Old Interview on pointfighter.com on Jadi Tention
Where do you live?
I LIVE IN THE BRONX NEW YORK
When and why did you join Martial Arts? When did you earn your Black belt?
MY MOTHER FORCED MY TO TAKE MARTIAL ART BECAUSE SHE FELT I NEEDED TO HAVE A MAN IN MY LIFE AND THAT I NEED TO BETTER PROTECT MYSELF.
MY INSTRUCTORS ARE PROFFESSOR SHARIEF NASHID MASTER SABU LEWIS AND SOKE HASAN KALEAK I EARNED MY BLACK BELT IN NOV 1993 I STARTED IN JUNE 1989
When did you start fighting in tournaments also when did you start fighting on the National BB level?
I STARTED FIGHTING TOURNAMENTS IN APRIL 1990 AND BLACK WAS JAN OR FEB 1994
Who have been some of the people you have and train with?
OH I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO TRAIN WITH SO MANY FIGHTERS JESSIE WRAY WAS A BIG MOTIVATION FOR ME HE PUT ME UNDER HIS WING ANTHONY PRICE AND RICHARD PLOWDEN MOLDED ME AS WELL AND IBBY ABDULLAH I WOULD GO AND TRAIN WITH THESE GUYS STAY IN THERE HOMES FOR DAYS AT A TIME OR IN THERE DOJOS AND JUST LISTEN TO EVERYTHING THEY SAID NO EGO I WAS JUST A SPONGE BUT I HAVE TRAINED WITH PEDRO XAVIER REGGIE PERRY GERALD DAWSON MIKE POMBERIO PRESTON CLEMEN I HAVE BEEN AT SO MANY SCHOOLS OR THEY HAVE COME TO MY SCHOOL SO I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH HAVING ACCESS TO INFORMATION
What teams have you been apart of?
I HAVE BEEN ON A FEW TEAMS FROM ARIZONA ICE TEA NATIONAL KARATE TEAM ELITE (CJB) TDS NATIONAL KARATE TEAM BAY AREA BEST FOR A BRIEF MOMENT JPM OF COURSE AND NOW STRAIGHT UP
Tell us about how you got picked up by team Elite?
FUNNY THING BOUT ELITE WAS I HAD TOOK A SMALL LAYOVER BECAUSE I WAS LOSING A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS OR WASN'T DOING AS WELL AS I WANTED TO AND I WOULD GO TO THE LIBARAY AND READ BOOK ON SUCCESS AND JUST STARTED IMPLEMNTING THATSTUFF IN MY TRAINING AND MY THOUGHT PROCESS AND CHARLIES 1996 I CAME OUT TO FIGHT FOUGHT PRETTY WELL AND SPENCER APPROACH ME TELLING ME HE WANTED TO MAKE A TEAM I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM BUT GAVE HIM MY ADDRESS AND A FEW MONTHS LATER GOT ME A PLANE TICKET TO DIAMONDS 1996 AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
What World/National Titles do you own?
I HAVE MANY TITLES I JUST DON'T COUNT ALL OF THEM BUT I HAVE NASKA WORD TILTES AND A WAKO WORLD TITLE
Out of all the great teams you have fought with what lineup did you like the best?
WOW OUT OF ALL THE TEAMS MEMEBERS I MEAN THERE WERE SOME GUYS I LIKED BETTER THEN OTHERS BUT JUST AS A COMPLETE UNIT I ENJOYED MYSELF RAYMOND AND MIKE POMBEIRO THE MOST BECAUSE TO ME THAT LINE UP WAS THREE GUYS AND ALL COULD GO ANCHOR IT WAS JUST SO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THE HUDDLE AND WE WOULD TALK TO EACH OTHER THAT WAS A GREAT LINE UP ALSO HAD A GREAT TIMES WITH REGGIE PERRY AND PEDRO XAVIER I ENJOYED THAT ALSO ANOTHER LINE UP THAT I ENJOYED WAS ME TREVOR AND PRESTON THAT WAS GREAT ALSO LOL SO MANY FIGHTING WITH DAMON AND CARLOS TEARNEY ON BAY AREA BEST WAS GOOD AND JUST GREAT CHEMISTRY BUT I HAVE FOUGHT WITH MANNNNNY DIFFERENT LINE UPS
Who have been some of your toughest opponents?
