But with Gene, life-threatening sagas came in triplicate. At four years old he was macheted by another kid. Well it wasn’t quite as malicious as it sounds but the machete was accidentally aimed to split his head in two. You see, Gene and some other kids were building a Noah’s arc for his church group when another boy was cutting cardboard and accidentally sliced Gene in the head (I really think Gene is missing the boat by not having a “t”-shirt made with a pair of Gene’s boarding an arc). And if that wasn’t enough, at age five Gene got a little to chummy with a pitbull that decided to take a taste of the boy’s face, which turned out to be more severe than the machete job a year earlier. I guess the old adage “What does not defeat me makes me stronger” must apply to this kid.

While most parents might shelter their child by this point, the Middletons however, put their son into karate shortly there after. “It was simply for discipline and something to do” remarked his father. And to top it all off the defiant youngster now owns two pitbulls of his own. I asked him if he feared them. The now 14 year old, emphatically said no, but he said he’s glad he wasn’t the stray hog and cat that wandered into their backyard recently. As Gene started to relate details about finding parts of the cat, I decided to interrupt and continue the interview about his training.

Before I continue I really should comment on his championship instructor, their karate school and its location. They call call Jesup, Georgia their home. Well actually the Middletons live in nearby Ludowici and don’t ask me how to pronounce that, as when I attempt, Gene just makes fun of me. Now down there in Jesup, Georgia they do things a little different. First they speak a different language. Just try to understand what Gene or his karate instructor, Corky Sikes, is trying to tell you! Some say it’s even a different country. Well it is, at least as far as the territory that Corky’s school reaches. This school is an enigma in the heart of redneck Georgia winning the NBL prestigious school of the year award (for the whole world) five times, which is no small feat, the most ever won by an American school. And all this with the least complaining most generous folks you could ask to meet. Yep, they may do things a little different down there in Jesup, but they certainly understand the drive to be karate champions and demonstrate southern hospitality at the same time. Gene says now that he’s grown he has to have surgery on his eyelid to make him “normaler”. What? Normaler? Yes, “that is in the Jesup dictionary” states Middleton.

Gene has never used the excuse of only having one eye as a handicap in competition. In fact I dare say most of his judges are generally unaware one eye is glass. However at Super Grands World Games last year seven judges got first hand exposure to the handicap as Gene’s partner in choreographed self defense plucked out Gene’s eye in front of them, and, of course, this symbolically gave Gene the courage and strength to come back and heroically defeat his large attackers in the skit.

While Gene had fun with his self defense routine, forms and weapons are his real forte. Since he came alive in blackbelt competition in 2005 he has won world titles in creative, musical and Korean forms and creative weapons. And while these accomplishments are merits only obtainable by the most deserving individuals, Gene is quick to credit his instructor, Corky Sikes. Their school “World Class Karate” and team “Strike Force” is drilled till they drop with basics and outrageous karate techniques as well as gymnastics by instructor Sikes. And while Gene says he’s far from winning his last title, he is himself now training others in forms at their school.

Besides a heavy schedule training and competing he keeps an A-B school average and assists his father with his religious ministries.

Middleton is a karate student that would make any instructor proud with a polite “yes, sir” or “no, sir” to every question asked. It’s just that he has this cute devilish smile that comes along with his politeness that makes you want to tease him a little, which, he relishes and is quick to politely return a counter. Ah... but this writer gets the last word this time. So here goes... Gene I’ve figured out why your pitbulls respect you so, it’s those scary ears and oh, yes, those metal incisors when you growl back at them!

I certainly hope I’m retired if he ever has the chance to write a story about me. Go get’um Gene... more world titles that is.