Steve Sanders (karate) facts for kids
Sijo Saabir Quwi Muhammad, born Steve Sanders on July 2, 1939, is a famous American martial artist and a police officer. He is known for his incredible speed in karate and for developing new martial arts techniques.
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Early Life and Training
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 form of martial arts. He later went to Kansas State University on a football scholarship.
Steve then joined the Marines. There, he learned a powerful style of karate called Gōjū-ryū. He served in the Vietnam War during his time in the Marines. After leaving the military, he worked as a security officer in Los Angeles County, California.
Becoming a Martial Arts Champion
Steve Sanders became a champion fighter, winning many state and national titles. People often said he had the fastest hands in karate. He earned his black belt from well-known martial artists Dan Inosanto and Chuck Sullivan.
Sanders even competed against famous martial artists like Chuck Norris. He won many matches at Ed Parker's Long Beach Internationals, a very important martial arts event. Steve Sanders also created his own ideas, like the "five speed theory" and 12 basic moves for a martial art called kenpō. He also started the Black Karate Federation, an organization for martial artists.
A New Path and Name
In 1982, Steve Sanders joined the Nation of Islam and became a Muslim. He changed his last name to Muhammad. His full new name became Sijo Saabir Quwi Muhammad.
Film Roles and Awards
Sijo Saabir Quwi Muhammad also appeared in movies. He played an instructor for Jim Kelly in the famous martial arts film Enter the Dragon.
In 2012, he received the Battle of Atlanta Hall of Fame award. He was also nominated for the Black Belt magazine hall of fame, which is a big honor in martial arts. Today, he holds a 10th-degree black belt, which is one of the highest ranks possible. He also wrote a book called Bkf Kenpo: History and Advanced Strategic Principles.
