HEART OF A DRAGON, NAME OF THE SHARK


     I dedicate this short story to the memory of Makoto Iwamatsu, to his family and to my friends who are presently battling cancer.

HEART OF A DRAGON, NAME OF THE SHARK
By Peter Vuono

    The sunny afternoon  of Sept. 14, 2013 was one of the happiest days of my life. My son Mike passed his Black Belt test after a 9 year journey in front of the number one ranked Kenpo artist in the world- Pasadena's Master Larry Tatum. Wiping away the tears I thought of all his training and hard work and about his teachers who spent so much time with him to bring him to this moment.
    However there were others who inspired my son through film. They were every bit a part of his training as were his teachers. There were many names but one in particular that I thought of was the late, great actor Mako.
     Makoto Iwamatsu was born in Japan in 1933. His parents were political dissidents and decided during World War II to send their son to the United States in the protection of his grandmother. His parents joined their son in 1949 and in the 1950's Makoto, who later shortened his name to Mako, joined the military in the 1950's.  He originally sought to be an architect but after perfroming in some military plays, he decided to hone his talent of acting.
     In 1956, he became a naturalized citizen and received acting training at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.Later, because he became disheartened with the stereotypical characters given to Asian actors, Mako with a few friends formed one of the first Asian American acting companies in America- The East, West Players Theater Company where he worked until 1989.
    Mako's talent was second to none.  He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor in the 1966 film, The Sand Pebbles. His portrayal of the tortured/martyred coolie Po-Han was so gut wrentching and cathartic that I don't think I could see it another time.
    He received a Tony award nomination on Broadway for the 1976 play Pacific Overtures. He went on to star in 153 movies and was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7095 Hollywood Blvd.
     Mako succumbed to esophageal cancer on July 21, 2006. Although it is true that he lost that battle, he more than won the war in the impeccable manner in which he lived his life. He left behind a legacy that most of us can only dream of.
      In addition to leaving behind a devoted wife and family who were all talented actresses, he, like Bruce Lee, gave the Asian people a face. It wasn't just any face however, but one of pride, honor, strength , dignity, respect and equanimity with the many characters of strength that he portrayed.
     One of Mako's roles will stay with me and my son forever. It is where he portrays the strong, kind and patient "Mr. Lee" in Chuck Norris' Sidekicks. Mako portrays a karate trainer who turns the life around of a boy who is bullied and has no self esteem. Every time Michael and I watch the film we go to the gym and train all the harder. He has always been part of our training and our lives. In this way, the man with the heart of a dragon and the name of the shark will always be with us.

"Thoughts backed by faith will overcome all obstacles"  Bruce Lee

PRO WRESTLING IS REAL.PEOPLE ARE FAKE

Story by Peter Vuono   (title by Kenny Anderson)

     I live in the Boston area. As I speak, a very festive parade is being given in Boston for the newly crowned NBA champs, the Celtics. so many of my friends live and die with the Boston sports teams and good for them for as their teams succeed, so too does the feeling of well being that it gives to the devoted fans.
     One thing, however that is somewhat germane to all this celebration is the fact that I rarely so much as dare tell people that I am not a fan of most conventional pro sports. People look askance at me when I tell them that the last time I was at Fenway was about 20 years ago when I was paid to make balloon animals for a charity softball game. They look at me as if I have two heads when I tell them that I was last at Gillette Stadium when it was Sullivan Stadium and I was watching Hulk Hogan wrestle the Iron Shiek. Because I have always been a wrestling fan, people look at me as if I were a low brow or someone who is completely factually unencumbered  when wrestling was, in fact, THE catalyst which caused me to lift weights and procure a career in teaching Special Children.
     Football, baseball and basket ball fans pay hundreds of dollars for tickets and nearly the same for parking. If their team doesn't win, they go away feeling like they lost a family member . A feeling that will linger for days. My son and I go to wrestling as "smarks", which is someone who is in tune to what is really happening  in the ring. We see the most unique bonding of entertainment, comedy and breath taking athleticism that anyone could possibly pay to see and we walk to the car with a feeling of great joy which caused us to forget our problems, but for only a few hours.
     The last big league I went to see(TNA) had the biggest names and yet, I paid only $35.00 per ticket and nothing for parking. People go to the movies in droves and pay millions to see a film based on pure fantasy, but I've never left a theater after a movie while listening to a patron complain that what he or she saw was"fake".
     Also, extreme violence often takes place after an important soccer, baseball or basketball game. We've seen cars burned and overturned, people trampled and in 2004 the very tragic demise of a 21 year old bystander at a Boston Sports celebration who was killed when a misplaced pepper ball hit her in the eye.
     I've not seen this type of violence after a wrestling match because it is perfectly constructed to allow the fans to vent while they are watching the events in the ring. Again, I DO hope that your team wins and that you savor the victory but do not besmirch those of us who love the only sport mentioned in the bible which told of Eve wrestling with her conscience in the book of Genesis and the story of Jacob who wrestled with an angel.
     Like the patrons of the ancient Roman arena, we too need our diversions; our bread and circus.
I am happy to hear about yours. Allow me to enjoy mine.


