Fellow Kyokushin champion Andy Hug had recently joined Seidokaikan and won the 2nd Karate World Cup in October and then in 1993 Michael Thompson also joined Seidokaikan. In June 1993, Sam had his first karate fight at the K-1 Sanctuary III a kickboxing tournament promoted by Seidokaikan karate founder Kazuyoshi Ishii.
Andy Hug's joining of Seidokaikan and winning the Karate World Cup in October, followed by Michael Thompson's joining in 1993, and Sam's first karate fight at the K-1 Sanctuary III tournament organized by Kazuyoshi Ishii in June 1993.