Joe Lewis (martial artist)
Joe Lewis (born March 7, 1944 in Raleigh , North Carolina , † August 31, 2012 ) was an American martial artist , martial artist and actor .
Life
Joe Lewis learned Shōrin-Ryū Karate in Okinawa in 1964 while serving with the Marine Corps . Lewis is said to have got the 1st Dan after seven months, which is an extremely short time. In 1968 Lewis began training with Bruce Lee .
Joe Lewis was one of the best and most dominant kickboxers in the world during the 1960s and 1970s. He fought in the PKA . In addition to Mike Stone , Bill Wallace and Chuck Norris , Joe Lewis is considered one of the greatest kickboxing masters of all time.
In 1966 - 22 months after starting karate - Lewis celebrated his first tournament victory at the US National Championships . The next twelve fights Lewis decided all by knockout for himself. In total, he won 30 major titles in his active competitive time. His four fights against Chuck Norris (Tournament of Champions) from 1968 to 1970 and his two fights (1970 and 1972) against Bill Wallace, which Lewis lost, are now legendary.
Joe Lewis was the first World Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion . Lewis later became World Heavyweight Karate Champion . This makes Lewis one of only two fighters to ever hold world titles in two different martial arts. The other is Vitali Klitschko , who won the world title in kickboxing and boxing .
Lewis' impressive career earned him the title The Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time . This title was bestowed on Lewis by two votes in the United States and Europe.
The American Black Belt Magazine voted him into the Hall of Fame twice : in 1975 as the best competitor of the year and in 1986 as assistant coach of the year. Joe Lewis was also the only martial arts world champion who owned the 10th Dan.
Lewis made several films, including the film Jaguar Lives in 1979 and Force Five ( The Power of Five ) in 1981 .
Joe Lewis ran a chain of martial arts schools and taught in various seminars around the world. He also sold DVDs and books with training guides.
In July 2011, a malignant tumor was found in his brain, which was surgically removed immediately after the diagnosis. A year later, on August 31, 2012, Lewis died of complications from another brain tumor. He was 68 years old.
Filmography (selection)
- 1979: Jaguar lives (Jaguar lives!)
- 1981: Force Five
- 1989: Bloodfight 2 (Death Cage)
- 2012: Kill em All
Web links
- History of Karate, Full-Contact and Kick Boxing in USA and Europe 1970–1980
- Interview with Joe Lewis (English)
- Joe Lewis in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Lewis, Joe |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American martial artist, martial artist, and actor |
| DATE OF BIRTH | March 7, 1944 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Raleigh , North Carolina |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 31, 2012 |