him like good and serious to practise his love of Goju Ryu Karate with the his famous medieval city of Perugia in which its conquered International and Italian competitions for few years since 1995 until this of year of the his terrible unlucky of deadly accident car then under the coma after 30 days he had been battled and has been breezed his life only his 27 years old (death: 29th June 1998) from us always sad to be missing to him to lose also well for all the world with deaf cognizant during his share, like its sees his results:
I.M.A.F.D. Championship results:
- 3rd Place’s bronze medal of Karate Do Kumite for light weight classes (Trondheim, Norway 1997)
- 3th Place’s bronze medal of Karate Do Kata Classes (Trondheim, Norway 1997)
- F.I.S.S. Italian Championship results:
- 3rd Place’s bronze medal of Karate Do Kata Classes (Roma, 24th February 1996)
- 1st Place’s gold medal of Karate Do Kata Classes (Bolzano, 1st March 1997)
- 3rd Place’s bronze medal of Karate Do Kumite for +63 Kg weight classes (Napoli, 22th February 1998)
- 2nd Place’s silver medal of Karate Do Kata Classes (Napoli, 22th February 1998)
Andrea Rola – Italy (born: 1972 and died: 2000)
2nd Dan black belt of Ju Jitsu /Judo and was born in Genoa. He started at a very young age, at the age of 8, the practice of Ju Jitsu at the GAJ gym, under the guidance of Maestro Nicolino Rosa, one of the most senior masters of Tatami in Liguria and takes place is located inside the Don Bosco Institute of Sampierdarena and since December 8th, 2000 it has been called “PALESTRA ANDREA ROLA”. He was a deaf boy but despite this he participated in all the national competitions and the results obtained he was invited to receive at the age of 16 by C.O.N.I., A.I.C.S., A.I.J.J. the black competitive belt and at the age of 18 already bears the degree of black belt 2nd Dan. In July 1997 he participated as an athlete of the Italian National Judo F.I.S.S. at the World Championship in Norway winning the bronze medal and in October 1999 at the World Championship in Argentina where he won the silver medal and in Italy his book of gold included 10 Italian titles.
For all these exceptional results he obtained in November 1999 the title of “Atleta Azzurro d’Italia”. He was a sunny boy, full of joy of life, who with a lot of effort and effort, due to his deafness, had managed to obtain the diploma of dental technician: he worked for several years in a laboratory. Unfortunately Andrea died on July 29th, 2000, at the age of 27 after a tragic motorcycle accident. To remember this great athlete Ju-Jitsu Don Bosco and P.G.S. they organized the “1st Trophy Andrea Rola” which took place on April 1, 2001 until today again, with the participation of gyms throughout Italy.
I.M.A.F.D. Championship results:
- 3rd Place’s bronze medal for Open weight category of Judo (Trondheim, Norway 1997)
- 2nd Place’s silver medal for -65 Kg weight category of Judo (Buenos Aires, Argentina 1999)
Nimo Eduardo Antonio Dominguez – Argentina (born: 1926 and died: 2009)
Eduardo Dominguez, honorary president of the I.M.A.F.D. also former Argentine Champion of Judo 1953.
First time he came to visit for the World Championship in Miami, Florida (U.S.A.) to have interested a lot with the collaboration to open his own country of Argentina from its early start from 1995 until his death.
The I.M.A.F.D. executive committee, which in 2008 was making the World Championship for the Deaf Martial Arts in France, gave it its honorary merit for its sporting and martial arts, both deaf and for its extraordinary ability to transmit the true values of life for the conquest struggle for Deaflympics together inseparable friend Francesco Faraone.
3rd Dan black belt of Judo and born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Mr Dominguez was dedicated to Judo practice and was 5 times in a row without national defeats of Judo Champion among all listeners competitors (individual tournament 1949 – 1953) and the Judoka team of 5, with only deaf, has won the Judo Tournament Cup “Ambassador Iwataro Uchiyama” to be officially welcomed by the President of the General Nation Juan Domingo Peron.
Mr Dominguez has been nominated since 3 times for our national team, for two Championships and a South American International Judo Tournament in Paris.
He founded Argentine Martial Arts Association for the Deaf in 1996 and became I.M.A.F.D. General Secretary and President from 2000 to 2008.
It is a great honor to esteem to grow the development of Deaf Martial Arts for Argentina and around the world.
