Vic Moore facts for kids

Victor Moore (born August 23, 1943) is a famous martial artist. He holds a 10th Degree Black Belt in Karate. He was a top instructor for Robert Trias in the Shuri-ryū Karate style. Vic Moore also trained in Chito-ryu with William J. Dometrich. He has studied martial arts for over 50 years. He is also a four-time world karate champion!

Early Life and Training

Vic Moore started traveling to karate tournaments. He went with his students, even as far as Canada. Later, he opened many karate schools. These schools were all around the Cincinnati area. He also traveled a lot along the Midwest and East Coast.

Because he was so good at competing, he met Robert Trias. Robert Trias is known as the "father of American Karate". Trias was very skilled and helped Moore learn a lot. Moore kept training with Trias at many events. He learned the Kempo and Goju-Ryu styles of Karate.

Moore visited the USKA headquarters in Arizona many times. There, he earned high ranks, reaching his Masters level. While he was with the USKA, Maung Gyi also taught him. Gyi taught him Bando, which is a martial art from Myanmar. He also taught Moore how to use many different weapons. Gyi was also Moore's kickboxing teacher. He taught Moore all about Thai boxing moves.

Introducing Kickboxing

In 1973, Vic Moore and Joe Lewis did something amazing. They introduced kickboxing to America. They showed it on the Merv Griffin TV show. They were the first to show kickboxing on national television. They were also some of the first professional kickboxers in the United States.

Jim Harrison later defeated Moore in the first kickboxing tournament in the U.S. Robert Trias also asked Vic Moore to help create a training manual. This manual was for law enforcement officers. He worked with Harold Long and Hulon Willis on it.

Today, Vic Moore gives seminars all over the U.S. He lives in Lumberton, North Carolina. There, he teaches martial arts privately from his home.

Martial Arts Achievements

Vic Moore is a true pioneer in martial arts. Here are some of his big achievements:

• He was one of the first African-Americans to win a major karate competition. This happened in 1965 at the USKA Grand Nationals.
• He competed in the first kickboxing championship in 1971. This was the U.S. Kickboxing Championships with Jim Harrison.
• He helped introduce kickboxing to America with Joe Lewis in 1973. They did this on the Merv Griffin show.
• He was in the movie Black Karate. He starred with Jim McLain and Robert Trias.
• He helped start the WKA organization in 1974. This group is for kickboxing.

Famous Competitions

Moore has fought against some of the best fighters in the world. He competed against many famous martial artists, including:

• Michael G. Foster (in Miami, 1965)
• Mike Stone
• Jim 'Ronin' Harrison
• Fred Wren
• Chuck Norris
• Joe Lewis

World Championships Won

Vic Moore won several world championships:

1. In 1966, he won by defeating the Hawaiian champion in Richmond, Virginia.
2. In 1968, he beat Joe Lewis at the World's Fair Karate Championships.
3. In 1969, he defeated Mike Stone in Pasadena, California. This was for the light heavyweight championship at the world teams championship.
4. In 1970, he won the USKA's first professional world championship. He defeated the legendary Bill “Superfoot” Wallace.

Vic Moore placed in every tournament he entered. This was from 1965 until 1975, when he stopped competing.