Karate College 2010

Karate College 2010

World Renowned Professors of the Martial Arts

Karate College is the perfect place to update your skills and knowledge of RBMA (Reality-based Martial Arts), MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and TMA (Traditional-based Martial Arts). Instruction is designed to teach the latest in BJJ, MMA, and RMA skills to traditional and non-traditional martial school members. Regardless of the style you practice you’ll find new ways to improve your skills. Karate College is “like the Disney World of martial arts; everywhere you look there is something that catches your eye.”

Mixed Martial Arts: Karate College has become a must-attend camp for practitioners of Renzo Gracie style BJJ . This is the one camp that Renzo declares “I can’t miss”. Renzo was the original World Combat champion and was undefeated in UFC competition. His school in NYC has a membership of 1000+ students. It is indeed an honor to have Renzo Gracie on the Karate College faculty as head of our BJJ/MMA program.

Special MMA guest for 2010 is former UFC World Champion Matt “The Terror” Serra. This is Matt’s second visit to Karate College. In 2008, Master Serra was voted one of our most popular teachers ever.

Joining Renzo and Matt is the World Sport Jujitsu champion and former UFC competitor Paul Creighton. Paul is a black belt in Renzo Gracie BJJ (and former classmate to Matt Serra) and a graduate of Radford University with a M.S. in Exercise, Sport and Health Education. Paul’s classes have continued to be high energy.

Rounding out the MMA program we feature the nationally acclaimed author, Black Belt magazine columnist and MMA video artist Mark Hatmaker. When Mark joined the faculty a few years ago as head of Submissions Wrestling, few outside the region had heard of him. Marks best selling book and DVD titles include No Holds Barred, Savage Strikes, Fighting from the Clinch, and Boxing Mastery. Today Mark has become a celebrity in the field.

Reality-Based Martial Arts: In the 1960’s, black belt karate master Johnny Kuhl wrote a popular column for Official Karate magazine called “Out of the dojo; into the streets.” Readers wanted to know how they could best apply their martial arts skills should they be victims of street aggression. It seems like martial arts practitioners always have been divided into those who enjoyed sports competition and those who practiced their martial art for use in self defense. Bruce Lee was among those who practiced and taught martial arts not as a sport but for street defense. Today we use the term “Reality Martial Arts” to identify the ever increasing interest in this fascinating field of martial arts education.

Heading our RMA program is Black Belt Hall of Fame member Mike Lee Kanarek. Mike was first a member at our Radford JKD camp in 1993. Since that time he has built an enviable reputation as a master instructor who puts reality in every class. Mike’s training includes action in Israel’s elite fighting forces. This experience led to the creation of the Haganah system. Mike tells us that he only attends two martial arts camps per year. Karate College is honored to have Master Kanarek on staff.

Long before RMA became a buzz word in the industry Michael DePasquale, Jr. was performing his art of street combat jujitsu. Mike’s father was the Black Belt Fall of fame member and founder of jujitsu on the east coast, Michael DePasquale, Sr. Mike Jr. had no choice as a kid but to learn jujitsu. No one could imagine the level of mastery that Michael Jr. would achieve. He’s been on the cover of magazines, starred in feature movies, authored books and videos, and what’s more his skills are impeccable. Mike was on the staff of the first Karate College1988 and has been with us every year since.

The name “street combat karate” is owned by the former world heavyweight karate champion Joe Hess. Joe’s been in movies, written books, and retired from Florida’s elite police academy as defense tactics instructor. Joe Hess is an expert on all sorts of martial arts weapons. What’s more, he’s put them to use on the streets. Joe is joined by good friend and associate Bill D’Urso. These gentlemen have enjoyed successful careers in the defensive tactics and personal protection industry. They put “reality” in the martial arts.

Our special reality-based martial arts professor is video artist and book author Burton Richardson. Sifu Richardson ranks among the country’s top experts in the reality-based fighting style of the late martial arts screen legend, Bruce Lee. Burton is certified by Dan Inosanto and the reality-based “Dog Brothers” system of Filipino kali.

          

Tradition-based Martial Arts: Nowadays, it seems everyone is practicing a mix of traditional martial arts from different countries. We have categorized our traditional, classical, and not so classical martial arts offerings under this banner. The professors teach their traditional cultural arts with a focus on either reality-based self defense or competitive mixed-style martial arts and kickboxing.

