Mastering Martial Arts: Santa Barbara instructor to receive Central Coast’s top Black Belt

By NICK C. TONKIN — JUNE 4, 2011

Andrew Hollingsworth, the lead instructor at Santa Barbara’s Martial Arts Family Fitness, has been selected to receive one of the top honors in martial arts.

The 27-year-old, a third degree black belt in Dynamic Circle Hapkido, will receive the Central Coast’s Top Black Belt. He earned the honor after a competition that began in February.

Hollingsworth will receive the award at 11 a.m. today at the facility.

“I was fortunate to have competed with some outstanding martial arts athletes,” Hollingsworth said. “We pushed each other weekly, and we encouraged one another to do our best. This recognition is for all of us, as well as for all martial artists on the Central Coast.”

The competition was held at Jong’s Karate Center. The sessions were videotaped and will appear on Santa Barbara’s Community Access Channel 17. Contestants were challenged in various aspects of the martial arts, including forms demonstration, memorization of techniques, philosophy and board breaking. The judges were masters John Macurdy, Teri Coffee and Travis Middleton.

Dave Wheaton, founder of Martial Arts Family Fitness,  said Hollingsworth is everything people might think of in a martial artist: fast, powerful and aggressive. But when the competition is over, the fighting done and the work finished, he said Hollingsworth is one of the nicest guys in the room.

“He is as gentle and kind as he is ferocious in the ring,” Wheaton said.

At a time when mixed martial arts competitions on television have soared in popularity, Hollingsworth believes there’s too big a perception that martial arts are all about fighting.

“They think of two people in a cage beating on each other, rather than understanding the other philosophy and education that is really what martial arts is about,” Hollingsworth said.

It’s that philosophy that attracted Hollingsworth to Family Fitness eight years ago. Hollingsworth had gotten his start in martial arts when he was nine and enrolled in an afterschool program. The class was a prize for selling See’s Candy for a Washington Elementary School fundraiser.

Hollingsworth started dabbling in a variety of different martial arts systems over the next decade. He came to Family Fitness after seeing a sign outside of the building for Hapkido. After talking with Wheaton and taking a class, Hollingsworth found himself at home with the school’s focus on promoting personal growth.

“It was kind of like love at first bow,” Hollingsworth said.

And it’s that same focus of personal growth Hollingsworth said drew him to the competition. Central Coast’s Top Black Belt is for black belts above the first-degree rank. Judging categories include forms, demonstrations, breaking, philosophy and learning new movement patterns on short notice.

Hollingsworth said these are things beyond just the, “two people in a cage,” mentality of some mixed-martial arts competitions.

“This was really great to kind of get back to the roots and the honor and the tradition of martial arts,” Hollingsworth said.

Wheaton, familiar with some of Hollingsworth competitors, said he couldn’t be prouder of his student.

“Over a three-week period, he proved himself to be the best of the best,” Wheaton said.

Hollingsworth plans to continue teaching and pursuing competition. In the spirit of personal growth, he’s looking to start competing on an international level and pursue fitness aspects as well. A longer way into the future, he hopes to establish his own Family Fitness affiliated school.

“Most people would describe [martial arts] as a hobby and I get to live it out as my day job, so it’s a win,” Hollingsworth said.

He advises aspiring martial artists to not get discouraged early on. Hollingsworth said martial arts can be the cornerstone of someone’s life and something that important can’t be built overnight.

“Anything worth doing is going to take time,” Hollingsworth said.

He also encourages anyone curious about martial arts to give it a try, regardless of age or ability.

“Athletes all have a shelf life,” Hollingsworth said. “Martial artists can train into their nineties.”

Professor Wally Jay dies aged 93

Posted on May 29, 2011

Our Great Grandmaster and Founder Professor Wally Jay, one of the last great martial artists, has passed on peacefully at 2:20 am California time in Redwood City Kaiser Hospital.  Prof Jay experienced a stroke on Tuesday May 24th  and on Saturday as per his previous wishes was removed from life support.  He survived another 12 hours and had family and friends with him.  The Jay Family extends their gratitude to those that were there to lend support and to those that had him in their prayers.

The Jay Family after discussion have decided that to honour his wishes, Prof Leon Jay should continue the seminar in Long Island and Small Circle Jujitsu Camp in  Indiana,  Wed. June the 1st and 3rd 4th and 5th respectively.  He will then continue to California to be with family to make arrangements for the funeral.

We will post more information as needed and have also asked long time loyal family friend, Norm Johnson to post on facebook.

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes,
The Jay Family