WOW TOUGHEST OPPENEN TO BE HONEST THERE IS NO ONE THAT I FEEL I CANNOT BEAT ON A REG BASIS BUT GUYS THAT WOULD HAVE U GO INTO YOUR BACK POCKET TO BEAT THEM BRIAN PLEMBEL HAS GIVEN ME A WAY TO GO AT TIMES LETS SEE WHO KEEP IN MIND WHEN U SAY TOUGHEST IT MEANS TO ME GUYS THAT REALLY FORCE ME TO KINDA COME OUT OF MY ARESNAL TO SOME DEGREE AND THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS FORCED ME TO DO THAT ON A REG BASIS IS BRIAN PLEMBEL ANYBODY ELESE IT JUST AMATTER OF WHO GETS WHAT THEY WANT FIRST BUT NOT REALLY FORCING ME TO HAVE TO TOTALLY CHANGE I MEAN ALL FIGHTERS MAKE ADJUSTMENT BUT TOTALLY CHANGE BP DID THAT BUT AS THE YEARS WENT ON I DIDN'T HAVE TO AS MUCH TANKSON ALSO IS DANGEROUS
What are some of you most memorable moments in Sport Karate as a spectator or competitor?
MOST MEMORABLE LOL WINNING THE DIAMOND NOT JUST CAUSE I BEAT PEDRO AND I WAS A GREAT MOMENT BUT BECAUSE LARRY CARAHAN OFFERED TO BUY THE RING BACK FROM ME ON STAGE AND I TRULY FELT DISRESPECTED THAT WAS A MOMENT WINNING THE WAKO WORD TITLE WAS A MOMENT ALSO I HAVE A LOT OF MOMENT S BUT JUST TRYING TO PICK MY BRAIN FOR SOME REALLY GOOD ONES
AS FAR AS SPECTATOR WOW I SEEN MANNNNY GREAT FIGHTS BRENT BETTY AND MAFIA HOLLOWAY RICXHARD PLOWDEN FIGHTING PEDRO WAS SO SWEET OF A MATCH TO WATCH ANTHONY PRICE FIGHTING AND IBBY WAS ALWAYS A PLEASURE FUNNY THING IS I DON'T GET EXCITED A LOT ABOUT THE NEW GUYS OUT I REALLY LIKE THE OLDER GENERATION JUST TO ME THEY WERE A LOT SMARTER BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG I HAVE SEEN RAYMOND AND JASON TANKSON DO SOMETHINGS THAT MAKE ME JUST SHAKE MY HEAD LIKE WHOA SEEN JESSIE WRAY PULL OUT SOME ANGLES JUST I LIKE DIFFERENT FIGHTERS FOR DIFFERENT THINGS I LOVED PRESTON IN 98
A lot of competitors hate the 5 point rule in teams, you have voiced your opinion on this issue on Forums about not liking it. Can you tell us why? Also do you think the rule was made up because of Raymond Daniel's and yourself?
I THINK THE 5 POINT RULE IS THE WORST AND IT DEF CAME BECAUSE JPM WAS SO DOMINATE I RMEEBR THE DAY THEY SPRUNG IT ON US WE WERE BEATING TEAM SO BAD AND AT TIMES IT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR SO THEY DID THIS JUST TO MAKE IT A LOT MORE COMPETIVE FOR OTHER TEAMS I MEAN WHAT SPORT IS THE FIRST QUARTER DIFFERENT THEN THE LAST ITS CRAZY IF U HAVE THREE SOLID FIGHTERS THEN THEY SHOULD HAVE THE MOST IN 2 MINS TO EITHER CATCH UP OR SPREAD THE LEAD TO LIMIT SOMEBODY TO 5 AND THEN ADDED PRESSURE ON THEPOINT MAN IS UNFAIR AND STUPID BUT THE SAD THING IS MOST GUYS WHO COME UP WITH THESE RULES NEVER REALLY FOUGHT
HEY ALEX MAN I WILL GIVE U THE REASLEST INTERVIEW MAN TELL U THE TRUTH AND U CAN ASK ME BOUT ANY FIGHTER I WILL TELL U MY HONEST OPION I WILL TELL U THE JPM BREAK UP I WILL TELL U ABOUT ANYTHING U WANT FEEL FREE NOW BACK TO THE INTERVIEW
I remember that day when you beat Pedro for the Diamond ring I also believe it was the day that he announced his retirement. Wow, so Larry offered to buy the ring back? why would he do that?