Japanese/ Okinawan Arts: The legendary undefeated  (23-0) full contact karate champion Bill "Superfoot" Wallace has anchored our Japanese/Okinawan arts section since his first appearance at Karate College in 1988. Always a crowd favorite, GM Wallace continues to excite audiences with his exceptional kicking expertise as he teaches his unique style of competition skills.

We are pleased to have returning Aikido professor John Miller, who will bring this art to camp. John’s approach to aikido includes finesse and power. He maintains the traditional feel of Aikido with the reality approach preferred by modern aiki proponents.

Special guest for the Japanese/Okinawan arts is GM Dr. Christian Harfouche, 10th Dan. Dr. Harfouche has appeared on numerous martial arts magazine covers and is among the most popular video instructors. GM Harfouche is in demand as a speaker and travels internationally on a monthly basis. His skills and technique have been called “perfection” by experts in the field.

Korean martial arts: Heading our Korean martial arts department is our own Dr. Jerry Beasley. Dr. Beasley joined the American Moo Duk Kwan Council in 1968, and in 2002 became 9th Dan and a Chief Master of the organization. A columnist for Taekwondo Times magazine and a member of the prestigious Black Belt magazine Hall of Fame, Dr. Beasley has become a nationally acclaimed martial arts author and video artist. He was named among the top 20 Korean-based martial arts practitioners in Black Belt magazine. Dr. Beasley’s instruction is reality-based for self defense.

Sin Moo Hapkido grandmaster Scott Yates, 8th Dan. Master Yates has become a Karate College favorite with his expert displays of hapkido technique. Hapkido, combining TKD kicks and jujitsu locks and throws, first became famous in the U.S. in the early 1970’s. The leading style is sin moo represented by the GM Ji Han Jae lineage traced to GM Scott Yates.

GM Jim Sams developed the art of Sajido after many decades of research and training in various Korean based martial arts systems. GM Sams has become one of the most popular professors at Karate College. In 2009, GM Sams was presented the 8th Dan during the Karate College graduation ceremony. The certificate was authorized by Aikia and signed by the major professors.

GM Danny Chapman, 8th Dan, also is a member of this division. GM Chapman has been a long time professor for the Karate College and specializes in advanced tournament techniques. Like GM Sams, GM Chapman has earned the accolades associated with being one of the most popular teachers at camp each year.

Returning this year is the WTF/AAU world champion Kimber Johnson. Master Johnson displays flawless technique, including the often mentioned but rarely mastered vertical side kick. A professional school owner Master Johnson makes her fourth appearance as professor of Korean-based arts.

Master Jimmy Miller of Petal, MS. Master Miller does not come alone. He brings with him his professional taekwondo performing team. Their Saturday night demos have become a standard tribute to the popularity of Korean martial arts.

Rounding out the TMA program is Dr. Ian Marshall, a 5th dan in tang soo do certified by Aikia.. Dr. Marshal is a middle school principal and teaches his traditional tang soo do program for real life situations. It’s down and dirty self defense where anything goes.

Chinese martial arts: GM Willie “Bam” Johnson is perhaps the greatest kung-fu champion of all time. “Bam” knows street fighting like he knows competition. He’s been there. He’s done that. He’s also written books, starred in the popular Martial Arts Masters TV show and been inducted into the Black Belt hall of fame. When it comes to Chinese martial arts you can put Willie “Bam” Johnson’s name at the very top. Come to think of it, he fits at the top of just about any list! Bam’s demos have been recognized worldwide.

Our Sunday program has for the last few years been headed by GM Simon Kwon and his master level protégés James Houston and Jason McNeil. Mr. Houston and Mr. McNeil are both graduates of the Radford University and star in their own production called “Sidekick Cinema”. GM Kwon’s classes include demos and high level skills.

Completing the Chinese-based arts division is Tracey Kenpo master Rick Perez. Master Perez is a member of the prestigious Kenpo hall of fame. Last year he wowed campers with his flawless display of kenpo hands.

Filipino martial arts: New this year is arnis master John Mayer. Arnis is the Filipino art of stick fighting, which includes training in knife and empty hands. Mr. Mayer is a U.S. special agent to the country of Guam. While stationed in Guam he has mastered the arnis system and is authorized to teach.

Special Programs

23rd Anniversary Celebration 1988 - 2010