Joe Lewis (martial artist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Lewis |
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| Born | Joe Lewis March 7, 1944 Knightdale, North Carolina, US |
| Died | August 31, 2012 (aged 68) Coatesville, Pennsylvania, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st) |
| Style | Shōbayashi Shōrin-ryū Karate, Matsubayashi-ryū Karate, Kickboxing, Boxing Jeet Kune Do, Ryukyu Kenpo, Tai Chi Chuan, Judo, Folkstyle Wrestling |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Trainer | Eizo Shimabukuro, Chinsaku Kinjo, Seiyu Oyata, Edmund K. Parker, Bruce Lee, Joe Orbillo, Clifford Jewell, Gordon Doversola, Sugar Ray Robinson, Dan Inosanto, Elvis Presley |
| Years active | 1965–1971; 1982–1983 |
| Kickboxing record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 16 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
Joseph Henry Lewis (born March 7, 1944 – died August 31, 2012) was a famous American martial artist, actor, and kickboxer. He was known for his amazing fights in the 1960s and 1970s. People even called him "the Muhammad Ali of karate" because he was so good.
Joe Lewis was voted the greatest fighter in karate history twice! He won many karate tournaments and earned titles like "United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion." He was also the "World Heavyweight Full Contact Karate Champion." His friend and training partner, Bruce Lee, called him "The Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time." Many people also credit him as the "Father of Modern Kickboxing."
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Early Life and Training
Joseph Henry Lewis was born on March 7, 1944, in Knightdale, North Carolina. In 1962, he joined the US Marine Corps. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, from 1964 to 1965.
While in Okinawa, he started studying Shōrin-ryū Karate. He learned from teachers like Eizo Shimabukuro and Seiyu Oyata. Joe Lewis earned his black belt in just seven months! This was very fast.
After returning to the US, he started winning many tournaments. From 1967 to 1968, he trained privately with the famous Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee was a kung fu teacher and the founder of Jeet Kune Do.
Karate Career Highlights
In 1966, Joe Lewis entered his first big tournament, the U.S. Nationals. He had only trained for 22 months! He won the championship by beating seven opponents. He even defeated Thomas Carroll in the final match.
Lewis was the U.S. Nationals grand champion from 1966 to 1969. During this time, he also defeated Chuck Norris. In 1968, Joe Lewis fought in the first "professional" karate tournament ever. It was called the World Professional Karate Championships (WPKC). The rules allowed "heavy contact," meaning fighters could hit harder. Lewis won the tournament and became the first professional karate champion.
In November 1968, Lewis won the World Professional Karate Championships again. He defeated Victor Moore to become the World Heavyweight Champion. In 1970, he won the Heavyweight Championship at the 'Battle of Atlanta'.
Joe Lewis was voted the greatest karate fighter of all time in 1983. Other famous fighters like Chuck Norris and Bill Wallace were second. Many people say Joe Lewis helped bring "full-contact karate" to the world. He stopped competing in tournament karate in 1974.
Kickboxing and Full-Contact Karate
In 1967, Joe Lewis began training with Bruce Lee. He also trained with former boxing champion Joe Orbillo. This helped him improve his fighting skills even more.
In 1970, Joe Lewis made history. He fought in the first-ever kickboxing match in North America. He won by knocking out his opponent, Greg Baines, in the second round. This happened on January 17, 1970.
Lewis defended his United States Heavyweight Kickboxing title many times. He won all 8 of his fights between 1970 and 1971 by knockout! The rules for kickboxing back then allowed punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and foot sweeps.
Joe Lewis was the first kickboxer to be featured in famous magazines like The Ring boxing magazine and Sports Illustrated. He retired as the undefeated United States Heavyweight Kickboxing champion in 1971. His record was 10 wins and 0 losses, all by knockout.
In 1974, a new sport called PKA 'full-contact' karate started. Fighters wore foam hand and foot protection and fought to knockouts. Lewis won the Professional Karate Association (PKA) Heavyweight full-contact karate title. He knocked out Frank Brodar in the second round.
Joe Lewis became a "legend of the karate world." In 1975, he was inducted into the Black Belt magazine Hall of Fame. He was named the 1974 full-contact karate "fighter of the year."
Joe Lewis also acted in movies and on TV. He was briefly married to actress Barbara Leigh. He continued to teach martial arts seminars throughout his life.
Joe Lewis' Fighting Style
Joe Lewis was known for his incredible strength. He had lifted weights and wrestled when he was younger. This made him a very tough opponent. He was also very fast. He could land his powerful side kick on his opponents quickly.
As a karate fighter, Lewis was famous for his lead side kick. People would ask him why he only used that kick. He would say, "Why not? They can't block it." He also had a very fast back fist punch.
After training in boxing with Sugar Ray Robinson and learning Jeet Kune Do from Bruce Lee, Lewis became even better. He learned how to control the distance between himself and his opponents. His favorite moves in full-contact karate and kickboxing were his side kick and hook punch. He was a very well-rounded fighter because of his training in many different styles.
Joe Lewis also taught his own system of martial arts. He focused on the "Five Angles of Attack," which he learned from Bruce Lee.
Health Issues and Death
In July 2011, doctors found a brain tumor in Joe Lewis. They told him he had only a few weeks to live if he didn't get help. On July 18, surgeons removed the tumor.
Joe Lewis passed away on August 31, 2012, at the age of 68. He had battled cancer for 13 months. The cancer had spread to other parts of his body. He was buried in Knightdale, North Carolina.
Legacy and Pop Culture
Joe Lewis created his own martial arts teaching system called the Joe Lewis American Karate Systems. It focuses on full-contact fighting. Because he helped start and promote kickboxing in America, many people call him the "Father of Kickboxing." He is also known as "the man who brought us Full Contact Karate."
His work in these sports helped lead to the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) competitions we see today.
The character Ken Masters from the Street Fighter video games was inspired by Joe Lewis. Ken Masters is an American who learned karate in Japan and became a champion. Ken's red uniform and blond hair were even based on a magazine cover featuring Joe Lewis. Like Lewis, Ken Masters uses a mix of karate, boxing, and other styles.
Joe Lewis is also mentioned in the 2019 movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Images for kids
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Joe Lewis, a famous martial artist and kickboxer.