WHEN I WON THE RING LARRY AND ME SMILED AND WHILE THE CAMERAS WAS FLASHING HE GAVE ME A RECIPET OR SHOWED ME IT ONE OR THE OTHER AND SAID THIS IS WHAT THE RING SI WORTH IF U WANT ILL BUY IT BACK FROM U I DON'T KNOW WHY HE DID THAT BUT I JUST FELT LIKE WHAT THE HELL U THINK IM SOME DUDE FROM THE BRONX WHO NEED CASH I JUST FELT DISRESPECTED
I have heard a lot about you and your collection of home video's. Can you tell us more about the collection? Also do you videos as a studying tool?
I HAVE A COLLECTION OF EVERY FIGHTER PRETTY MUCH IN THE 80's UP I HAVE OVER 100 TAPES SOME THAT HAVE LIKE 6 7 HOURS OF FIGHTS ON THEM I CAN SHOW U STUFF WITH PEDRO JUST STARTING OUT LOL I GOT MAFIA ON TAPE WHEN HE WAS LIKE 16 YRS OLD FIGHTING MENS ALSO AS FAR AS STUDYING YES I USED TO SUDY THE TAPES A LOT MORE THEN I DO NOW BUT I PAY ATTENTION TO THE SMALLEST DETAILS I CAN PRETTY MUCH TELL U ABOUT ANY FIGHTER OUT THER RIGHT NOW WHAT LEG THEY FIGHT WITH THERE OFFENSE THERE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT HAVING TO THINK ABOUT IT FOR THE MOST PART BUT THAT JUST ME AND ALSO MY PERSONALITY
What are your thoughts on the WCL?
I REALLY DON'T HAVE A OPINION THE WCL I JUST KNOW AS FAR AS I GO NOBODY GONNA BE KICKING MY KNESS FOR 1000 BUCKS LOL
You started Martial Arts at age 18, were you ever into any other sports before you started?
STARTED MARTIAL ARTS AT 1989 I WAS INTO BASKETBALL ALIL AND ENJOYED VOLLEY BALL BYUT THE MARTIAL ARTS WAS JUSTSOMETHING I LOVED BUT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTO ROLE PLAYING GAMES AND RADIO CONTROL GAS CARS THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT HAVE TAKEN UP TIME WHEN IM NOT DOING MARTIAL ARTS
You have been around for a while now and have accomplished everything in the sport, what motivates you to stay on top of the Sport Karate World?
U KNOW WINNING ANOTHER US OPEN OR BATTLE OF ATLANTA ETC ETC DOESN'T EXCITE ME I LIKE TO GO DIFFERENT PLACES AND FIGHT FIGHTERS I HAVE NEVER FOUGHT BEFORE THAT?S REALLY MOTIVATING FOR ME AND THE THING THAT I THINK WHY I CAN STAY ON TOP IS JUST MY WORK ETHIC AND MY KNOW HOW OF THE SPORT AND I LOVE DOING IT
Every few years great new fighters pop out, has anyone impressed you in the new talent pool? Who do you think will be the future champions?
