Joe Lewis ‘Father of Kickboxing’ in the Western World

By Tracy Warrener Van Kruistum

One of the most well known full contact kick-box fighters of all time was Joe Lewis. Born in 1944 in the United States, Lewis made quite an amazing martial arts career for himself. He was famous for his competitive matches in Karate Point fighting, and kickboxing during the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Lewis joined the United States Marine Corps in 1962. He served in Vietnam and won numerous medals while serving over seas. It was during his time stationed in Okinawa, that Lewis began his martial arts training. He studied the art of Shorin- Ryu Karate and advanced quickly earning his black belt in just seven months. After he returned home from serving over seas, he began to compete in kickboxing and point karate tournaments. Joe soon to make quite a name for himself and won many matches and titles within the tournament circuit. As a fighter he was very intimidating to his competitors. His power and strength coupled with his speed, made him a force to be reckoned with. He began studying other martial arts and expanded his knowledge even more which made him an even more well rounded fighter and martial artist. His background in weight lifting and wrestling as a youth as well as his knowledge in Kickboxing, karate, Judo, Jeet Kune Do- which he studied under Bruce Lee, and Boxing made him a very experienced fighter. Lewis won many titles over his tournament career and was even given the title of ‘The Greatest Fighter in Karate’ two times. Two of his most famous moves that he was known for was his ‘hook punch’ and his ‘side kick’.

Joe developed his own fighting system called ‘Joe Lewis American Karate System’ which focused on Full Contact Fighting. His contribution to the full contact kickboxing world was one one that help to pave the way for the Mixed Martial Arts competitions of today. Joe Lewis passed away in 2012 from a brain tumour. He was dubbed the “Father of Kickboxing in the Western World’ His contributions to the world of the martial arts have been preserved through his numerous books, instructional DVDs, articles, contributions to television and film and it is a legacy that will continue to live on for future generations of martial artists.

Tracy Warrener has been fortunate to have been raised within the Martial Arts since the age of 4 years old and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. She has had the opportunity to study with some amazing Martial Artists. Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Peter Urban, Professor Don Jacob, Sensei Jim Wilson, Professor Wally Jay, just to name several. Of course her main Sensei is her father, Sensei Don Warrener. Throughout the 40 plus years of her involvement in the Martial Arts, she has worked her way from being a student of the martial arts to a Martial Arts Sensei ,teaching hundreds of students. She has ran and managed martial arts schools teaching students of all ages, worked within the community teaching at fitness centres, schools, businesses and Women’s Shelters, the benefits of Karate. One the causes close to her heart is teaching and empowering young girls and women the importance of self defence and awareness. Her program called Look Strong! Act Strong! Be Strong! focuses on easy self defence techniques and mind self defence techniques. In 2013 she was awarded The Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in the Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in California for her contribution to Women in the Martial Arts. She is also a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master. She has starred in three of her own DVDs produced by Rising Sun Productions on Reiki, Reflexology and her Look Strong ,Act Strong ,Be Strong Self Defence Program. tracy.warrenerentertainment@gmail.com

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