Martial artists collect accolades

COSTA MESA — Something happened to Randy Couture Saturday night in Costa Mesa that would surely shock his legion of fans.

The reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, whose success in the UFC octagon has made him one of the marquee names in mixed martial arts, was forced to blink under the deluge of flashbulbs triggered by the shutter fingers of a handful of admirers in attendance at the Masters 2007 Hall of Fame Awards banquet at the Hilton Hotel.

The event, put on by the Masters Hall of Fame and Academy of Masters, recognized Couture, as well as UFC President and part-time Newport Beach resident Dana White, for their contributions to the martial arts.

Dozens of others were also honored, some for a lifetime of achievement in teaching and/or competing, at the ninth annual event.

The Masters Hall of Fame was founded in 1999 with the intent to honor those contributing to the advancement of martial arts.

David Dye, the Masters Hall of Fame public relations director, is among those at the center of the organization, which has chosen Costa Mesa as the site of most of its annual awards celebrations.

Dye, 62, retired from the Costa Mesa Police Department, can appreciate those who have devoted themselves to the martial arts.

“I have red hair and when I was about 16, I was getting picked on a lot in school in Inglewood,” Dye said. “My dad had a wrestling background, so he suggested I take judo. I cleaned the dojo to pay for my lessons.”

Dye moved to Orange County in 1964 and joined the Costa Mesa PD in 1966. With a fifth-degree black belt in judo and Jiu Jitsu, a third-degree black belt in Karate and a 10th-degree black belt in Shukan Ryu, he has been teaching martial arts for more than 40 years.

In addition to members of the public, Dye has offered instruction to fellow police officers. He currently teaches a Samurai Cop self-defense class in Costa Mesa.

Dye said his martial arts knowledge helped him many times during his days in law enforcement.

“Any time I put my hands on someone to take them into custody, I was relying on my [martial arts training],” Dye said.

Training and teaching is a point of emphasis for the Masters Hall of Fame, a point guest speaker and UFC referee “Big John” McCarthy reiterated.

McCarthy, who competed in boxing and wrestling before embracing the martial arts, told about 300 in attendance Saturday that those who teach martial arts can make their students’ dreams come true.

White, whose stewardship of the UFC has helped put martial arts further into the mainstream, did not attend due to what Dye said were travel difficulties.

Masters Hall of Fame President Daniel Hect said White was a worthy honoree.

“I believe everyone who owns a dojo should thank Dana White,” Hect said.

Dye said the UFC is the latest advent to help spike interest in the martial arts.

“In the past, it was Bruce Lee, the ‘Kung Fu’ television series and movies with Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal,” Dye said. “When [Seagal’s] “Above the Law” movie came out [in 1988], my number of students increased 35%.”

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.