YES U KNOW THEY GUYS WHO I ENJOY WATCHING FIGHTING BESIDE TANK AND RAYMOND ILIKE LAWERANCE WRAY THINK HE HAS A GOOD UPSIDE IM WORKING ON SOMETHING WITH HIM BUT I LIKE HIM (EVEN THOUGH WE TRAIN TOGETHER ) I ENJOY JACK FELTON BEILVES HE IS A YOUNG MAN WHO IS A INTELLIGENT FIGHTER HAS A GREAT UPSIDE GOOD ALL ROUND FIGHTERES HADS OFFENSE MAKES COUNTERS GOOD FIGHTER. I LIKE MARQUES DAULMAO HOPE I SPELLED HIS NAME RIGHT I ENJOY HIM A GREAT DEAL HAS A LOT OF HEART SOMETIMES TRYS TO GET TO FANCY NEED TO BE MORE BASIC BUT I LIKE THE KID A LOT LOVE HIS SPIRIT I ENJOY ROBBIE LOVAOI JUST BECAUSE HE FIGHT THE PERFECT FIGHT FOR A LIL MAN AND HE ACCEPTS HIS LIMITATIONS I MEAN THISE ARE THE GUYS OUT OF THE POOL WHO I THINK REALLY JUMP OUT TO ME I MEAN THERE ARE OTHER GUYS WHO HAVE POTENTIAL BUT AGAIN THESE ARE THE GUYS WHO DON'T JUST HAVE SKILL BUT HEART AND I THINK THEY JUST NEED TIME AND THEY WILL BE BIG NAMES
Right now with Straight Up you are often coaching your team mates, when you finish your fighting career would you like to coach a team yourself?
OH I WOULD DEF WANT TO BE A COACH OF A TEAM I BELIEVE THATAS PAST FIGHTER THAT HAD SOME SUCCESS WE OWE IT TO THE SPORT TO GIVE BACK AND I WOULD LOVE TO HELP SOME YIUNG HUNGRY GUYS AND HAVE SOME INPUT TO THERE SUCCESS THE WAY RICHARD AND ANTHONY PRICE HAD INPUT INTO MY SUCCESS DON'T WANT WALK AWAY LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER PAST FIGHTERS BUT COACHING IS A GOAL OF MINE HOPEFULLY A SITUATION WILL PRESENT ITSELF TO ME ONE DAY
Some great fighters just like in all sports retire while still in there prime, some great fighters fight and fight even as they get older and there skills diminish and no longer have the same success in the sport.
What's you take on this topic?
WELL I HAVE A LIFE AFTER THIS I HAVE OTHER HOBBIES AND VENTURES THAT I WANT TO GET INTO REALLY WANT TO BECOME GOOD IN CHESS SO NOW IM ABOUT TO GET TRAINED BY SOME CHESS INSTRUCTORS ALSO SO I THINK SOME FIGHTERS STAY IN THE GAME THAT LONG BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO IDENTIY OTHER THEN THIS NOT ALL BUT SOME NOT ONLY THAT U HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THE SAME THING THAT MAKES A GREAT FIGHTER GREAT IS THE SAME THING THAT DESTROYS HIM HIS EGO WHEN U CANT DO WHAT U USED TO DO BUT YOUR EGO WONT ALLOW U TO ACCEPT IT I JUST KNOW IT WONT BE ME OUT THER IN MY 40'S LOL
How did you get your nickname "Blaze"?
THERE WAS A SONG THAT CAME OUT CALLED JOHN BLAZE BY FAT JOE METHOD MAN RAEKWON AND IT WAS BASICALLY A SONG JUST SAYING U WILL GET JOHN BLAZED IT MEAN LIKE U COULD GET TORE UP JUST GET THE BUSINESS SO PEEPS STARED CALLING ME JADI BLAZE OR JOHN BLAZE GERALD STARTED THAT SO IT JUST STUCK WITH ME
How about your students, do you have any students in the National circuit now?
YES I HAVE SOME STUDENT THAT OMPETE THEY ARE VERY GOOD FIGHTERS BUT AGAIN I DON'T SPOIL THEM TO THE BIG TOURNAMENTS ALL THE TIME WANT THEM TO STAY FOCUSED AN HUNGRY SO I BRING THEM ALONG SLOWLY AS FAR AS HAVING THEM ON THE NATIONAL CIRCUIT BUT IN TIME I WILL BRING THEM OUT MORE N MORE
Out of curiosity how much is the Diamonds ring worth?
IF IM RIGHT ALEX DON'T QUOTE ME LIKE BETWEEN 800 AND 1000
So with JPM, the team took part in the picking up process? In your years with JPM to your best of knowledge who came close to being a JPM member but was not picked or refused a spot on the team?
