Sherman Bergman

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Sherman "Big Train" Bergman

Statistics
Realname Sherman Bergman
Nickname Big Train
Height 5 feet 10 inches.
Weight Middleweight
Nationality Flag of the United States American
Birth date unavailable
Birth place Miami Beach, Florida
Style Kickboxing
Team Team Bergman, trainer Hank Bergman
Kickboxing Record
Total fights 60
Wins 53
Wins by KO 53
Losses 7
Draws 0
No contests 0

Sherman Bergman (nicknamed "Big Train" for his locomotive-like fighting style) is the only U.S. kickboxer to have fought Jean-Claude Van Damme during the Golden Age of Kickboxing, the 1980s.

Contents

[edit] Martial Arts

Bergman is trained in the martial arts of French Savate and Japanese Jujitsu. He cross-trained in traditional Western Boxing. Bergman is a certified Black-Belt instructor with the American Federation of JuJitsu.

[edit] Full-Contact Karate

In the early 1970s, kickboxing in the United States was known primarily as Full-Contact Karate. Most full-contact matches were attached to traditional martial arts tournaments. Early matches were fought on mats, with fighters wearing their gi and boxing gloves. There was no national sanctioning organization and early fights rarely found their way into the record books. It was under these conditions that Sherman Bergman made his debut.

Fighting on and off from 1976 to 1978, Bergman ran up an undefeated record of first round knockouts. In 1979, he traveled to Orlando, Florida to compete in the World All-Style Karate Organization (WAKO)World Full-Contact Championships. The WAKO was originally formed by German-born martial artist George Bruckner. Based in Berlin, Germany, it later expanded its competitions from Europe to the United States under the guidance of Mike Anderson. The WAKO was classified as an amateur promotion. However, competitors were given "training fees." The first WAKO Full-Contact Tournament was held in Long Beach, California. The WAKO World Full-Contact Tournament held in Orlando required all fighters to participate in two-round tournament style eliminations to determine the year's top ten fighters in each weight division. Judo throws and footsweeps were permitted, but thigh kicks were no. Also, minimum kick requirements were not required. Bouts were held on open mats and not in a ring.

In his first match in the middleweight division, Bergman was knocked out by an axe-kick in the opening round to future action-film star Jean-Claude Van Damme, after knocking down Van Damme with a left hook. In 1980, at the Sunshine State Tournament in Florida, Bergman was defeated by future PKA World Lightheavyweight Kickboxing Champion Gary Daniels.


[edit] Kickboxing

On September 12, 1980, Bergman knocked out Herman Ford in his first "official" kickboxing match. In 1984, Bergman caught the attention of Official Karate Magazine staff writer Barry Harrell. In his column, SOUTHERN EXPOSURE, Harrell wrote, "Sherman (Big Train) Bergman of Miami seems to be one of the best new fighters on his way to the top."

A year later, following a 23 second first round knockout over Thailand's Morsak Muangsu, Harrell wrote, " Many people believe Bergman has the power to beat Alvin "The Million Dollar Baby" Prouder (PKA World Welterweight Champion)."

Bergman suffered a severe eye-lid injury in training and was inactive for over three years. In 1988, He made a comeback and scored five consecutive first round knockouts, including a victory over undefeated Alejandro DasCola (22-0-0) in the 1st round. However, on May 7, 1989, Bergman was knocked out by Carlos Andino in 2 rounds.

Following the defeat to Andino, Bergman attempted a few comebacks, but none brought him the success of his earlier years. According to various magazine and newspaper articles, Bergman was a purposed opponent for world champions Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Don "The Dragon" Wilson, and Alvin Prouder, but none of the matches ever materialized.

Bergman announced his retirement in May 2004 due to a severe case of kidney stones which lead to a kidney ailment. However, he launched a comeback a few months later, only to be knocked out in 3 rounds by Jean-Paul Sartet.

[edit] Amateur Boxing

From 1973-1983, Bergman compiled a 17-4 (17 knockouts) amateur boxing record. He competed in 4 Golden Gloves Tournaments, and lost to Florida boxing champions Larry Byrd and Cornelious Drane. Bergman was trained by his father Hank from 1973-1979, Jose Maceo in 1980, and Gary Ritter and Eddie Ludlow in 1981.

