Sensei Steve

Karate Kid gets a Red Carpet Ride

at Movie Premiere

When the Karate Kid Movie premiered in Chicago, Sensei Steve took his children to enjoy the festivities Everyone was able to get an autograph and meet the stars of the film including Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. Caleb got a special treat when Will Smith took him out on the Red Carpet.

Before the stars came out Sensei Steve exchanged pleasantries with long time acquaintance Sec. of State Jesse White and a moment to "chat it up" with Dean Richards, film critic for WGN. A little later he and the kids got a chance to talk to Chicago Bears defensive tackle #71 Israel Idonije who assured Sensei Steve he'd see him in Bourbonnais at training camp and even met legendary Bear Richard Dent, The MVP of Super Bowl XX.

Another pleasant surprise for Sensei Steve was getting to see one of his Martial arts business mentors Master John Graden of Florida. Master Graden is one of today's top martial art's innovators and one of Joe Lewis' top black belts. It was through Master Graden and his seminars that Sensei Steve became friends with Master Charlie Foxman of St. Louis, Mo.

Sony Pictures Names Sensei Steve as Head Judge for Karate Kid Challenge at Six Flags Park

(Sensei Steve, Master Mike McNamara and contestants from the Karate Kid Challenge)

Sensei Steve was recently the head judge for Sony pictures Karate Kid Challenge at Six Flags Great America. The contest featured one black belt instructor and one student competing together against other martial artist for the chance to go to Hollywood, Ca and meet Jayden Smith and Jackie Chan, Co Stars of the 2010 version of The Karate Kid. go to www.theKarateKidChallenge.com for more information.

Local Teen Wins Female Oriental Rules Kickboxing Bout

Fourteen year old Allie Stone of Grant Park IL recently won a unanimous decision over Keely Hanon of Stickney, IL. The three round bout was part of the Combat- Do Challenge XX, a series of Kickboxing and MMA (mixed martial arts) events held in Cicero, IL.

The bout was a three round Oriental Rules match which allows fighters to throw kicks to the legs, body and head, punches and knees ( only to the body). In round one Keely and Allie exchanged several kicks, knees and punches but Stone was quick to establish her distance with defensive side kicks and working a jab. Round 2 Allie began to land several body shots on Hanon with a series of uppercuts and body kicks. By the end of round two stone had established her self as the better technician. Stone's coach Steve "Sensei Steve" Gross said " It was clear by the end of round two that nothing Hanon landed had any damaging effect on Stone and that she (Hanon) was clearly fatigued from all the body blows". Round three Stone threw several combinations to the body and the head and even scored a knock down at the end of the round. At the end of the bout Stone had scored 30-26, 30-26 and 30-25 for a judges unanimous decision. After the bout Sensei Steve commented "It was good to see Allie do so well against a tough young lady that trains out of a gym like Combat- Do."

Allie is the daughter of Brian and Katrina Stone of Grant Park. She holds a first degree black belt in karate at Sensei Steve's Karate Center in Momence and has been training in boxing and kickboxing with Gus' Boxing Gym at Sensei Steve's for the past year. Aside from Martial Arts Allie enjoys horseback riding, drawing, playing violin and is an active teen at the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Momence.