Martial Arts Legend: Joe Lewis
Joe Lewis (1944–2012) was an American martial artist, full contact kickboxer, and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest karate point fighters of all time. He was a dominant figure in the world of competitive karate and is considered the father of full-contact kickboxing during the 1960s and 1970s. He was nicknamed the “Mohammed Ali of kickboxing.”
Key Facts About Joe Lewis:
Military Background: He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was introduced to martial arts while stationed in Okinawa, where he trained in Shōrin-ryū karate earning his black belt in a mere 7 months!
Tournament Success: He won numerous karate championships, including being a 10-time U.S. National Karate Point Sparring Champion, as well as Kata/form champion.
The Kickboxer Name: In the first ever knockout match that took place on January 17, 1970 Lewis and his opponent entered the ring wearing boxing gloves, whereupon the announcer identified them as "kickboxers". This was the first time that this name was ever used.
Full-Contact Pioneer: Lewis is credited with helping popularize full-contact karate, later known as kickboxing, and became its first world heavyweight champion in 1974.
Bruce Lee Connection: Lewis trained in Jeet Kune Do with Bruce Lee, incorporating Lee’s teachings into his fighting style. His friend and training partner, Lee coined him, "The Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time."
Greatest: In 1983, Lewis was voted by top fighters and fight promoters as the greatest karate fighter of all time, with Chuck Norris and Bill “Superfoot” Wallace tied for second place.
Legend: Lewis was the first kickboxer to be featured in Sports Illustrated magazine. His record as the undisputed United States heavyweight kickboxing champion was a perfect 10–0 with 10 KO's.
Movies: Lewis was both a martial arts coordinator and actor, starring in movies like Jaguar Lives and Force Five.
Legacy
Lewis is remembered for his aggressive fighting style, tactical intelligence, and contributions to modern martial arts and kickboxing. Lewis left behind his own system of martial arts teaching; the Joe Lewis American Karate Systems, which focuses on full-contact fighting. He has been called "the man who brought us Full Contact Karate." His influence extended beyond competition, as he became a respected coach, author, and speaker on martial arts. Lewis conducted many seminars on contact karate over the years and Strickland’s Martial Arts was a proud host. It was an honor to have had trained with such a martial arts legend and Strickland’s Martial Arts continues to use many of the training methods taught by Joe Lewis in our classroom today.