" I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones . For the common folks are like leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed".- The Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz

BLIND FAITH
By Peter Vuono

     Some of my best memories from my youth stem from the Brockton, Ma. YMCA. It was here that I took the knowledge I learned from Muscular Development, Iron Man and Strength and Health and applied it in becoming a powerlifter. I enjoyed both the thrill of becoming stronger and the many friendships I made.Harvey Perala took me under his wing and he has been both my coach and sensei for over 40 years. Another friendship I fortuitously made was with John Cronin. John was so sincere and friendly that it was an easy thing to do in becoming his friend. John, like my future friend, Teddy Arcidi, was a "boss of the bench". We all marveled at his bench press which was in the mid 300's . In the 1960's it would have been nationally ranked.
     John and I each went our own path but I had heard from time to time that he was doing well and together with his wife, Alice, raised a wonderful family of 4 children. He also served a dedicated and precarious career as a firefighter and retired unscathed. John and I found a road that led us back to each other and we've been training together each Sunday for the past two years.
    Even now, at age 65, he raises eyebrows of friend Tom Kenney and all others who may catch him effortlessly bench pressing a pair of 65 lb. dumbells for an easy 15 reps. This, at 65, is a feat in itself but what is more extraordinary is that John is doing it while blind.
     A few years after his retirement, John ruptured his esophagus. This, by no means is a minor medical occurrence. In fact, it's the same injury that took from us, pro football player/wrestler- tough guy Dick the Bruiser. While undergoing surgery, John incurred a stroke. By the time he came out of the stroke, not enough blood was allowed into the optic nerve, thus leaving him blind.
     This however, only served to show the rest of us the magnitude of John's inner strength. He is always jocular and willing to either tell or listen to a joke. He cares about his friends and what they have to say and his physical strength still arouses my competetive spirit.
     Back in the 70's one of my favorite songs was a little known tune by John Dawson Read entitled "A Friend of Mine is Going Blind". Every time I now listen to it, I think of John. One verse reads,"A friend of mine is going blind but through the dimness, he sees so much better than me. And how he cherishes each new thing he sees; they are locked in his head. He will save them for when he's in darkness again"
     This is the John I know. He's taught me that in spite of any medical issue I have, that I shouldn't sulk and feel sorry for myself but rather take  the new challenge head on and do something positive with it. He's shown me that ill health doesn't mean that life ends; it just changes. More than any other man, he's strengthened my blind faith.

DEATH, DIGNITY AND GRACE
By Peter Vuono


     In August of 1966 I saw my first wrestling match at age thirteen at the Ridge Arena in Braintree Ma. The main event was Bruno Sammartino vs. Angelo Savoldi. Savoldi was not originally scheduled for the main event but filled in due to an airplane strike. Savoldi worked well with Sammartino and thrilled the crowd. I was hooked on wrestling and enjoyed seeing Savoldi wrestle many times on TV from the famed National Arena in Washington DC.
    Angelo Savoldi was born Mario Fornini and came to America in 1919 from Castrocielo, Italy. In 1935 he became a pro wrestler and was given the ring name of Angelo Savoldi from famed New York promoter, Jack Pfefer. Angelo mainly wrestled on the undercard and retired from the ring in1968 whereupon he became a road manager for the WWWF.
   Angelo, later, in 1984 put together a very successful wrestling independent called International Championship Wrestling with his sons. A great deal of wrestling talent entertained in this league such as Joe Savoldi, Dusty Wolfe, Kenny Timbs, Ox Baker, Black Jack Mulligan, Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin.
   I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Savoldi twice and the thing I remember most was his graciousness, kindness and humility. A kid never forgets how he's treated when he gets to meet one of his heroes.
   Sadly on Sept. 20, 2013, Angelo Savoldi passed away at age 99. It is a shame that Angelo did not attain the same status as someone like Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair because the manner in which he conducted his life spoke volumes. Unlike so many wrestlers and so many athletes from other sports, Savoldi lived his life with the utmost of integrity. He never abused drugs, alcohol or steroids. He was never involved in domestic disputes nor was he ever on the wrong side of the law. Rather he was a devoted husband to the same woman(Mary) for 74 years and a loving father to 4 wonderful children.
   In martial arts Angelo would have been called a"Shidoshi". Interpreted from the Japanese, it means "Teacher of the Way".  His life was  a message of great dignity. A message that every young person needs to hear.

