Kickboxing world champ pays local visit
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Sometimes they can show their qualities by working with young people to champion the sport that has raised them to such lofty heights.
For evidence of that all you have to do is look at undefeated world champion kickboxer Raymond Daniels, who made trip to McMinnville last Saturday to visit old friend Paul Byars at Gary Steele Karate. Daniels also took some time to work with some of the students at the local martial arts school.
The 27-year-old, who is noted for his acrobatic fighting style, has won world championships in both the NASCA and NBL leagues, and also does full-contact fighting with the Chuck Norris’ World Combat League. He is currently undefeated with an 18-0 record.
Most recently Daniels has returned from winning Europe’s largest martial arts tournament, the Irish Open. He has been involved in the sport since he was 5 years old, and began training with his father, Frank Daniels, who resides in Nashville.
‘I’ve been doing it ever since I can remember,’ said Daniels. ‘I own two martial arts studios in Southern California. One in Long Beach called The Power of One, and one in Orange, Calif., called World Champion Karate.’
Daniels says he is devoted to the sport and particularly enjoys working with kids.
‘I love teaching martial arts because it gives the children the opportunity to learn respect, discipline, confidence and humility,’ Daniels said. ‘You meet a lot of great people from different walks of life in the martial arts. That’s part of what martial arts is about, giving back to your community and helping those kids out that are in need of influences like that, and that’s what we try and do.’
Daniels says martial arts offers an effective alternative to gang activity, leading kids into a much more positive environment but still giving them a place where they feel like they belong.
‘I don’t think there’s any such thing as a bad kid,’ Daniels said. ‘It’s just that a lot of times kids don’t have anything productive to do with their time, and that’s where martial arts comes into play. I came from a rougher neighborhood and martial arts has always given me a positive environment with the black belts in there being a positive role model to create a positive atmosphere. So that way, positive things happen to you.
‘When the children don’t have any place to go, then they tend go into gangs and things like that. They have no good role models and they look up to the wrong people.’
Daniels says kids want to be a part of something, and he feels martial arts provides a way to do that.
‘They just want to be accepted,’ Daniels said. ‘And that’s where martial arts can be a great thing. Martial arts is a way of life. It’s about striving towards perfection every day, trying to better yourself and the people around you. Whether it be football or basketball or martial arts, it gives kids something productive to do. Sports like martial arts helps in all aspects of your life. It increases your confidence in yourself, helps teach coordination and agility. It’s been a great thing for me in my life.’