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.

Dan Severn More Than The Beast

Dan Severn has captured the attention of fight and wrestling fans all over the world since his 1994 debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championships...

Lewis Lizotte: Isshin-Ryu Karate

Lewis Lizotte was born in Caribou, Maine on August 22, 1935. He began studying the martial art of Judo in 1947 when he was...
Bong Soo Han

Bong Soo Han Foremost Practitioner of Hapkido

Grand Master Bong Soo Han is the world's foremost practitioner of Hapkido and is referred to as the Father of Hapkido in the Western...

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...
Frank Shamrock

Frank Shamrock 5-time UFC World Champ

Frank Shamrock became an icon to fight fans all over world when he entered the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s famous squared circle and as the...
Emil Farkas

Emil Farkas: The Man, The Magician, The Martial Artist

At the surface, Emil Farkas' profile is similar to many other sensei's who have been in the arts for half a century. He is...
Choki Motobu

Choki Motobu: Okinawan Karate

Choki Motobu was born on April 5, 1870 and died on April 15, 1944. He was born in Akahira village in the Shuri region...
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...
Peter Urban

Peter Urban: USA Goju

In 1953 Peter Urban was a young sailor when he was introduced to karate in Yokohama, Japan. After training for one year with Sensei...
Bill Wallace

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...
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...

Angi Uezu: Isshin-ryu Karate

Angi Uezu was born January 3, 1935 in Chalan Kiya on the island of Saipan. He is the former head of one of the...
Mike Swain

Mike Swain

Mike Swain is a 5th Degree Black Belt, a Godan, in judo. He was the first American male to win the Judo World Championships when he took the gold medal in 1987. He competed in four Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1988, and a number of World Championships.
Sam Allred's 1972 National Black Belt Grand Championships

Sam Allred: Jukensa Kajukenbo

Above Photo: Top nationally rated U.S. Black Belt competitors of their day, competing in Sam Allred's 1972 National Black Belt Grand Championships. In this...
William Chow

William Chow: Kara-Ho Kenpo

William Chow was born as William Ah Sun Chow Hoon on July 3, 1914. He was instrumental in the development of martial arts in the...

Jim Kelly: Shorin-Ryu Karate

Jim Kelly was born on May 5, 1946 in Paris, Kentucky. He grew up there, but later moved to San Diego, where he developed...