Steve Sanders (karate) facts for kids
Sijo Saabir Quwi Muhammad, born Steve Sanders on July 2, 1939, is a famous American martial artist. He was also a police officer.
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Growing Up
Steve Sanders was born in Indianola, Mississippi, on July 2, 1939. He was the youngest child in his family. When he was young, he started learning tai chi, a gentle martial art.
He went to Kansas State University with a scholarship to play football. Later, Steve joined the Marines. There, he learned Gōjū-ryū karate, a powerful style of martial arts. He served in the Vietnam War during his time in the Marines. After leaving the Marines, he worked as a security officer in Los Angeles County, California.
Martial Arts Career
Steve Sanders became a champion fighter, even though there was racism at the time. He won many important state and national titles. People often said that Sanders had the fastest hands in karate.
He earned his black belt from famous martial artists Dan Inosanto and Chuck Sullivan. Sanders competed against other well-known fighters, including Chuck Norris. He also won matches at Ed Parker's Long Beach Internationals.
Developing New Techniques
Sanders created his own ideas for martial arts. He developed the "five speed theory" and "12 basic moves" for kenpō. Kenpō is a martial art that combines different fighting styles.
He also started the Black Karate Federation. This organization helped promote martial arts among African Americans.
Later Life and Achievements
In 1982, Steve Sanders joined the Nation of Islam. He then changed his last name to Muhammad and became a Muslim.
Sanders appeared in the movie Enter the Dragon. In the film, he played the instructor for the character played by Jim Kelly.
In 2012, Sanders received the Battle of Atlanta Hall of Fame award. He was also nominated for the Black Belt magazine hall of fame. He holds a 10th-degree black belt, which is a very high rank in martial arts.
Sijo Saabir Quwi Muhammad wrote a book called Bkf Kenpo: History and Advanced Strategic Principles. He also appeared in a training video from 1982 called World Of Martial Arts. In this video, he was with other martial arts legends like Benny Urquidez, Chuck Norris, and John Saxon. One of his students, Ray Wizard, even fought in UFC 2.
See also
- Racism in martial arts
