Who's Who

Who’s Who in the martial arts on USAdojo.com shares biographies and articles about the Founders, the Masters, the Pioneers, the Competitors and the “Stars” of the martial arts.

Gokor Chivichyan Judo Great

Gokor Chivichyan Judo Great

Gokor Chivichyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia in 1963. He is an Armenian Judo, submission grappling, and mixed martial arts instructor who currently trains...

George Dillman: Ryukyu Kempo Tomari-te

George Dillman is a 9th degree Black Belt in Ryukyu Kempo Tomari-te who was honored by Black Belt Magazine as "1997 -- Instructor of...

Earnest Hart Jr. Top Ten Kickboxer of All Time

Earnest Hart, Jr. is a world class martial artist champion, physical fitness trainer, actor and seminar specialist. In the ring Mr. Hart earned a...

7-Year-Old Andre Magnum Wows Monks at The Shaolin Temple

The first thing you notice about Andre Magnum is his untamable, flaming, orange hair. The next thing you notice is his contagious amount of...
Paul de Thouars

Paul de Thouars: KunTao Silat

Pendekar Paul de Thouars was the founder of the KunLun Pai and the was the leading kuntao proponent in the world until his death...

Gilbert Tenio

Grandmaster Gilbert Tenio taught Tenio Decuerdas Eskrima. The system was developed on the island of Bohol in the Phillipines. He incorporated 19 systems into...
Emilio Bruno

Emilio Mel Bruno: Judo

Mel Bruno received his first degree Black Belt from Jigaro Kano in 1935. In 1954, he was recommended by Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder...
Grappling Legend "Judo" Gene LeBell

“Judo” Gene Lebell

Called “the toughest man alive” by his peers, Judo Gene LeBell has been a martial arts icon for decades. At age 12 he began training...
Judo 10th Dan Holders

Judo 10th Dan Holders

The following individual are Judo 10th Dan holders. A 10th Degree Black Belt is the highest rank in the Judo world. Japanese Kodokan 10th Dan...
Hwang Kee

Kee Hwang: Tang Soo Do

Kwan Jang Nim Kee Hwang was born on November 9, 1914, in Jang Dan, Kyong Ki province where the DMZ is currently located. His...

Mike Stone

Mike Stone was born in Makawao, Maui, Hawaii in 1944. He has used his martial arts training in many different professions including as a...

Cung Le: Pound for Pound One of the Most Exciting Fighters

In 1975, three days before the fall of Saigon, Cung Le and his mother Anne escaped Vietnam by helicopter under heavy gun fire. They...

Billy Blanks: Tae Kwon Do

Billy Blanks is a world karate champion, actor, author, motivator, philanthropist and humanitarian. Billy Blanks was born the fourth of 15 children to Isaac and...
Teruo Chinen

Teruo Chinen: An Ancient Man in a Modern World

As the Arizona night descended around us in a blanket of warm desert hues, the yellow light from a kerosene yard lantern danced across...
Shojiro Sugiyama

Shojiro Sugiyama: Shotokan Karate

Shojiro Sugiyama was born on November 16, 1929. He was a Japanese karate instructor. In 1954, after training in two other styles of karate,...
Sid Rayford and Sid Campbell

Hanshi Sid Campbell Receives Final Promotion

Hanshi Sid Campbell, after a lengthy illness with cancer, passed away in the Highland Hospital in Oakland, California on Monday, August 18, 2008. In...