Berthold Kernler – Germany (born: 1948 and died: 2010)
Only german volunteer and promoter with I.S.M.A.F. / I.M.A.F.D. is a good giant person, he had passionate Asian culture in which his numerous travels in Asia. Berthold Kernler had also participated in visiting the first time for the Karate World Championship in Taipei, Taiwan 1993 and immediately had later he wanted his interest in our International Martial Arts organization. He had continued to propagate and search for some deaf practitioners in Germany. He has become the official I.S.M.A.F. coordinator to promote this Martial Arts development. Unfortunately, he was the first to die in just 62 years and it’s the big sad to lose everything in Germany.
Mark “Tamon” Uttech Sensei – USA (born: 1953 and died: 2015)
4th Dan, Aikido of Marshall in his Dojo Yoshin – Ji Aikido, unique deaf American master passed away on August 11th, 2015.
According to his bio, he began training in Aikido in 1984 at Aikido of Madison under John Stone and Robin Cooper.
Uttech Sensei was an instructor in Aikido of Madison’s children’s program when that program began in 1989.
In 2003 he was awarded the rank of Yondan (4th degree black belt) with the approval of Saotome Sensei.
Our condolences to his family, friends, students and loved ones!
Eduard McLachlan – CANADA (born: 1941 and died: 2016)
Professor Ed McLachlan began training in the martial arts at the age of 10 and has continued training and teaching for 60+ years beginning in Scotland, where he was born, and later to Canada where he continues his passion. Prof. McLachlan is the owner and head instructor of E & T Martial Arts and Founder of Dora Ryu Jiu Jitsu (Tiger Jiu Jitsu). In 1991, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Instructor of the Year and he has also received the Provincial Government Award for Amateur Sports achievements in Jiu Jitsu. In 1993, he was presented with the Special Achievement Award from the Canadian Jiu Jitsu Association for Amateur Sports. In October 2003, he was bestowed a great honour in receiving his Professorship and Doctorate in the Martial Arts and his 10th Degree in the World Martial Arts.
He is currently President of The World Martial Arts Hall of Fame for Canada and President of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame for People with Special Needs for the World. In May 2004, he received the Sokeship Award, the Life Humanitarian Award, the Golden Life Achievement Award of Excellence and Grandmaster Award of the Year at the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies in Florida.
Martial arts rating and styles:
Founder of Dora Ryu Jiu-Jitsu, Vicepresident: Bantu Canada, 10th Dan of World Martial Arts, 10th Dan of Bantu Head of Famiy, 7th Dan of Kitsune Ryu Jiu Jitsu, 6th Dan of Canadian Jiu Jitsu, 5th Dan of Shorin Ryu, 4th Dan of American Karate Association.
Jaclyn Zabel – USA (born: 1989 and died: 2018)
Jaclyn Zabel was born in USA and a BJJ player, a 29-year-old mother of four children Knight, River, Aspen and Willow from Idaho.
They practiced Jiu Jitsu at Bonners Ferry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under the instruction of Professor BJJ Sam Brown, who was described as a “coach and friend”.
The situation was described as a domestic violence incident;
Zabel’s partner, Ian Stone shot her in the head before turning the gun on himself.
He also practiced Jiu Jitsu, and both of the deceased were deaf.
Ian Stone – USA (born: 1981 and died: 2018)
Ian Stone was an American born martial artist who is considered one of the most experienced grapplers in America.
He started training Taekwondo in 1990 at the age of 9 years and his Taekwondo master Alfred Erwin Luetke just had passed away on August 3, 2013 and died of cancer.
Ian Stone has never felt so bummed and depression out his life, he couldn’t get a chance to see him again and last time Ian Stone saw him when he was a 12 years old red belt in Taekwondo.
So much respect and honor for this man. He’s only 67 years old…
Ian Stone was a white belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (member of North Idaho BJJ Team) and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (member of Bonners Ferry BJJ Team).
He won twice BJJ World Championships for the deaf.
Ian Stone, along with his two kids Knight and River, they are white belts and competitors for the competitors for the Bonners Ferry Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
He shot wife Jaclyn Zabel and then turned the weapon on himself in a murder-suicide.
Alexis Sengoga – Belgium (born: 1955 and died: 2018)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Alexis Sengoga the great karate world champion from 1982-1987 at International Silent Martial Arts Federation.
Born in 1955 in Uganda, Alexi Sengoga died in Belgium were he was living on November 1, 2018 and he was only 63 years.
He was a model student despite his inability to hear, he immediately integrated and he began his journey to live and become the greatest karate athlete.
He had been called from the National Karate Team of Belgium also to participate in the European Juniores Championship in Venice, Italy.
IMAFD will never forget Alexis Sengoga and he will be alway part of us.
