1966:  Begins martial arts instruction in kenpo and Oyama-style karate

1968:  Begins instruction in tae kwon do moo duk kwon (tang soo do) with Master Soo Lee

1971:  Earns 1st dan in tae kwon do under Master Ju Kim; opens tae kwon do school

1972:  Begins ITF-style tae kwon do; opens club at a community college; studies hapkido

1973:  Earns 2nd dan in tae kwon do under Master Hosik Kang; earns B.A. degree in philosophy from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.); begins karate club at Radford University (Radford, Va.)

1974:  Earns 3rd dan in ITF-style tae kwon do from Master James Lee; begins kickboxing and full-contact karate

1975:  Begins study of shaolin kung fu; advances in study of jiujitsu; 1975 National All-Star Taekwon Do Champion

1976:  Studies boxing and judo; 1976 American All-Star National Taekwon Do Champion

1977:  Earns M.S. degree in sociology from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.); promoted to

4th dan tae kwon do

1978:  Publishes first article in Karate Illustrated

1978:  Begins AIKIA

1980:  Earns 5th dan in tae kwon do; opens full-time AIKIA karate studio; earns Doctor of Education degree from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.); begins study of wing chun and tai chi, Continuous advancement in hapkido and tang soo do

1981:  Travels to Raleigh, N.C., to spar with Joe Lewis; becomes Lewis’ student; travels to Charlotte, N.C., to study JKD/kali with Dan Inosanto; receives 2nd dan in hapkido

1982:  Becomes editor of Karate Digest magazine; publishes first book

1983:  Joe Lewis joins AIKIA; AIKIA begins national advertising and promotions

1985:  Takes an assignment as writer/promoter for the American Ninjutsu Federation; receives 6th dan JLAKS (Joe Lewis American Karate Systems)

1986:  Begins multicultural martial arts option at Radford University (Radford, Va.); receives title “Czar of Sport Ninjutsu” from Martial Arts Stars magazine (Los Angeles, Calif.)

1988:  Publishes first JKD book (Paladin Press); begins Karate College summer camp

1989:  Inducted into World Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Ohio) and other halls of fame

1990:  Promoted to 7th dan JLAKS. Introduces the Mixed Martial Arts format at Karate College.

1992:  Largest Karate College draws 485 participants; promoted to 5th dan in jiujitsu/Goshindo; Bill Wallace joins AIKIA

1993:  Publishes third book, Way of No Way; promotes first original JKD camp

1995:  Promoted to 8th dan JLAKS (also signed by Bill Wallace and presented with top-name martial arts personalities in attendance, including Gokor Chivichian)

1996:  Heads college division at World Conference in Washington, D.C., with 108 countries represented. Promoted to Full Professor, Department of Excercise, Sport and Health Education, Radford University.

1997:  Produces through Panther Video a tape series entitled JKD Scientific Street Fighting

1998:  Featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine; promoted to 9th dan tae kwon do (World Headmasters Sokeship Renmei, Europe); JKD Hall of Fame (England)

1999:  Receives 9th dan from Professor Wally Jay and Professor Michael DePasquale, Sr. (IFOJJ), with Joe Lewis and Bill Wallace (who received 10th dan) in attendance

2000:  Receives U.S. patent and trademark for inventing the Road Rage Reducer "Polite-Lite", an inter-vehicular communication device. Publishes "The Jeet Kune Do Experience."

2000: Inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame as "Instructor of the Year."

2001:  Receives 8th dan and becomes president of American Moo Duk Kwan Council as designated inheritor of the system from first (1968) instructor, Grand Master Whitman Davis, 10th dan.

2002:  Publishes "Mastering Karate" for Human Kinetics; Completes a 100k grant for the National Institute of Health on Road Rage

2003:  Introduces first "mixed martial arts" national association (WFMMA) at Karate College.

2004:  Poses for his second Black Belt Magazine cover.

2005:  Develops www.citizensagainstroadrage.org. Whose goal is to establish state chapters to reduce road rage through highway courtesy.

2005: Special Guest Instructor for Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame Reception and Seminars.

2006: Publishes "Jeet Kune Do Experience II" for Paladin Press

2008: Publishes Jeet Kune Do: High-Risk Sparring

2009: Karate College voted the nations #1 martial arts training camp

2009: Publishes Dojo Dynamics: Essential Marketing Principles for Martial Arts Schools

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