|
MASTERS HALL OF FAME TROPHY
by Soke David Dye, Masters Hall of Fame Senior Vice President
The Masters Hall of Fame' is a unique organization that Recognizes and Develops Excellence in the Martial Arts. Over the last couple years the Masters Hall of Fame has made several changes to its structure and focus. One such change was the addition of the Academy of Masters, which was created to help support and develop younger martial artists and to encourage leadership in our youth communities. At the 2008 Masters Hall of Fame Banquet held on August 16 in Anaheim, California, Kevin Weber was the very first recipient of the Academy of Masters Scholarship Award.
Each year there are martial artists, both past and present, who remember the experience and emotional feeling when they received their formal notification of being nominated for induction into the Masters Hall of Fame and the sense of humbleness that they personally felt to be recognized with so many other martial arts legends throughout the world. There are many who leave the event each year and share the same question that some of the other martial artists who received recognition felt; “am I really worthy of this honor?” For those who had that question of worthiness, they soon left the event with a sense of acceptance, that their martial arts peers had nominated them and that they saw in them evidence of leadership and dedication to the martial arts community.
In 2006, Hanshi Daniel Hect had the distinct honor of being named and assuming the position of the Masters Hall of Fame’s second CEO. As is done when any new leader takes over there are changes that are made to help better the organization. The Masters Hall of Fame was no different.
One of the first changes made was the mission of the Hall of Fame. Hanshi Hect summed it up by saying, “I felt the true mission of the Masters was Recognizing Excellence in the Martial Arts”. With a new focus and a new mission, we decided that there needed to be a Masters Hall of Fame Award that would best represent this new vision. After several discussions and meetings, it was also decided that the award should not only be a symbol of the event but it should also enhance the prestige of the event. It would be an award that symbolizes what martial artists represent and stand for in the martial arts community. The crystal award that was chosen to fulfill this vision was an outreached hand holding a crystal globe. The base of the award, the out reached hand, would represent the martial artist reaching out to the world. The crystal globe would represent the martial arts community worldwide. Thus, when the two pieces are joined and put together they represent and symbolize “Shaping the Future of the Martial Arts”.
Those who are nominated for induction and receive this prestigious award will look at the symbolization of the award and realize they are entrusted with the future of the Martial Arts community, and the development of future warriors in the Martial Arts Community.
Soke David Dye of the Shuyokan Dojo is a retired Costa Mesa Police Officer who served the Costa Mesa community for 34 years. Soke Dye continues to serve the Law Enforcement Community as an Adjunct Professor at the Orange County Regional Sheriff’s Academy in California.
|