[edit] Educational Career

Bergman has been a Florida state certified school teacher since 1981. He was an Honors Graduate of Miami Dade College, has a BA in Psychology from Florida International University, and a Master of Science Degree from Nova Southeastern University.

[edit] Acting

Worked in both motion picture and theater productions after studying acting with drama coach Jay W. Jensen.

[edit] Coaching

Bergman taught and mentored four South American martial artists who competed in Florida. Jeronimo Solis won the Florida NASKA Championship (Brown Belt), and was a 3-time Miami Open point-fighting champion. Luis Carvalho was a 3rd Degree Black-Belt and 9-time Chile Karate Champion. Martin Rebollo and Derwin Portilla were both Miami Open point-fighting champions.

[edit] References

  • http://www.amfedjujitsu.com/AFJinstructors.html
  • http://www.phimanh.net/news-dien-vien/2007/12/3b9ae65c/-29k-
  • Tre Today News (Xuat Tinh Som), December 31, 2007: "SAO" & "SAO": JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME.
  • Miami Herald, Sunday, October 3, 2004, Neighbors MB, page 32: KARATE CHAMPS.
  • Miami Herald, August 18, 2002, NeighborsBC, page 28 MB: ESOL STUDENTS PLACE IN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.
  • Miami Herald, Sunday, August 13, 2000, Neighbors MB, page 4: INSTRUCTOR MARTIALS HIS STUDENTS TO SUCCEED by Melisma Cox.
  • EDWORKS, Premiere '99, page 6: FACULTY FOCUS-HE'S A WINNER!, IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE RING.
  • Black Belt Magazine, September 1998, page 168: LETTERS: UFC WIN SPURS COMEBACK.
  • News For You, October 2, 1996, page 4: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE, by Marlene Santiago.
  • Miami Herald, Thursday, September 24, 1998, 4, Neighbors MB: BOXER'S REAL KICK IS TEACHING.
  • Miami Herald Thursday, September 24, 1998, Neighbors NMB: BOXER'S REAL KICK IS TEACHING ENGLISH, by Moshe Alexenberg.
  • Fundacao USA Brasil, December 1993, page 3, CHAMPION OUR CHAMPION, by Vera Lins Ferst.
  • Miami Herald, Sunday, September 22, 1991 MB, page 38: TEACHER GETS HIS KICKS IN CLASSROOM AND RING, by Johnny Diaz.
  • Miami Herald, July 12, 1990, 6, Neighbors MB: KICKBOXER INSPIRES STUDENTS, by Johnny Diaz.
  • The Trendsetter, Vol. 2, No. 1, September/October 1989, page 5: INSPIRATION.
  • Miami Herald, September 29, 1988, Neighbors MB: NEIGHBORS IN SPORTS-SHERMAN BERGMAN IS ON THE COMEBACK TRAIL, by Jeremy Kroll.
  • Official Karate Magazine, November 1985, page 14: SOUTHERN EXPOSURE by Barry Harrell.
  • Official Karate Magazine, November 1984, page 14: SOUTHERN EXPOSURE by Barry Harrell.
  • Miami Herald, February 24, 1983, Sports, page 8E: BOXING: WATSON STOPS GRAY IN THIRD.
  • Miami Herald, February 11, 1982, Sports: ADVANCE IN GLOVES QUALIFYING.
  • Miami Herald, February 22, 1981, Sports: HICKS IS A KNOCKOUT IN GOLDEN GLOVES CARD.
  • Miami Herald, March 6, 1980, Sports: VETERANS BOW OUT EARLY.

[edit] Kickboxing Record: 53-7 (53 knockouts)

