“The Puppett”
Thomas Lapuppett Carroll 1938 – 1999
“The Puppett”
Known as Lapuppett, he was a pioneer African-American martial artist, an 8th degree black belt, a member of the USA Karate Hall of Fame and the Black Belt Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the US Ju-Jitsu Federation with a focus on Shotokan karate.
Raised in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from Franklin Lane High School. Lapuppett was a firefighter with the New York Fire Department, retiring after twenty years of service. A member of the United States Marine Corps, he retired as 1st Sergeant after twenty years of active and reserve service.
Lapuppett was a former jiujitsu practitioner before learning Karate under Sensei George Cofield a student in the JKA system with an intrepid reputation. Lapuppet was chairman and treasurer of USA Karate NY, and held the position of head coach.
He was key in getting karate recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and was a driving force in the evolution of American sport karate. He defeated many famous martial artists in tournaments including Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace. He put New York karate on the map as a sensei and partner in the Tong Dojo with his mentor George Cofield, whom he met in 1961. Cofield nicknamed him ‘the puppet’ because he often trained by imitating the styles of players in other dojos. He was a member of the phenomenal Tong Dojo demonstration team performing in New York during the early days of karate competition. He was Shihan of the Brooklyn based Ronin Karate Club which mirrored the heart of New York. He taught pure technique as well as high principles of the arts. His style was Shotokan, evolving to the broader Kwanmukan system of the Toyama Kanken family. His full contact team, the New York Puppets, was formidable.
After a stellar career as a fighter in the late 70’s Lapuppet became involved with the US Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Karate, but his firmly stated views were not well received. His strong insistent voice could be heard calling for the rule of reason, balance, and minority rights. When the leadership of AAU changed, Legendary Grand Master George Anderson ran for President. Lapuppett was elected Treasurer, and was named Chief of Tournament operations His efforts led the AAU to membership on the Pan American and the World Karate Union Organizing Committees. In 1969 he was named “Karate Player of the Year’ by Black Belt Magazine. He was one of the many directors of the 1976 documentary “The Warriors Within”, in which he was featured training youth. Lapuppett was a fighter and loved to coach.
He also trained actors Gregory Hines, Ralph Macchio of Karate Kid, and Steve McQueen. He was a contemporary ofChuck Norris and Joe Lewis, and featured in various magazines including Black Belt and Official Karate Magazine. In 1965, he won the All American Tournament in New York. In 1966 he won the Boston Invitational, the Greater New York Metropolitan Championships, and the Fifth Canadian International Tournament.
Lapuppett is recognized as the ultimate gentleman warrior from New York who fought for the rights of the American Karate, the involvement of youth, and left his mark on an entire era in American martial arts history.