Martial Arts Deaths

[Ben Gash]

Both the deaths here almsot certainly have nothing to do with MA, just a question of timing. The first was probably due to a cardiac sudden death syndrome which may even have been undetectable without specific specialist tests. The second was probably due to ischaemic heart disease ( a leading cause of death in 50something males).

[SPJ]

Just remind me of regular heart exam whether you are active in physical activity or not.

[GeneChing]

...but I couldn't think of where else to post it.

Arrests bring little solace in killing of Orlando martial-arts teacher
Slain granddad had just reunited with family
By Mary Tindall | Sentinel Staff Writer
10:55 PM EDT, March 8, 2009

Ruphine Powell was slain Feb. 11 on Mercy Drive. He had recently reunited with his daughters.

Ruphine Powell was slain Feb. 11 on Mercy Drive. He had recently reunited with his daughters. (Powell family / March 8, 2009)

Katrina Ervin knew why the detective was knocking at her door Feb. 12. Her father, who always called on his way home in the evening, hadn't come home -- and it was 6 a.m.

"I was just hoping they'd say he was hurt instead of dead," Ervin, 25, said.

Her father, Ruphine Powell, had been shot to death on Mercy Drive, the victim of an apparent robbery attempt, Orlando police said. He had been shot inside his beloved blue 1990 Ford Mustang, driven a short distance before crashing into a wooded area.

Saturday evening, Terrence Leath, 17, and Jonathan Loyd, 18, were arrested on charges of armed robbery with a firearm and first-degree murder in connection with Powell's death. The two men were taken to Orange County Jail, and additional arrests were "imminent," said Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department.

For Ervin, the arrests were a mercifully quick break in the case of her father's slaying -- a killing that cut short a long-awaited family reunion.

For months, Powell, 52, had worked two jobs to save money to help his daughters move to Orlando from Connecticut. On Jan. 23, Ervin and her sister, Tammy Jordan, arrived in Orlando.

Ervin brought her two children, ages 4 and 5, with her. For the first time, Powell met his grandchildren. There was an immediate bond.

"My dad's not the young, exuberant guy he was years ago, but he rode around on this floor, and picked up these kids, and ran around with them like it was nothing," Ervin said from her Orlando home. "Really, I feel like he wanted to make up for lost time."

Ervin is one of several people who remembered Powell as a calm, athletic man who loved teaching kung fu and working on his Mustang.

But he didn't have much time for those hobbies, working days and nights as a tool-and-die machinist for two local companies.

At his night job, Powell was a hard worker who never lost his temper, said Gene Augustin, who employed him for seven years.

On the night Powell was shot, he left the factory between 9 and 9:30 p.m., according to security-camera footage. His body was discovered near Mercy Drive and West New Hampshire Street about 11:35 p.m. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Augustin said he thought Powell, who was found in the driver's seat, was trying to make it back to the company's factory after being shot. "He missed the street [the turn to reach the factory] by about 50 feet," swerving into nearby woods instead, Augustin said.

Powell's death came as a shock to his employers, family and friends. They said he had no enemies, no criminal background.

He joined the Marines at age 17 and served for seven or eight years, Ervin said.

Powell brought the discipline he learned in the military to his role as a teacher of kung fu at a local studio, World Ving Tsun Athletic Association in Orlando. From 2003 to 2007, he volunteered several nights a week, mentoring students in the art of ving tsun, a type of kung fu popularized by Bruce Lee. Powell was a first-degree black sash and left the studio only because of health reasons, studio owner Darrell Jordan said.

"He gave of himself wholeheartedly," Jordan said of Powell's efforts. "He pulled himself up by his bootstraps."

Scott Haynes, one of Powell's former students, said he inspired him to hone his skills. They soon became close friends.

"If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have trained as hard," said Haynes, 37, at the studio.

Originally from Connecticut, Powell moved to Orlando about 20 years ago, then attended technical school and began working as a machinist.

By the time of his death, he had achieved one of his major goals: being reunited with his family. He had left Ervin's mother when Ervin was just 3 or 4 years old, moving in and out of their lives over the years.

His daughters' move to Orlando seemed to mark a new chapter in their lives.

"That's what upset me the most," Ervin said. "He just met my kids. I didn't get enough time."

The arrests have soothed some of her grief, Ervin said.

"I didn't want my father's death to go unsolved," she said. "I just want to know [what happened], and I'm hoping they are convicted."

[BoulderDawg]

I remember when they use to have tough man/women contest. Those were deaths waiting to happen.

[GeneChing]

This one isn't a death due to martial arts per se. But still, getting slashed with a sickle in a karaoke club strikes me as so very Jakarta.

Former martial arts athlete killed in club brawl

Desy Nurhayati , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Wed, 01/06/2010 2:40 PM | The Archipelago

Former national martial arts athlete I Gede Arya Heru Wibawa was killed during a brawl at a karaoke parlor in Sesetan, Denpasar, late Sunday.