Date Opponent Result Method Weight Event


07/04/1976 Flag of the United StatesWilver (Rio) Johnson Won Knockout 1 round Featherweight Division (USKA) United States Karate Association
??/??/1979 Flag of BelgiumJean-Claude Van Damme Lost Technical Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division (WAKO)World All-Style Karate Organization World Full-Contact Championships/Orlando, FL
03/04/1980 Flag of EnglandGary Daniels Lost Decision 3 rounds Light-Middleweight Division Sunshine State Tournament
09/12/80 Flag of the United States Herman Forde Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Welterweight Division (WAKO)World All-Style Karate Organization
12/31/80 Flag of the United StatesMac Burgess Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Welterweight Division (WAKO)World All-Style Karate Organization
09/07/81 Flag of the United StatesRobert James Won Technical Knockout 1 round Welterweight Division (USKA) United States Karate Association
12/30/81 Flag of the United StatesAnthony Maradi Won Technical Knockout 1 round Welterweight Division (WAKO) World All-Styles Karate Organization
01/04/82 Flag of the United StatesBradford Beasley Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightweight Division (USKA) United States Karate Association
02/15/83 Flag of the United StatesAnton Machado Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division (SAL)South-Eastern League (Karate Open)
03/17/83 Flag of the United StatesRandolph Cole Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division (SAL)South-Eastern League (Karate Open)
07/22/83 Flag of GermanyWalter (Von) McGee Lost Technical Knockout 3 rounds Welterweight Division (SAL) South-Eastern League (Karate Open)
09/01/83 Flag of GermanyWalter (Von) McGee Won Technical Knockout 1 round Welterweight Division (SAL) South-Eastern League (Karate Open)
07/14/84 Flag of the United StatesS.Q.Allen Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Welterweight Division 14th Annual Ohio Open Karate Tournament/Fostoria High School/Fostoria, Ohio
9/01/84 Flag of the United StatesMicheal Buck Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Welterweight Division Southeast Open Kenshin Kan Karate Tournament/Bradenton Municipal Auditorium/Bradenton, FL
10/27/84 Flag of JapanToshi Ryu Won Knockout 1 round Super-Welterweight Division Goju-Shorin Southeastern Karate Classic/Greenville, N.C.
07/14/85 Flag of ThailandMorsak Muangsu Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division 3rd Annual Ardmore Karate Tournament/Ardmore, OK
09/15/88 Flag of BrazilAlejandro DasCola Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division Region 9 Florida State Karate Championships
09/17/88 Flag of ChileMauro (Turk) Vasquez Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division All-Southern States Kickboxing Open
09/19/88 Flag of the United StatesJim Rimmer Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division (USKA)U.S. Karate Association
09/21/88 Flag of the United StatesCobey Cobsen Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight IE-Independent Event
09/27/88 Flag of the United StatesRusk Ryall Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight (JCL)Jujitsu Combat League All-Comers Open
05/07/89 Flag of CubaCarlos Andino Lost Knockout 2 rounds Heavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
05/20/90 Flag of CubaCarlos Andino Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
07/14/90 Flag of CubaCarlos Andino Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
07/21/90 Flag of the United StatesLloyd Langan Won Knockout 1 round Lightheavyweight Division All-Comers Kick-Boxing Competition
07/26/90 Flag of BrazilMario Wilfredos Won Knockout 3 rounds Lightheavyweight Division Campaeo de Kick-Box
08/20/90 Flag of the United StatesBunny Tarangelo Won Knockout 1 round Light-Heavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
08/02/91 Flag of BrazilMario Wilfredos Lost Knockout 3 rounds Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
10/11/91 Flag of BrazilMario Wilfredos Won Knockout 1 round Super-Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
08/31/96 Flag of BrazilBernardo Jua Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Middleweight Division GKA Kickboxing Tournament
07/05/98 Flag of the United StatesJay Prazek Won Technical Knockout 1 round Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
08/17/98 Flag of the United StatesPatrick Beckman Won Technical Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/01/99 Flag of the United StatesNeal Draden Won Technical Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/18/99 Flag of the United StatesLee Mills Won Technical Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/27/99 Flag of the United StatesPrice Vanzke Won Knockout 2 rounds Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/14/2000 Flag of the United StatesGordon Reynolds Won Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/23/2000 Flag of the United StatesJoel Gomez Won Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/30/2000 Flag of the United StatesRichard North Won Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
02/14/2000 Flag of BrazilMario Wilfredos Won Knockout 2 rounds Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
03/31/2000 Flag of BrazilMario Wilfredos Won Knockout 2 rounds Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
04/30/2000 Flag of the United StatesDan Troy Won Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
05/04/2000 Flag of the United StatesFrank (Happening) MaHarris Won Knockout 1 round Cruiserweight Division IE-Independent Event
12/25/2001 Flag of ArgentinaFelix (Karloff) Rios Lost Technical Knockout 2 rounds Light-Heavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
06/16/2002 Flag of ArgentinaSantiago Vergara Won Technical Knockout 1 round Light-Heavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
06/16/2002 Flag of ArgentinaRicardo Massi Won Technical Knockout 1 round Light-Heavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
06/16/200 Flag of ArgentinaJuan Montenegro Won Technical Knockout 1 round Light-Heavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
07/04/2002 Flag of ArgentinaEnrique Balquero Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
08/04/2002 Flag of ArgentinaNicolas (T-Bird) Torres Won Knockout 2 rounds Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
08/04/2002 Flag of ArgentinaMarcelo Benazzi Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
01/19/2003 Flag of ArgentinaMolo Avendando Won Knockout 1 round Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Indepent Event
01/19/2003 Flag of ArgentinaJohnny (Rebelde) Portilla Won Knockout 2 rounds Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event
03/27/04 Flag of ArgentinaJohnny (Rebelde) Portilla Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
05/02/2004 Flag of ArgentinaTopo Montoya Won Technical Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
05/02/2004 Flag of ArgentinaRodolfo Salazar Won Technical knockout 1 round Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
05/02/2004 Flag of ArgentinaFelix (Karloff) Rios Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
08/17/2004 Flag of FranceJean-Paul Sartet Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division SWA Muay-Thai Boxing Challenge
08/25/2004 Flag of ArgentinaAngelo Lara Won Knockout 1 round Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
10/01/2004 Flag of FranceJean-Paul Sartet Won Knockout 1 round Light-Heavyweight Division CF Muay-Thai Boxing Open Tournament
11/17/2004 Flag of FranceJean-Paul Sartet Lost Knockout 3 rounds Super-Lightheavyweight Division IE-Independent Event