THE TEAM DIDN'T REALLY TAKE PART FOR FORMS GUYS BUT THEY WOULD ALWAYS LET US KNOW BOUT FIGHTERS THEY WAS LOOKING AT AND WE WOULD AGREE OR DISAGREE OR JUST GIVE OUR OPINIONS AND I THINK THAT HELPED A GREAT DEAL BUT PEOPLE THAT WAS CLOSE TO BEING ON THE TEAM JESSE WRAY BACK IN 1999 JASON FACEY THEY AWATCHED JASON TANKSON IN 2000 AT THIS TIME JPM WAS VERY EXCLUSIVE BUT AGAIN THAT WAS BACK IN 2000 BUT ALOOOT OF PEOPLE WAS REFUSED LOL NOW U WIN 2 TOURNAMENTS AND U ON LOL BUT HEY
With all the sport karate school owners in NY like Jesse Wray, you, Jerry, Binns, Willet, Ireland and may others why doesn't NY have its own circuit like most states?
WELL THE PROBLEM WITH NYC IS THAT FIRST IT?S A VERY TRADTIONAL PLACE I THINK ITS HARD FOR THE OLDER MASTER TO ACCEPT CHANGE SO RIGHT NOW AS WE SPEAK IM WORKING ON THROWING A TOURNAMENT NEXT YEAR BECAUSE TO JUST OMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND NEVER TRY TO SET THE EXAMPLE IS A WASTE BUT I THINK THAT AND I JUST THINK THE GUYS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SPORT JUST NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER EVENTS IF WE ALL DECIDED TO CREATE A NYC LEAUGUE BUT ITS DEF A NEED FOR ONE IN THIS CITY
With JPM why was it that Raymond Daniel's, Mike P and you fought only a few times together in the course of like 3-4 years?
FIRST ME MIKE P AND RAYMOND WOULD HAVE BEATEN ANYTEAM TOGETHER WE NEVER LOST BUT WE DIDN'T GET TOGETHER A LOT ALWAYS SOMETHING CAME UP MAYBE I GOT HURT OR MIKEP WAS BUSY WITH WORK ETC ETC ALWAYS SOMETHING BUT WE HAD A GREAT CHEMISTRY
One more JPM question. Jesse Goldberg is a student of Don Rodrigues (JPM's Coach) and maybe for that reason he got on the team easier than others that made the team. Were you mad because he wasn't ready to be on the team or because they asked the team members and still put him on the team after they told you he wont make the team yet?
If Don would have told you something like hey Jesse is my student and I like his potential so he will be on the team evens if you don't think he's ready. Would it had made a difference?
WELL I WASN'T MAD THAT JESSE GOT ON THE TEAM EVEM THOUGH I FELT HE WASN'T DEVELOPED ENOUGH NONE OF FELT THAT WAY AND U HAVE TO UNDERSTAND HE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN BETTER FROM BEING A ROUND US AND OUR ADVICE AND CRITCISM WOULD HAVE MADE HIM BETTER EVEN BETTER THEN HE IS NOW BUT WE FELT AS A TIGHT FIGHJTING UNIT ME REGGIE MIKE P RAYMOND THAT HE DIDN'T EARN THAT YET AND U ARE FORCING HIM ON US EVEN THOUGH U ASKED US WHAT WE THOUGHT AND WE ALL SAID NOT YET BUT AGAIN THAT WAS WHAT THE DRAMA WAS ABOUT ALSO THE COMMENT WELL U GUYS JUST FIGHT AND LET THE MANGAMENT DO THE MANAGING AND THAT?S IS GOOD ADVICE BUT AGAIN THE MANAGAMENT WASN'T SAYING THAT EBFORE WHEN HEY ASKED US ABOUT OTHER FGHTERS SO NOW IT WAS A THING OF CONVIENCE TO SAY THAT TO US AND WE WERENT TRYING TO HEAR IT. THIS WAS SO MUCH BIGGER THEN JESSE GOLDBERG I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH HIM HES A GOOD DUDE WE DISCUSS RELIGION AND STUFF PAST KARATE BUT AGAIN ITS WAS BIGGER THEN JESSE
Are there any other issues that you would like to bring up?
I THINK I COVERED PRETTY MUCH WHAT I HAD TO SAY JUST HOPE EVERYONE ENJOYS THE INTERVIEW
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