Special To The Progress

Billey Golden, son of Bill and Reva Golden (who reside in New Tazewell, Tennessee) has completed two consecutive and incredible years in Martial Arts Competition, beginning with several tournaments in

2002.

In the 2003 World Games held in Cancun, Mexico, he brought home four Gold Medals and one Silver Medal. In 2003, he was inducted into the U.S. National Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Martial Arts Instructor of the Year.

Also in 2003, Billey competed in the U.S. North West Regional Competition held in Indiana, where he brought home four First Place Trophies.

In April 2004, Billey competed in nine events at the 2004 World Games held in Athens, Greece. At this prestigious competition, he won five Gold Medals and two Silver Medals plus the Grand championship for his division.

In May 2004, Billey went back to the Indiana Regional and brought home three First Place and two Second Place trophies. He then competed in the Southeastern Regional Tournament held in Knoxville, and won five Gold, two Silver, and one Bronze medals along with the Division Championship.

A First Place in breaking during the NAFMA National Competition made Billey a National Points Champion for 2004. He was awarded the title in a ceremony in Terra Haute, Indiana, on January 22, 2005. He received his award alongside 10 other members of The Arts of the Samurai who also won championships in their divisions.

Billey is brother to four sisters and 6 foster brothers and sisters. He is the father of Ivy (Golden) Coffey, of Morristown, TN, and Billey Golden III, of Tazewell, TN. He is also the grandfather of five.

Billey Golden attended SMMS and CCHS in his youth and is a graduate of East High School "Class of 72", and has attended Walter's State Community Collage. He has a BS/EE in Electronics from ITT Knoxville, served 15 years in the service and is now a retired veteran. Billey devotes most of his spare time to training. He thanks his instructor Toni McSorley, (8th Dan) and Mmdi Myers,(5th Dan) for their coaching and training skills. He also credits fellow students for being there to assist in his training. Billey also thanks his wife Renate for her support and sacrifice of his absences. The support of his children, grand children, parents, parent-in-laws, brothers and sisters of families, relatives, friend, and sponsors all helped to make this happen.

Billey has plans to attend the World Games in Ireland in 2006, and hopes to go on for the 2008 Demo Competition in China. Any martial artist interested in competing in Ireland or in other future competition opportunities and training may contact Sensei Toni McSorley, at the Arts of the Samurai. The phone number is 865-691-4088, and the e-mail address is (info@artsofthesamurai.net)