JACK WALSH- LIONHEART

A version of this story appeared in the Journal of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen in 2006.

JACK WALSH-  LIONHEART
By Peter Vuono

     One of the most beloved facets of Americana is the circus. And certainly, one of the most thrilling and inspirational moments of the circus to a young boy is the strongman act which is seen infrequently in today's day and age. Sadly, Jack Walsh, one of the last of the old time circus strongmen, passed away on June 11, 2006. Jack was born on February 20. 1930 and began lifting weights at age 11. At age 12 he joined the Trenton NJ YMCA. Jack idolized old time strength performers such as Louis Cyr and Warren Lincoln Travis. He immediately gravitated toward the back lift as his two idols had done. When Jack backlifted the maximum weight that the Trenton Y leg press machine could hold(850 lbs.) his dad rented a garage and constructed a backlift apparatus out of boards and oil drums. It was here that a strength legend would be born.
     When Jack was 16 years old, he backlifted 3,000lbs! At 18, the 185lb. Walsh was paid $250 to back lift every pro wrestler on a local card that evening.. It was here in 1948 that Jack turned pro and on March 10, 1950, Jack backlifted a 2700lb. elephant at the Hunt Brothers Circus in Trenton. He then allowed the pachyderm to walk across a platform laid over Walsh's prone body! This great feat  lead to a photo on the front page of the New York Daily News.
   The photo lead Jack to numerous engagements on the TV shows of Ed Sullivan, Arlene Francis and Ernie Kovacs. His daring exploits included becoming a human chain link in holding back two cars, one strapped to either arm, balancing a 295lb. barbell on his head, withstanding several stomach blows from legendary pugislist, Sonny Liston and wrestling a 750lb. bull in Mexico.
   His extraordinary feats(all done at 185 lbs.) still remain virtually untouched. Here are a few.: Backlift-4,638lbs. done on July 7, 1950(second only to Paul Anderson!), Hand and thigh lift- 1,900, One finger lift- using a dumbell attached to a chain and iron ring- 732lbs., Two finger lift( a partial deadlift done in the same style as the one finger lift) 1,000lbs.
    Walsh could also climb a ladder with an 800lb. horse strapped to him. He could do a partial leg press using the front end of a 3,000lb. Cadillac. He could also carry a 1,000lb. barrel 60 feet. Jack could pull a box car while holding onto an iron ring with one finger and allow an 8 ton armored truck to sit on his stomach for 23 seconds. He could also hold back a DC-3 airplane from taking off at an airport.
     In 2004 Walsh sustained serious medical complications after he was attacked by a man who attempted to rob him in New Orleans.  Although he successfully fought off the attacker, he shortly after incurred a stroke and slipped into a brief coma. Jack spent his final days at St. Anthony's rehab. center in Metairie, Louisiana.
    It is disheartening to know of the circumstances which lead to Jack Walsh's death and it is unfortunate that at age 77 his strength waned to a point where his health would not return. However, it is equally gratifying to know that the lionheart that really made Jack Walsh the man that he was valiantly roared to the very end.

"These are the heroes of the days gone by, the famous men"- Genesis 6:4

This author would like to acknowledge the writings of historians David P. Willoughby and Fred Howell without whom this memorial could not have been written.

A PRAYER FOR THE 156
By Peter Vuono

     For 36 years I have taught Special Needs kids in one setting or another. In 1976, my first assignment was in Pelham NH High School. I then did a 34 year hitch at Brockton, Ma. High School and most recently, a year and 3 months teaching elementary aged autistic kids gym. I'm glad that I chose to work with the least of God's brethren because as Mother Teresa once said, "the proof of love is service". If I was ever effective at all in both teaching and inspiring, only my students and God can judge. None of it  would have happened however, if I were not first inspired by a pro wrestler.
    In the late 50's I was inspired by George Reeves(Superman) and Steve Reeves(Hercules) like so many other boys my age. I knew that I wanted to become strong like my heroes but I didn't know how; I was only 6 years old. Years went by and in Oct. 1966, I was sitting on my bed reading Wrestling Revue Magazine. The WWWF had a large bodybuilder whose real name was Ernest Bemis wrestle under the stage name of Mr. Kleen. Like Bruno, Bemis was big and muscular. As I read an article about Bemis, he was quoted as saying,"Every boy should have a good set of weights". That was all I needed to hear and I finally knew what the  answer to the equation of strength truly was!
     For 2 and a half years, I lifted alone in my bedroom with a vinyl covered set that my parents bought for me. I was afraid to lift in front of anyone at the local YMCA for fear of being ridiculed. Finally, when I had enough self esteem to do so, and through the influences of Muscular Development Magazine and Iron Man, I dogged the powerlifts.
    My first contest was in Jan. of 1973 in Nashua. I came in 2nd to last. I made some good gains and by the spring time I increased my total nearly by 100lbs. In 1974 I came in second in the Eastern States Powerlifting Championships put on by Joe Zarella in Nashua. I never forgot the feeling I had taking my first
trophy off Joe's hands.
     I graduated from Bridgewater State College in 1976 and had many job interviews; all of which lead to a dead end. Then in August of 76, I sat in the office of Supt. Henry LaBranche of Pelham and the Principal of Pelham High School, Mr. Paul Phinney. They were very kind and congenial but what seemed to interest and impress them the most were  my endeavors in Powerlifting. They truly thought that I'd be a good role model for the kids and to my amazement, hired me on the spot!!!
   A miasma of good things continued to occur. I did the thing I loved. I met my future wife and met so many wonderful friends in Nashua. I taught and made laugh literally hundreds of Special Kids and again, if anything positive did come of this it stemmed from a  quote of a pro wrestler. Surely, if they inspired this author than they must have inspired countless others.
   Since 1985, 157 pro wrestlers have passed away who were younger than 65. Of these 88of them were younger than 50. Heart disease is the biggest offender but nearly 12% are due to suicides.The highest mortality rate in all of pro sports belongs to the men and women who have inspired this author. I would like it to stop and I'm sure that if the following prayer is said by all those touched by the sport that God will share his strength and protection with all titans of the squared circle.

