Emin Boztepe

Emin Boztepe
Born 17 July 1962
Eskişehir, Turkey
Residence Los Angeles, United States of America
Style Wing Chun, Escrima
Teacher(s) Keith R. Kernspecht, Leung Ting
Website Emin Boztepe Martial Arts System

Emin Boztepe (born 17 July 1962) is an American martial artist of Turkish origin who held German nationality prior to naturalization.[1] He first came to prominence for his fight in 1986 with noted Wing Chun practitioner William Cheung,[2] and he continued to gain attention in the 1990s with a public challenge of the Gracie family.[2][3] He was a notable member of Leung Ting's Wing Tsun organisation until 2002, when he formed his own organisation.

Early life

Boztepe was born in Eskişehir, Turkey, the second of six children. At the age of four, his family, originally from Bağlıca village of Emirdağ,[4] moved to Germany.[5] According to Boztepe, his early days in Germany were difficult due to his Turkish heritage—he was a constant target for racial insults and, more often than not, verbal abuse would escalate into physical abuse. Martial arts became something of a necessity and his father urged him to begin training. Boztepe recalled, "Germany was not the healthiest place for a young Turk in those days of growing racism and neo-Nazi movements."[5] He claimed to have been in over 300 street fights,[6] many of them a result of this period,[5] though he also claimed to have not started any of these fights.[6]

Martial arts career

In 1976, at the age of 14, Boztepe began studying martial arts, including judo, Shotokan karate, wrestling, Muay Thai, and traditional boxing.[6] During this period, he also fought as an amateur boxer in 16 matches.[5]

In 1980, Boztepe was attracted to Wing Chun when he saw a demonstration by Keith R. Kernspecht who was teaching in Kiel, Germany.[6] He said, "Wing tsun was, really, love at first sight. And it fit me. For whatever reason, I was a natural at it."[5] Boztepe also began training in Latosa Escrima, which Kernspecht's German Wing Tsun Organization had decided to make part of the family in 1982.[6]

His fight with Traditional Wing Chun Kung Fu master William Cheung in 1986,[2] at a seminar in Germany, caused controversy in the wider Wing Chun community.

After some financial problems occurred with his master, Kernspecht, Boztepe headed to his master's master, Leung Ting, and took special lessons from him until a financial dispute, which caused him to leave the Wing Tsun organisation.[7] Boztepe formed his own organisation, called Emin Boztepe Martial Arts System (EBMAS), afterwards.[8]

Personal life

Boztepe was romantically linked with British actress Jacqueline Bisset from 1997 until 2005.[9] He is known to have dated Zeynep Urgancı, the ex-wife of Turkish businessman Mehmet Urgancı after Bisset.[10] Now he is engaged with Roma Gonzalesáenz a Spanish multifaceted artist (professional photographer, graphic designer, creative director, classic ballet and TV dancer, bass player). From 2006 until present, she is the editor and director of the International Palace Magazine. They met on 1 April 2012 when she went to interview him at a gym in Madrid.

References

  1. ↑ Sadettin Özgenç (April 2011), "EMİN BOZTEPE; "35 YILDIR YOLUMA ÇIKANLARIN SONU HÜSRAN OLDU!"", Siyah Kuşak
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Jim Coleman & Jane Hallander (July 1995), "Royce Gracie vs. Emin Boztepe: Who would win this matchup of Jujutsu and Wing Chun fighters?", Black Belt 33 (7): 52–54, 57
  3. ↑ https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=sv#!msg/rec.martial-arts/QIVQuu9uh0I/7LBoZ5dVMXYJ
  4. ↑ Emirdağlı Ünlüler
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Todd Hester (November 1999), "Emin Boztepe: Kung Fu's 'Natural' Warrior", Martial Arts Combat & Sports: 34–39, 52
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Thomas Nilsson (May 1996), "Emin Boztepe Fighting For Wing Tsun Acceptance", Inside Kung-Fu 23 (5): 40–45, 111–112
  7. ↑ Statement Kernspecht Bozepte
  8. ↑ "New Wing Tsun Organization Formed", Black Belt 40 (7), July 2002: 19–20
  9. ↑ Jacqueline Bisset: A Biographical Sketch
  10. ↑ Sosyetik çifti karateci dağıttı, Hürriyet, 15 September 2005

External links

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