Famous Martial Arts Experts
Martial arts has been embraced by millions of people all over the world as they drew inspiration from some of the famous martial arts experts who have contribute to the craft in many significant and different ways. Some of the famous martial arts experts include:
Itosu Anko : Karate
Known to be “the Grandfather of Karate,” for his work – creating simplified katas and forms for less advanced students, Itosu Anko is credited for helping the art to gain more mainstream acceptance.
Helio Gracie : Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
He is considered the inventor of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, as he took the teachings of Judo and made them less focused on strength but more about leverage. Gracie died in January of 2009 at the age of 95.
Royce Gracie :Brazilian Jiu Jitsu / UFC Tournament
He is Helio Gracie’s son who won three of the first four UFC tournaments, a testament to just how effective Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was – the art his father had invented. He won the tournaments while only weighing approximately 170-180 pounds. At that time there were no weight limits in the tournaments. Royce Gracie’s performance in these early UFC tournaments changed martial arts forever.
Dr. Jigoro Kano : Kodokan Judo
Dr. Kano invented Kodokan Judo at a time when all individualized activities in Japan were waning. Kano’s idea was Kodokan Judo might gain the popularity among martial arts practitioners to make it a sport and become less individualized. He abolished a lot of dangerous Jujutsu techniques and in 1910 Judo became a recognized sport.
Bruce Lee : Jeet Kune Do
Who can ever forget about Bruce Lee? More than an actor, Bruce Lee was a martial arts expert. He founded Jeet Kune Do, a martial arts style designed to live beyond the boundaries of traditional martial arts styles. Lee died in 1973 at a young age of 32.
Morihei Ueshiba : Aikido
He founded Aikido, which is a unique Japanese style of fighting that was peaceful in nature. This craft was about true self-defense, where a fighter uses an opponent’s aggression against them.
Kenshiro Abbe : 8th Dan Judo
Abbe was the master who introduced Kendo, Aikido, Karate, Kyodo, Jukendo, Iaido, Yarido and Naginatado to Europe. He was born in Japan but went to England when he was 40 years old, in 1955. Two years later he had formed British Councils for various martial arts – Judo, Karate and Kendo. Seven years later, the Judo Council was the second largest Judo organization in England.
Mike Anderson : Sport Karate and Kickboxing
Known as the “Father of Sport Karate and Kickboxing”, Mike Anderson is one of the foremost authorities on competitive combat sports, both in the U.S. and internationally. He trained in the Jhoon Rhee system of tae kwon do under Allen Steen and taught karate in Europe. He competed and won the All European Open Karate Tournament four times and the U.S. Armed Forces Karate Championships twice.
Christine Bannon Rodrigues : Kenpo and Wu Shu
As young as 13 years old, she studied Kenpo and Wu Shu never thinking she would reign supreme in the world of martial arts. She earned her black belt when she was 17 years old. In 1991, she became a Triple Crown winner at the WAKO World Championships in England, winning three medals in forms, fighting and weapons. And in 1993, she repeated history as she won the Triple Crown for the second time, convincing the world that her winning was no “freak occurrence”.
To know the most popular martial arts created, you can check this post.