A WRESTLER'S PRAYER- By Peter vuono

     Oh Saint Sebastian, martyr, and patron saint of all athletes,
stand by those who wear the shoes of Jacob who wrestled with an angel.
Protect them when they risk life and limb to feed their families
Comfort them in the many hours that they spend away from loved ones,
and above all, let them not abandon Jesus Christ who wrestled with his
conscience in his last moments on the cross. For we ask this in his name
amen.

 DR.CINDY WYATT REINHOUDT - DARING TO BE FIRST

    There isn't a facet of society that women have not excelled in. This, of course, is due, in part to their natural born abilities  and to the fact that women were championed by a pathfinder and pioneer who showed them the way. For it was Cindy who inspired women's rights activist Joe Zarella to commandeer powerlifting meets for women only in 1977 which were the first of their kind anywhere.
    This, in turn, lead to women's bodybuilding and Olympic lifting. Once women realized that they had a power within, they excelled in every area of society as well as if not better than men. Cindy showed them the way. It is she who ran with the baton handed down from Susan B. Anthony and it is she who we all have to thank. This is her story which first appeared in Powerlifting USA Magazine in June of 1985.


DR. CINDY WYATT REINHOUDT -DARING TO BE FIRST
By Peter Vuono

     Before proponents of women's strength sports proved to the world that lifting weights was not just exclusive to men, powerlifting was indeed a"man's sport". No one dared to break this precedent until a young lady from the state of New York began to make headlines in Strength and Health Magazine in the track and field world. The young athlete was Cindy Wyatt. While attending college at the University of Hawaii, Cindy trained under the auspices of two time Olympic Gold Medal winning weightlifter,Tommy Kono and registered an official shot put of 48'6'. in 1962. Also while attending the university, Cindy was seen in the pages of Strength and Health cleaning and jerking 230; all in 1962! Her weight training focused on increasing the distance of her shot put but when Cindy later attended classes at the University of Buffalo, she would put her enormous strength to a different task which would change the course of history.
     On Saturday, March 20, 1965 at the Rite-Form Health Studio in Kenmore New York, Cindy competed in the 2nd annual Self Improvement Power Meet. This would be the first time that a woman would compete in a weightlifting contest of any kind anywhere in the world.
     Weighing approximately 155, Cindy officially bench pressed 160, squatted 235 and deadlifted 315 for a 710 total. The crashing of her 315 deadlift, in so many ways was as profound as the ringing of the Liberty Bell.This success spurred Cindy to achieving further victories in her newly chosen sport.
     In 1977, in Nashua New Hampshire at the Prospect St. YMCA, Cindy competed in the first ever National Powerlfiting Meet for Women with her husband, World's Strongest Man winner, Don Reinhoudt at her side for moral support.Here cindy won her class and the Best Lifter trophy with a squat of 360, a bench press of 210 and a deadlift of 375 for a 975 total as a middleweight.
     The following year in Nashua, Cindy competed in the Nationals again which consisted of over 100 female lifters and a contingent from Australia! Here, as a middleweight, Cindy squatted 385, bench pressed 205 and deadlifted 385 for a total of 975 which garnered for her a victory in the middleweight division and best lifter of the entire meet!
     This victory marked the retirement of an incredible athlete whose courage matches her strength. Author Tony Fitton once quoted Eugene Ware in saying"All glory goes to those who dare to begin". Dr. Cindy Wyatt Reinhoudt is the recipient of that glory . A victory not just for her but for all womankind.