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 Ivan

Dan Ivan Karate and Kobudo

This article by Robert Hunt is about Dan Ivan, martial arts pioneer and icon, taken from their 35 years of friendship and apprenticeship, some long...
Frank Shamrock : Bound by Blood

Frank Shamrock: Mixed Martial Artist

Frank Shamrock is a Champion in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. His accolades include being the first UFC Middleweight Champion and Five-Time Undefeated...

David Ticky Donovan O.B.E.

Born in 1947, David Ticky Donovan O.B.E., is a British karate competitor and coach. He was the coach and manager of both the British...
Eizo Shimabukuro

Eizo Shimabukuro: Shobayashi Shorin-ryu

Eizo Shimabukuro (or Shimabuku) was the younger brother of Tatsuo Shimabuku, the founder of Isshin-ryu Karate. Eizo Shimabukuro was born in the village of...
Ernie Reyes Sr.

Ernie Reyes Sr One of the Greatest Martial Arts Masters

Ernie Reyes Sr was honored as, "One of the Greatest Martial Arts Masters of the 20th Century", on national Television (TNT) produced by Wesley...
Eiichi Miyazato

Eiichi Miyazato: Goju-ryu Karate

Eiichi Miyazato (1922-1999) was a leading Okinawan master of Goju-ryu karate. He was a senior post-war student of Chojun Miyagi, founder of the Goju-ryu...

Tadashi Yamashita: Shorin Ryu

Tadashi Yamashita was born in Japan in 1942, but he considers himself an Okinawan. His father died when he was three, and his mother...
Funakoshi: The Gift of Karate

Gichin Funakoshi: The Great Karate Master

The great karate master Gichin Funakoshi was a key pioneer in the development of modern karate. In fact, he was the "prime mover" in...
Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris: Chun Kuk Do

Chuck Norris has indicated in his own biography that he has black belts in Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, and is founder of...
Kentsu Yabu

Kentsu Yabu: Shorin-ryu Karate

Kentsu Yabu was born on September 23, 1866 in Shuri, Okinawa. He was a prominent teacher of Shorin-ryu karate in Okinawa from the 1910s...

Bill Wallace: Kickboxing

In June 1980 Bill Wallace retired as the undefeated Professional Karate Association (PKA) Middleweight Champion after defeating Bill Biggs in a 12-round bout. This...
Azato Anko

Azato Anko: A Short Story About My Teacher Part One

Azato's School Days and Martial Arts Part One By Gichen Funakoshi Translated & Edited by Patrick & Yuriko McCarthy Editor's Note: This article is the first of two...

Tadashi Abe Aikido With Samurai Roots

Tadashi Abe was born in 1926 and began Aikido in 1942 under the direct supervision of O'Sensei for a period of nine years. He...

Ted Tabura: Lima Lama, Kajukenbo and Kobudo

Born and raised in Hawaii, Shihan Tabura began his martial arts training under his cousin's tutelage in a backyard dojo. Later moving to Southern...
Allen Steen, Larry Ritchie, Skip Mullins

Skipper Mullins Interview

Rated as the number one fighter in 1966 by Black Belt magazine, Skipper Mullins has been involved with Karate for over 35 years and...
Hironori Otsuka

Hironori Ohtsuka and Wado Ryu Karate

Hironori Otsuka, a wiry, white-haired master, drops of sweat glistening across his brow and up the crown of his bald spot, led 40 young...