THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070348
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 29 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Former world heavyweight kickboxing champion Joe Lewis will appear today for the first Tidewater Martial Arts Expo at the Pavilion.
Many of the area's top martial arts studios will be on hand to talk about their art and give demonstrations.
Lewis will sign autographs and hang around to discuss his career.
And what a career it has been.
Lewis was the first martial artist to be featured in Sports Illustrated and The Ring magazines after having introduced the world to full-contact - kickboxing - karate. He was the world champion in his weight class for nine consecutive years.
He no longer competes, but spends most every weekend at expos and seminars. He gave a seminar on fighting strategy yesterday.
``I'm not really sure why kickboxing hasn't caught on more in the U.S.,'' Lewis said. ``I guess it's like asking someone why soccer hasn't caught on more.''
Today's expo will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fish on: Officer M.F. Stone of the Virginia State Marine Patrol had planned to take 20 students from the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind on a bottom fishing trip Monday, but blustery winds kept Fred Feller's Bobbi Lee fishing boat in port.
So the gang instead went to the Virginia Marine Science Museum to learn more about the fish they'd go after when the trip is rescheduled for Oct. 31.
``They just had a great, great time,'' Stone said. ``It was a shame that we didn't go fishing, but they enjoyed themselves.''
The children and the families will go after sea bass during the Halloween day trip.
The trip was sponsored by Sen. Ken Stolle.
Hot ball: Battalion One blazed by its competition a few weeks ago, claiming first place in the fourth annual Virginia Beach Fire Department Softball Tournament.
The tournament, held on the field across from the Great Neck Recreation Center, collected $500 in donations for the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk.
Battalion One - consisting the London Bridge, Oceana, Birdneck Road and Oceanfront companies - cruised undefeated through the five-team field. By finishing the round-robin tournament without a loss, Battalion One was awarded the top honor.
Also playing were Battalions Two, Three, Four, and the Fire Department's Services Division.
WTKR Channel 3's Paula Miller tossed out the first pitch. by CNB