[edit] Amateur Boxing Record: 17-4 (17 knockouts)

Date Opponent Result Method Weight Event
06/12/1973 Flag of the United StatesDavid "Winnie" Winters Won Knockout 1 round Featherweight Division IE-Independent Event
07/20/1975 Flag of the United StatesJerry "Blue" Wilson Won Technical Knockout 1 round Featherweight Division IE-Independent Event
06/28/1976 Flag of the United StatesDarren Evans Won Technical Knockout 1 round Featherweight Division IE-Independent Event
02/28/1980 Flag of the United StatesJohn Wheeler Won Technical Knockout 1 round Light-Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
03/07/1980 Flag of the United StatesCole McKracken Won Knockout 2 rounds Light-Middleweight Division Southern Amateur Boxing Open
03/19/1980 Flag of the United StatesJames Trainer Won Technical Knockout 2 rounds Light-Middleweight Division Tri-State Tournament
03/19/1980 Flag of the United States"Cowboy" Shane Stephens Won Knockout 1 round Light-Middleweight Division South-Eastern Boxing Smokers
03/30/1980 Flag of the United StatesReggie Roundtree Won Knockout 1 round Light-Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
06/11/1980 Flag of the United StatesMarc Gomez Won Knockout 1 round Light-Middleweight Division IE-Independent Event
09/30/1980 Flag of the United StatesAlbert "Chewy" Fernandez Won Knockout 3 rounds Welterweight Division IE-Independent Event
10/07/1980 Flag of the United StatesRon "Blacula" Walker Won Technical Knockout 3 rounds Welterweight Division All-Southern Amateur Boxing Challenge
01/30/1981 Flag of the United StatesJudson "Legs" Khalfouni Won Knockout 2 rounds Welterweight Division IE-Independent Event
02/06/1981 Flag of the United StatesJohnny D'Arbanville Won Knockout 1 round Welterweight Division Central Florida Boxing Tournament
02/21/1981 Flag of the United StatesLarry Byrd Lost Technical Knockout 1 round Welterweight Division South Florida Regional Golden Gloves/Coconut Grove, FL
02/01/1982 Flag of the United StatesChris Quennessen Won Technical Knockout 2 rounds Light-Welterweight Division Southern Silver Gloves
02/10/1982 Flag of the United StatesCornelious Drane Lost Disqualification Light-Welterweight Division 10th Annual South Florida Golden Gloves, North Miami Beach, FL
02/23/1983 Flag of the United StatesWillie(KO) McGee Lost Default Light-Middleweight Division (Southern Regional) South Florida Golden Gloves, North Miami Beach, FL

[edit] External links