It was 1973; I was 16 and just a colored belt. Viet Nam was still on the minds of most male teens and young men of draft age. The war was winding down and President Nixon was getting America out of the war. That didn’t make much difference to the “landmine” that blew away part of a leg from one of my swim coaches, Scott Manning. He was the guy back in May of ’71 that dragged me out of the swim pool during practice (I was loafing) and said, “What do you want to do, that you will really try at”? I replied “karate” and he had me leave the pool, get dressed and follow him across the campus to G. Rollie White Coliseum where I was introduced to David Jordan (U.S.K.A.) and I started training in Taekwon Do.

Now, it was early ’73, Mr. Jordan had moved to Ruston Louisiana and I had been in several karate schools. My current instructor had taken several students to Allen Steen’s United States Karate Championships in Dallas Texas and I was being introduced to some of the best martial artists in America.

Steen’s U.S. Karate Championships! I was 16 and a green belt and there were forty teenagers in my division. I lost my first fight with bruised ribs, a black eye and a busted lip. Still, I loved it. Later in the day as the Black Belts started their fighting I saw so many men fight, using so many techniques and styles, I was in awe. During the 60’s and 70’s Black Belts fought within their respective styles, meaning kung fu stylist continually moved their hands in fluid movements and used circular hand strikes combined with lots of footwork. The karate practitioners tended to fight almost in a forward balance stance using front kicks, legs sweeps and straight punches and of course the taekwon do boys used their side kicks, spin kicks and strong punching combinations. It was at this tournament that I saw Jeff Smith’s strong kicking techniques and his ridgehand, there was Michael Warren and his double and triple kicks and Jim Butin’s patented jump spin back kick and lets not forget the Worley brothers Pat and John (one of the brothers having the nickname “worleybird” for his spin kicks). I watched as Roy Kurban used his long legs and fast hook kicks to defeat opponents and in a manner of speaking I saw Bill Wallace’s left leg kick so fast, I almost didn’t see it. To my dismay it was at this tournament that Chuck Norris, Skipper Mullins and Ed Daniels announced that they would retire from competition.

This is an account of two more of the legends of American Sport Karate, Demitrius Havanas and Al Dacascos. On the way to first place I saw Mr. Havanas defeat competitor after competitor. Havanas used his strong kicking techniques, fast punches and an occasional take down. As Havanas advanced at one end of the division Al Dacascos was on the other. Using his fast hands and deceptive kicking techniques Mr. Dacascos was on a collision course with Mr. Havanas. Before one match as Havanas was called to the ring, he saw his opponent, turned and whispered something to a couple of his students. On entering the ring and bowing “the Golden Greek” put his right leg in front and opened with a jump 360 back kick, striking the man in the forehead with his right foot. The guy dropped and Havanas was declared the winner. His students and friend’s burst into applause and laughter, I found out that “whisper” was Havanas “calling his shot”. Not to be outdone Dacascos defeated one opponent with a kick punch combination so fast, it appeared that the kick and punch were simultaneous.

Sure enough they met in the ring, I actually don’t remember if this fight was for first place or for the chance to go to the finals. I do remember the fight.

Dacascos started his footwork moving around the ring trying to use his hands to distract Havanas. Havanas just followed him, barely bouncing on the balls of his feet, looking for an opening. They clashed several times, hands and feet flying. Havanas tried a take down but couldn’t get his hands on Dacascos. As they started after a break Havanas blitzed across the ring, leading with a forward leg kick and following with a barrage of punches. Unbelievably Dacascos just jumped straight up, pulling his knees to his chest and delivered a punch to the top of the head of Havanas as he charged underneath! Everyone got quiet, the judges looked around blinking, and not fully comprehending what they saw. The center judge called for point and Dacascos was awarded a point for the punch to Havanas’s head. Havanas just smiled, stepped across the ring, shook Dacascos’s hand and said “good punch”. The center judge shouted, “begin” and Havanas immediately took off with a forward leg kick to the head of Dacascos and took him out of the ring with a flurry of punches. Dacascos returned the next clash with his own lightning fast attack but Havanas countered and the fight was on. I really don’t believe the judge’s eyes were able to keep up with these two men. When the dust settled Havanas was the winner. At nighttime finals Havanas was defeated by Dan Anderson and Anderson was beaten by Texan Roy Kurban. Mr. Kurban lost by a point to Bill Wallace and Kurban’s hook kick that wasn’t called was a photo in Karate Illustrated Magazine, proving that you win and lose with good calls and bad calls. That evening Havanas performed a breaking demonstration at finals. Actually my martial arts senses were overwhelmed that day. So many styles and champions. But there was one that made a lasting mark, Demitrius Havanas. I have several more accounts of Havanas, like the time I saw Havanas kick Steve Stavroff in the head and NO ONE saw the kick, we just watched as Stavroff fell down, that was at the Karate Olympiks in Houston (yes, so long ago that the producer was still using the letter “c”).

Mr. Havanas was the pinnacle of martial arts in America during the 70’s. His form was perfect, whether fighting or performing floor exercise. On more than one occasion I saw and heard Demitrius Havanas “pop” his “gi”, excuse me, not only when kicking and punching that was easy. More than once I heard and saw Mr. Havanas turn from a side horse stance to a forward balance stance and his uniform would “pop” on his body that is power! I have never seen or heard of anyone being able to do that. Recently I have talked to several of the “top competitors” in Texas karate and most don’t know about Demitrius Havanas. “Karate” is just too big. The days of “just a few” tournaments are gone. It seems that most Texans, much less the rest of America don’t remember “the Golden Greek”.

The Viet Nam war came to an end. My swim coach has come home. There is a wall to honor him and the Americans that died in that lousy war. A friend of mine, Gary Lee from Houston is trying to put together an “American Karate Museum” to be located in Dallas, home of Allen Steen, Pat Burleson, Skipper Mullins, Roy Kurban and Demitrius Havanas, five of America’s and Texas’ greatest martial artist. I hope he succeeds. The summer of 1981 America lost a great martial artist, Demitrius “the Golden Greek” Havanas. For those that knew Demitrius Havanas, we still miss him. Lets not let Texas and America forget him.

Special note; The Amateur Organization of Karate (created by Roy Kurban the father of the two point kick). The A.O.K. located in Texas gives an award for the Best All Around Male and Female Black Belt for the most points accumulated in two or three of the Black Belt divisions. This award has grown to include teen and executive competitors. This award is called the “Golden Greek” in memory of Demitrius Havanas.

--Covert Blackledge