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Martial arts hall of fame inducts Hubbard’s Faison
By Greg Gulas
BOARDMAN
When he was 4 years old, Howard Faison took up Jiu-Jitsu as a way to pass time and channel his energy into something constructive.
The martial art also was a way for him to hang out with his father, Howard, Sr.
The 1969 Hubbard High School graduate has enjoyed a highly successful martial arts career. On Jan. 23, he was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Atlantic City.
“I was contacted in November about my selection and to be honest, it still hasn’t fully sunk in,” Faison said. “I am humbled to have been selected and realize that it is quite an honor to be included among the greats in martial arts history.
“I’m still the same guy I was when I first started, however, and am just glad to still be on this side of the pond in order to teach and talk about the sport.”
Faison was nominated by his friends: Seitu Kenyatta, originally from Warren and a 10th degree black belt; and Al Yisreal, a Master in Jiu-Jitsu who hails from South Carolina.
The induction ceremonies were held at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, attracting more than 1,200 attendees. Another 200 were unable to get to the ceremony because of a winter storm.
“When friends think that highly of you and take the time to follow through with your nomination, it’s a feeling that is so very tough to describe,” Faison said. “I got to see quite a few old friends, guys that I had fought like hall of famers Benny Urquidez, who was a great stand-up fighter and Bill ‘Super Foot’ Wallace.
“There were just so many and we were able to share many memories,” Faison said. “It was definitely a night to remember.”
At age 12, Faison moved from ground fighting to Taekwondo and stand-up fighting.
While serving in the U.S. Navy (1970-73) and stationed in Port Hueneme in Oxnard, Calif., Faison started looking at entering various all-military competitions with the hopes of staying sharp and to see how he stacked up against other martial arts hopefuls.
While stationed on the West Coast, Faison won multiple championships, including the all-military title in Taekwondo, which was held in Thailand.
“I was then introduced to the Abu-Dhabi Tournament, which was strictly ground fighting,” Faison said. “I wanted to see how I would do so making it to the semifinals was a great accomplishment.
“When I returned home, I realized how the rest of the world was fighting, which was both ground and stand-up,” Faison said. “That’s when I began teaching at the McGuffey Center and we lasted at that site for 28 years.”
Faison then moved over to the Black Knights Police Association, staying at their Oakland Avenue site for four years before moving over to Rocky’s Gym in Boardman.
At age 65 and having recently weathered various health challenges, Faison continues to teach MMA while overseeing other classes at his Boardman location on California Street.
He is priming his MTC Hornets team, members of the Mid-American Taekwondo Council for Chuck Haskell’s upcoming Brawl Room competition, which is slated March 19 at St. Lucy’s Palermo Center in Campbell.
“We’re holding our own at competitions held in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and locally,” Faison said. “When I fought there wasn’t a sanctioning body, so I have to give credit to Bernie Profato [executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission].
He makes sure that all pairings are evenly matched before giving his approval.”
Profato called Faison one of the local MMA all-time greats.
“To get quantity of the sport back, you have to get the quality back and Howard, more than anyone, realizes that,” Profato said. “He’s someone who has always represented MMA in a first-class manner and that’s what makes his hall of fame honor so well-deserved.”