... . Needless to say every day was smooth sailing with little to no stress. Despite how easy all of that must have been, Branden successfully got his black belt in Okinawa Kenpo Karate/Kobudo…and now in commitment as well. Here are two additional photos, one of a group of Branden’s dojo mates and one of me and the big man himself. Big congrats again to Branden and Laura. I dispense ...

... back through Ed Parker to William Chow to James Mitose; basis of some of the katas and some of the self defense); XMA (some katas, sword); muy thai (some kicks, knees, and elbows); Okinawan kobudo (nunchucks); taekwondo (kamas); krav maga (some of the self defense); kickboxing (sparring); and Brazilian jiujitsu (grappling). I think I have that right. Karate purists would gag, I suppose, but I&# ...

... in 2007. No, actually it started before that with karate, anime and video games. The Last Dragon inspired a young Conaway to take up martial arts in junior high, studying Shorin-Ryu style karate and kobudo until he achieved a black belt. "There weren't many black action heroes that I was aware of as a kid," he says, "so Bruce Lee Roy fighting Sho-Nuff the Shogun of Harlem on a ...