Chris McLean
5th April 2006, 11:41
A news bullitin from Sportmartialarts.com
"Most martial arts studios marry the teaching of crisp, clean techniques with lessons that will encourage the development of humility, self control, respect for self and others and self confidence in students. It is the quest for these intangibles that makes the journey of martial arts mastery worthwhile.
The martial arts world recently lost one Master who possessed awesome physical attributes, as well as the humility one would expect in a true Master, with the passing of Howard Jackson. Jackson, a native of Detroit was born in 1951. After briefly studying Kung Fu in the 1960's, Jackson was led to Tang Soo Do instructor, Harold Williams who began Jackson on the path to one of the greatest competitive martial arts careers in history.
A Marine, it was while stationed at Camp Pendleton in California that Howard was befriended by Chuck Norris and Bob Wall in the early 1970's, and began to tear up America's sport karate circuit. Nicknamed the “California Flash”, Jackson, a lightweight, used explosiveness off of the line to close the gap and score often on opponents. This blitzing technique would revolutionize sport karate around the world.
In 1973 Jackson won the grand championship and $1,000 cash prize at Mike Anderson's Top Ten Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. He coupled that victory with the grand title at Joe Corley's Battle of Atlanta and in 1973 was inducted into Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame as the fighter of the year. In 1974 he returned to the Battle of Atlanta and became the first man to win the event's grand championship in consecutive years. In 1974 he also won Allen Steen's United States Karate Championship and was named fighter of the year by Professional Karate Magazine.
In addition to his tournament karate contributions and titles, Jackson also won two World Karate Association Kickboxing World Championships in Japan, and was once ranked as the number six welterweight in the world by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Whether by martial artists practicing a blitz in an attempt to improve their sparring, or those of us who were fortunate enough to have shared a story or a laugh, Howard Jackson's legacy lives. And for that the world is a richer place."
I had the privilage of meeting Mr. Jackson on a couple of occasions and he is one man I aspired to be more like. He had a gentle spirit that will be missed by all his students, friends, and peers.
"Most martial arts studios marry the teaching of crisp, clean techniques with lessons that will encourage the development of humility, self control, respect for self and others and self confidence in students. It is the quest for these intangibles that makes the journey of martial arts mastery worthwhile.
The martial arts world recently lost one Master who possessed awesome physical attributes, as well as the humility one would expect in a true Master, with the passing of Howard Jackson. Jackson, a native of Detroit was born in 1951. After briefly studying Kung Fu in the 1960's, Jackson was led to Tang Soo Do instructor, Harold Williams who began Jackson on the path to one of the greatest competitive martial arts careers in history.
A Marine, it was while stationed at Camp Pendleton in California that Howard was befriended by Chuck Norris and Bob Wall in the early 1970's, and began to tear up America's sport karate circuit. Nicknamed the “California Flash”, Jackson, a lightweight, used explosiveness off of the line to close the gap and score often on opponents. This blitzing technique would revolutionize sport karate around the world.
In 1973 Jackson won the grand championship and $1,000 cash prize at Mike Anderson's Top Ten Nationals in St. Louis, Missouri. He coupled that victory with the grand title at Joe Corley's Battle of Atlanta and in 1973 was inducted into Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame as the fighter of the year. In 1974 he returned to the Battle of Atlanta and became the first man to win the event's grand championship in consecutive years. In 1974 he also won Allen Steen's United States Karate Championship and was named fighter of the year by Professional Karate Magazine.
In addition to his tournament karate contributions and titles, Jackson also won two World Karate Association Kickboxing World Championships in Japan, and was once ranked as the number six welterweight in the world by the World Boxing Association (WBA).
Whether by martial artists practicing a blitz in an attempt to improve their sparring, or those of us who were fortunate enough to have shared a story or a laugh, Howard Jackson's legacy lives. And for that the world is a richer place."
I had the privilage of meeting Mr. Jackson on a couple of occasions and he is one man I aspired to be more like. He had a gentle spirit that will be missed by all his students, friends, and peers.