Arya, 40, was slashed with a sickle while trying to break up a fight between patrons at the Mirama Lounge.

He died at around 11 p.m. on his way to the nearby Sanglah General Hospital.

Denpasar Police chief Sr. Comr. Gede Alit Widana said Monday two suspects believed to have been responsible for his death had turned themselves in to South Denpasar Police shortly after the incident.

The suspects have been identified as 40-year-old I Wayan Darta and his 21-year-old son, I Made Suastika, residents of Tanjung Bungkak in East Denpasar.

Widana said the incident began when the two suspects arrived at the parlor at around 10 p.m. and ordered 10 bottles of beer. Moments later, Suastika began fighting with another customer.

"The victim tried to break up the fight, but to no avail," Widana said.

"They continued fighting in front of the parlor."

In the middle of the brawl, Suastika fell close to where Arya was standing.

"Seeing his son get knocked down, Darta got mad and pulled out a sickle he'd been carrying with him, and slashed Arya right across the abdomen."

Suastika, carrying a machete, also struck out at Arya, hitting him in the arm and chest until the victim was knocked down.

"The victim died from massive blood loss after arteries below his collarbone were severed," Widana said.

He pointed out the victim and the two suspects were not mutually acquainted.

"They only happened to be at the same karaoke parlor that night. This was a murder committed in the heat of the moment," he said.

He added that the suspects could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty under the Criminal Code.

Arya, a resident of Banjar Kaja in Sesetan, was a gold medalist in the 1996 and 2000 National Games (PON).

His sister, Ni Made Arya Dwi Damayanti, said he worked as a trainer for athletes in the provincial martial arts squad.

Arya also trained several national-level athletes for the 2008 PON in Samarinda, East Kalimantan.

[Lucas]

an interesting list here, not sure how many died at all while training or performing.

many of these deaths of course have drugs involved....thus the issue of MA meets sport meets performance enhancing drugs.

Famous Wrestlers That Have Died Since 1985 Before the Age of 65

Chris Von Erich (Von Erich Family Tree) - 21
Mike Von Erich - 23
Louie Spiccoli - 27
Art Barr - 28
Gino Hernandez - 29
Jay Youngblood - 30
Rick McGraw - 30
Joey Marella - 30
Ed Gatner - 31
Buzz Sawyer - 32
Crash Holly - 32
Kerry Von Erich - 33
D.J. Peterson - 33
Eddie Gilbert - 33
The Renegade - 33
Chris Candido - 33
Test - 33
Adrian Adonis - 34
Gary Albright - 34
Bobby Duncum Jr. - 34
Owen Hart - 34
Yokozuna - 34
Big **** Dudley - 34
Brian Pillman - 35
Marianna Komlos - 35
Umaga - 36
Pitbull #2 - 36
The Wall/Malice - 36
Emory Hale - 36
Leroy Brown - 38
Mark Curtis - 38
Eddie Guerrero - 38
John Kronus - 38
Davey Boy Smith - 39
Johnny Grunge - 39
Vivian Vachon - 40
Jeep Swenson - 40
Brady Boone - 40
Terry Gordy - 40
Bertha Faye - 40
Billy Joe Travis - 40
Chris Benoit - 40
Larry Cameron - 41
Rick Rude - 41
Randy Anderson - 41
Bruiser Brody - 42
Miss Elizabeth - 42
Big Boss Man - 42
Earthquake - 42
Mike Awesome - 42
Biff Wellington - 42
Brian Adams (Crush) - 43
Ray Candy - 43
Nancy Benoit (Woman) - 43
Dino Bravo - 44
Curt Hennig - 44
Bam Bam Bigelow - 45
Jerry Blackwell - 45
Junkyard Dog - 45
Hercules - 45
Andre the Giant - 46
Big John Studd - 46
Chris Adams - 46
Mike Davis - 46
Hawk - 46
Mitsuharu Misawa - 46
Steve Dunn - 48
Cousin Junior - 48
**** Murdoch - 49
Jumbo Tsuruta - 49
Rocco Rock - 49
Sherri Martel - 49
Steve Williams - 49
Moondog Spot - 51
Ken Timbs - 53
Uncle Elmer - 54
Pez Whatley - 54
The Angel of Death - 54
Eddie Graham - 55
Tarzan Tyler - 55
Haystacks Calhoun- 55
Giant Haystacks - 55
Buddy Rose - 56
The Spoiler - 56
Kurt Von Hess - 56
Moondog King - 56
Gene Anderson - 58
Dr. Jerry Graham - 58
Bulldog Brown - 58
Tony Parisi - 58
Rufus R. Jones - 60
Ray Stevens - 60
Stan Stasiak - 60
Terry Garvin - 60
Boris Malenko - 61
Little Beaver - 61
Sapphire - 61
Shohei Baba - 61
**** the Bruiser - 62
Wilbur Snyder - 62
George Cannon - 62
Karl Krupp - 62
Dale Lewis - 62
Gorilla Monsoon - 62
Hiro Matsuda - 62
Bad News Brown - 63
Bulldog Brower - 63
SD Jones - 63
Wahoo McDaniel - 63

[Hebrew Hammer]

I'm a little concerned that:

a) you are watching that much wrestling a

and

b) your records are that meticulous

[Lee Chiang Po]

an interesting list here, not sure how many died at all while training or performing.

many of these deaths of course have drugs involved....thus the issue of MA meets sport meets performance enhancing drugs.

