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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.

Anthony Chan Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame

Anthony Chan

Anthony Chan is a Chinese-American kung fu champion and American choreographer. He was known as the The Wu shu Wizard and is a Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee.
Hidetaka Nishiyama

Hidetaka Nishiyama Passed Away

The International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) is in mourning today.  President and Chairman, Hidetaka Nishiyama passed away on November 7, 2008, at the age...

Yoshiaki Ajari: Wado Ryu Karate

Yoshiaki Ajari was Chief Instructor of the U.S. WadoKai KarateDo Federation (USWKF). Yoshiaki Ajari was born in 1933 in the Japanese village of Minato Mura. At...

Rickson Gracie: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Rickson Gracie (pronounced Hickson), son of Helio Gracie, was born into a Jiu Jitsu family on November 21, 1958. At six years old he...
Ernest Lieb

Ernest Lieb Killed in Train Crash

A world renowned martial arts expert and longtime Muskegon resident, Ernest Lieb killed along with at least 23 people Friday when a high-tech train crashed in...

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...
Joe Hyams

Joe Hyams

Joe Hyams was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on June 6, 1923, and he grew up in nearby Brookline, Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University, but...
Louis Casamassa

Louis Casamassa – Red Dragon Karate

Shi-Han Sensei Louis Casamassa, a 10th degree black belt is Grand Master of Red Dragon Karate and founder of the American Karate Kung Fu...

Ichiro Abe: Judo

Japanese judoka, Ichiro Abe is the head of the Promotions Panel at the Kodokan and he is the former international chairperson of the All...

Jim Harrison: Bushidokan Karate

"Jim Harrison saved my life once... he pulled his punch and inch from my face!" - Chuck Norris Legendary Jim 'Ronin' Harrison is one of...
Joo Bang Lee

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...
Tsutomu Ohshima

Tsutomu Ohshima: Shotokan Karate

Tsutomu Ohshima is the founder and Shihan (Chief Instructor) of Shotokan Karate of America (SKA), and is also recognized as chief instructor of many...

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...

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...
Chuck Norris Walker Texas Ranger

Chuck Norris A Most Popular Action Star

Chuck Norris is without question one of the most popular action stars ever to fill the big screen. And, with his long running hit television...

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.