Back in the mid-1960s I was a member of Ed Parker’s demo team and often demonstrated the Black Belt Set (now known by most as the Two Man Set) with a brown belt named Jimmy (“Little Jimmy”) Doughtery. Jimmy and I had that form down to a science. One afternoon Ed Parker gave a demonstration at a health club where everyone was gathered around the pool area. Near the end of the demonstration, Jimmy and I were called upon to perform the Black Belt Set. Jimmy walked to a specific spot and waited for me to take position. When we ended the form with my executing the lock-out side kick, Jimmy’s block was right on the money, and as he spun me around 180 degrees, much to my horror I found my left foot positioned at the edge of the pool. It was too late, and in I went with a huge splash. It got a great laugh and most everyone probably felt it was prearranged. It wasn’t. Later Jimmy confessed that he had arrived at the club early and mapped out the form and had positioned himself at the outset in the very spot he knew would land me in the pool.
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