Famous Wrestlers That Have Died Since 1985 Before the Age of 65

Chris Von Erich (Von Erich Family Tree) - 21
Mike Von Erich - 23
Louie Spiccoli - 27
Art Barr - 28
Gino Hernandez - 29
Jay Youngblood - 30
Rick McGraw - 30
Joey Marella - 30
Ed Gatner - 31
Buzz Sawyer - 32
Crash Holly - 32
Kerry Von Erich - 33
D.J. Peterson - 33
Eddie Gilbert - 33
The Renegade - 33
Chris Candido - 33
Test - 33
Adrian Adonis - 34
Gary Albright - 34
Bobby Duncum Jr. - 34
Owen Hart - 34
Yokozuna - 34
Big **** Dudley - 34
Brian Pillman - 35
Marianna Komlos - 35
Umaga - 36
Pitbull #2 - 36
The Wall/Malice - 36
Emory Hale - 36
Leroy Brown - 38
Mark Curtis - 38
Eddie Guerrero - 38
John Kronus - 38
Davey Boy Smith - 39
Johnny Grunge - 39
Vivian Vachon - 40
Jeep Swenson - 40
Brady Boone - 40
Terry Gordy - 40
Bertha Faye - 40
Billy Joe Travis - 40
Chris Benoit - 40
Larry Cameron - 41
Rick Rude - 41
Randy Anderson - 41
Bruiser Brody - 42
Miss Elizabeth - 42
Big Boss Man - 42
Earthquake - 42
Mike Awesome - 42
Biff Wellington - 42
Brian Adams (Crush) - 43
Ray Candy - 43
Nancy Benoit (Woman) - 43
Dino Bravo - 44
Curt Hennig - 44
Bam Bam Bigelow - 45
Jerry Blackwell - 45
Junkyard Dog - 45
Hercules - 45
Andre the Giant - 46
Big John Studd - 46
Chris Adams - 46
Mike Davis - 46
Hawk - 46
Mitsuharu Misawa - 46
Steve Dunn - 48
Cousin Junior - 48
**** Murdoch - 49
Jumbo Tsuruta - 49
Rocco Rock - 49
Sherri Martel - 49
Steve Williams - 49
Moondog Spot - 51
Ken Timbs - 53
Uncle Elmer - 54
Pez Whatley - 54
The Angel of Death - 54
Eddie Graham - 55
Tarzan Tyler - 55
Haystacks Calhoun- 55
Giant Haystacks - 55
Buddy Rose - 56
The Spoiler - 56
Kurt Von Hess - 56
Moondog King - 56
Gene Anderson - 58
Dr. Jerry Graham - 58
Bulldog Brown - 58
Tony Parisi - 58
Rufus R. Jones - 60
Ray Stevens - 60
Stan Stasiak - 60
Terry Garvin - 60
Boris Malenko - 61
Little Beaver - 61
Sapphire - 61
Shohei Baba - 61
**** the Bruiser - 62
Wilbur Snyder - 62
George Cannon - 62
Karl Krupp - 62
Dale Lewis - 62
Gorilla Monsoon - 62
Hiro Matsuda - 62
Bad News Brown - 63
Bulldog Brower - 63
SD Jones - 63
Wahoo McDaniel - 63

Not all of these can actually be considered MA related deaths as some were shot, and a whole bunch took way too much dope.

[SnowDog]

This one isn't a death due to martial arts per se. But still, getting slashed with a sickle in a karaoke club strikes me as so very Jakarta.

I had a WTF momment reading this

"Seeing his son get knocked down, Darta got mad and pulled out a sickle he'd been carrying with him, and slashed Arya right across the abdomen."

Suastika, carrying a machete, also struck out at Arya, hitting him in the arm and chest until the victim was knocked down.

Having never been to Jakarta myself, I wasn't sure how common it was for people to be packing sickles and machetes when they head to the bar. But, definately something you don't expect to see living in the US.

[David Jamieson]

*snip*
Having never been to Jakarta myself, I wasn't sure how common it was for people to be packing sickles and machetes when they head to the bar. But, definately something you don't expect to see living in the US.

that's because of conceal and carry laws. blades are for primitives. Civilised people shoot each other for gawds sake man!