Billy Buch and Sensei Chris Lopez
Mixed Martial Arts Videos on Purefight
Billy Buch and Chris Lopez Jr.
Todd Gentry vs Billy Buch – Aug 22, 2009 New Braunfels, TX
New Braunfels native Billy Buch entered the ring for his cage match against Jimmy Alexander of Dallas on Friday night to the cheers from a home crowd at Gruene Harley-Davidson during Rally on the River last Friday.
Buch, a first-degree black belt in the United States Soryu Karate Federation and member of the Gladiators Academy in New Braunfels, was the hometown favorite as the chants of “Billy! Billy! Billy!” could be heard blocks away.
The din never abated, as for three rounds, Buch clearly dominated Alexander with a swift and powerful onslaught in the third round [win by split decision].
The win improves Buch’s record to 3-0 in mixed martial arts competition.
Buch, 27, began his martial arts career in 1999 when Chris Lopez Jr. brought Buch into the dojo of his father, senior master instructor Chris Lopez.
The younger Lopez had been tutoring Buch in Thai kick box and wanted his father’s help in furthering his friend’s martial arts education.
Buch trained with the senior Lopez for three years and in 2006, Lopez teamed up with wrestling coach Paul Guenther of New Braunfels with the intent of training mixed martial arts students in the art of ground and pound.
When the school closed in its first year, Buch sought out another Lopez student, full contact fighter and master instructor, Jeff Bonugli, the owner of a kick box school in Spring Branch. Buch then began training with UFC fighter Kyle Cress, who quickly adopted Buch as his protégé. Cress, who is ranked by Lopez and Bonugli as a fifth-degree black belt in Soryu Karate, also holds a black belt in Kajukenpo, and has a back ground in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as well. Cress also competed Friday night, inflicting a loss by submission on his opponent, Colt McGinnis of Corpus Christi, in 61 seconds of the first round.
More of the story can be found here http://bit.ly/1htC5g…
Jeff Bonugli, Billy Buch, Chris Lopez (Soryu Karate Federation)
Billy Buch - Ground n Pound
History of the US Soryu Karate Federation
Posted by: Chris Lopez, Jr.
In April of 1967, the state of karate was markedly different from what it is today. While people had a faint idea of what judo was, most knew little of karate aside from what was seen on shows such as The Green Hornet. In the city of Austin, Texas, there were only two schools of instruction; Master Joe Alvarado’s Soryu Karate and Mr. Mike Usselton on the University of Texas. Master Alvarado, a student of Grand Master Michio Koyasu of Sasebo, Japan held the rank of 2nd Dan at that time. Mr. Usselton was a 2nd Dan in Tae-Kwon-Do and a student of the famed Mr. Allen Steen of Dallas (who in turn was taught by Master Jhoon Rhee in 1957 at South West Texas State in San Marcos, Texas). Training with Mr. Usselton was Mr. Eric Whorton, an outstanding 1st Dan. Tony Lasit, a 4th Dan Ka-Ju-Kenbo stylist, had started a school on Bergstrom AFB outside of Austin prior to being transferred. Brown belts were few and far between. There were three in 1967; Mr. Ben Calvo, Mr. Freddie Hernandez, and Mr. Jack Ruckleman.
Master Chris Lopez first began training students in 1971 as a blue belt. It was at this time that he was assigned the duties of self defense instructor at the Austin Police Academy, taking over from Tom Graham, a 2nd Dan Judoka. In September 1973, after a grueling exam, Mr. Lopez was promoted to 1st Dan. Mr. Lopez had a class of 44 students in Austin when he first opened his school in New Braunfels on 14 January, 1974. With the assistance of his wife Ida (who was promoted to 1st Dan in 1975), Mr. Lopez also opened a school in San Antonio.
Mr. Lopez, was one of the original 30 Texas instructors who founded the Amateur Organization of Karate in 1976 At that time, Mr. Lopez was also the promoter of the Lone Star State Karate Championships for several years. This outstanding tournament annual drew some 400 fighters from around the country and Mexico, including several world champions. His tournament was recognized as a first rate event with outstanding judging and first rate competition. It was a “clean” tournament, but fell victim to area politics. Rather than knuckle under, Mr. Lopez shut down the tournament.
In 1975 Jeff Bonugli began training under Master Lopez as a white belt. In 1978 as a green belt, Mr. Bonugli beat the undefeated state champion in the Houston’s Karate Olympics. Mr. Bonugli’s fighting record is impressive ranking number 1 in Texas multiple times. Mr. Bonugli Received his 1st Dan Black Belt in 1979 and in 2008 Master Lopez promoted Mr Bonugli to 8th Dan. He now teaches Mixed Martial Arts in Spring Branch, Texas.
