Tatsuo Shimabuku: Isshin-Ryu Karate
Tatsuo Shimabuku (Shinkichi Shimabuku) was born in Chan, Okinawa on September 19, 1908 and died May 30, 1975. He began his study of karate...
Leo Fong Has Passed Away
Leo Fong was a pioneer in Chinese martial arts in America. He developed his own approach called Wei Kuen Do. He was also an author and martial arts film star.
Fumio Demura Has Passed Away
In 1961 Shihan Fumio Demura won the National Kumite title of Japan. He was now teaching karate in Tokyo, but had the desire to come to the United States.
Wally Slocki: Canada’s Best Fighter
When Wally Slocki began teaching karate during the 60s, challengers occasionally sauntered into karate schools. They would grin derisively, size up the instructor, and...
The Raymond McCallum Story
In the late 70's and early 80's, Raymond McCallum and I were the top two nationally-rated point-fighters in the US. While I barely maintained...
Richard Norton: Zen do Kai Karate
Richard Norton is a martial arts icon, body guard to the rich and famous and an international movie star. A man to be envied.
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...
Helio Gracie: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
At the age of 17, Helio Gracie (pronounced Eh'leeo) first stepped into the ring in Brazil to face a boxer named Antonio Portugal. Helio...
SGM Pete Morales
Pete Morales was born in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. He began his martial arts training under Jiro Nakamura and Clarence Takinuma. In 1959 he received...
Seisho Arakaki: Okinawan Martial Arts
Seisho Arakaki was born in 1840 in either Kumemura, on Okinawa Island, or on the nearby island of Sesoko. He was a prominent Okinawan martial...
Isao Obata: Shotokan Karate
Isao Obata was born in 1904 in the Tokyo area of Japan. He was Japanese pioneer master of Shotokan karate. He was a senior...
Angel Cabales: Serrada Escrima
Angel Cabales was born in the Philippines on October 4, 1917 and he moved to the United States in late 1939. He is acknowledged...
Pat Johnson Tang Soo Do
If you don't believe Pat Johnson deserves to be Black Belt magazine's 1995 Instructor of the Year, you try teaching turtles how to fight.
Among...
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...
Diana Lee Inosanto: Martial Arts Royalty
Diana Lee Inosanto is as close to martial arts royalty as you can get. She's the daughter of living martial arts legend, Dan Inosanto, and...
Yoshimi Osawa: Judo
Japanese judoka Yoshimi Osawa was born March 6, 1926 in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He is one of only three living Kodokan 10th dan...
