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.

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...
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...
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...
Emilio Bruno

Emilio Mel Bruno: Judo

Mel Bruno received his first degree Black Belt from Jigaro Kano in 1935. In 1954, he was recommended by Dr. Jigoro Kano, the founder...

Tino Ceberano: Goju Kai Karate

Tino Ceberano is a Gojukai Goju-ryu karate master (Japanese Yamaguchi-ha) who is a key figure in Australian martial arts history. He is a direct...

Aaron Banks

Aaron Banks was a Grand Master in the martial arts and he made it his personal mission to share the different forms of martial...
David Krapes

David Krapes: Lua and Muay Thai

Raised in Southern California, David Krapes martial arts background spans over a 40-year period. In the late sixties he became a practitioner of San Soo...
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...

Carl Totton: Chinese Kung Fu & Chinese Kenpo

Professor Carl Totton is the founder of the Taoist Institute. He has studied the Chinese healing, spiritual, and martial arts for over 50 years...
Frank Ordonez

Frank Ordonez: Kajukenbo

Frank Ordonez was born February 15, 1927, in Puunene, Maui, Hawaii. As a teenager he trained in Jujitsu and judo from Sam Luke Sr.,...
Sokon Matsumura

Sokon Matsumura: Shorin-Ryu Karate

Sokon Matsumura was born in Yamagawa Village, Shuri, Okinawa. He began his training in karate-do as a young rebellious teen under karate legend Kanga...
Share K. Lew

Share K. Lew: Tao Ahn Pai Kung Fu

A wandering monk from the Wong Lung (Yellow Dragon) monastery a Taoist temple famous for its Kung Fu and medical, healing, and herbal knowledge...

Jack Hwang: Taekwondo

Jack Hwang was born on July 3, 1931 and he began his study of the Korean martial arts in 1941. His uncle, Soun Gyu...

Hirokazu Kanazawa Passed Away Peacefully

Hirokazu Kanazawa was a world-renowned Japanese master of Shotokan karate and the Chief instructor and President of the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation, an organisation...

Kisshomaru Ueshiba: Aikido

Kisshomaru Ueshiba was born on June 27, 1921 in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. He  was a prominent Japanese master of aikido. He was the...
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...