Jean-Claude Van Damme
1960 - 1972
Jean-Claude Van Damme (Jean-Claude Van Varenberg) was born and grew up in Brussels, on October 1960. This large European city is the...
Joo Bang Lee and Hwa Rang Do
The chivalry of Hwa Rang endured throughout the Silla and Koryo dynasties and it was the force that unified the Korean peninsula and helped form...
Gordon Franks: Karate
Gordon Franks is a 9th Degree Black Belt with over 35 years of experience in the martial arts. He earned his Black Belt in...
Bruce Tegner – The Forgotten Pioneer of American Martial Arts
Emil Farkas shares why, to him, Bruce Tegner was the most important person responsible for the spread and the growth of karate in the United States.
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...
The History of James Mitose’s Martial Arts
James Mitose remains the one truly enigmatic figure in all the history of Kempo. James Masayoshi Mitose was born on December 30th, 1916 in...
Glenn Wilson: Bok Leen Pai Kenpo
Glenn Wilson was born to Native American and European parents in the early 1950s in Orlando, Florida. His father’s affiliation with the Air Force...
Tadashi Abe Aikido With Samurai Roots
Tadashi Abe represented the AIKI-KAI HOMBU and was the first full time Aikido Master in Europe and one of the first to teach outside of Japan.
Michael DePasquale Sr.: Ju-jitsu
Michael DePasquale Sr. was one of the true pioneers of martial arts in the United States. He began his study of the martial arts...
Bill Superfoot Wallace
All anyone in the martial arts has to say is “Superfoot” and instantly the image of Bill Superfoot Wallace emerges. This martial arts champion became...
John Graden
John Graden is an author, athlete, publisher and pioneering martial arts visionary, and is recognized as an important martial arts leader in this decade....
Masatoshi Nakayama: Shotokan Karate
Masatoshi Nakayama was the first Shotokan practitioner to be awarded his 9th dan while still alive and he was awarded his 10th dan after...
Master Seiko Higa In My Memories
I joined Itoman Dojo, a karate academy of Master Seiko Higa, in October 1952. At that time, the Dojo was located in front of Itoman Elementary School.
Shugoro Nakazato: Shorin Ryu Karate
Shūgorō Nakazato was born in Nahn-city Okinawa on August 14, 1919. While attending normal school in Osaka Japan in 1935, he began his study of...
Rick Stanford – Taekwondo
Rick Stanford is an Internationally certified and fully accredited 9th Degree Black Belt sanctioned and recognized by the highest-level organizations and Grandmasters in the world.
Chuzo Kotaka: Kotaka-Ha Shito-ryu Karate
Chuzo Kotaka was born on November 11, 1941 in Hyogoken, Japan. He began studying karate at the age of seven under Sensei Genryu Kimura....
