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Jeff is not only one of the most winningest point-and full-contact fighters (a seven-time PKA world light-heavy weight champ) ever but has established himself as a visionary in the area of business management and marketing for the martial arts industry. Originally from Texas, Smith moved to Washington D.C. and was instrumental in helping the late Jhoon Rhee set up his international empire.
Bill is widely known as “Superfoot” because of his incredibly fast left leg enabling him to win almost every major karate tournament in the 1960s and ‘70s and then go on to win 23 consecutive professional bouts as the PKA middleweight world full-contact champion. Also an internationally known teacher, Wallace earned a master’s degree in Kinesiology from Memphis State University. An author and film actor, he continues to give seminars around the world.
Dan is known as “Super Dan” during his competitive career in which he won over 70 grand champion titles. He has further established himself as an expert teacher in the Filipino arts and has written extensively on American karate and Arnis. Based in Oregon, he has combined his vast experience into a unique blend of combat styles into the Anderson Martial Arts Systems, which he teaches around the globe.
Next would be one of the AKBBA/CSHK founders, Ronny Cox. Mr. Cox was among the AKBBA/CSHK founders and one of the greatest fighters in the karate circuit of the ’60s and ’70s. He was an original black belt in Steen’s Texas Karate Institute and became an Addison, TX police officer. Mr. Cox was the first Association Secretary and instrumental in our early years. He was shot and killed during a drug operation of the Addison and Dallas Police Departments in December of 1986. He continues to be missed by the Board and membership of this Association. 
Richard Jenkins, a Texas karate pioneer, served as high dan board and association secretary from 1985 to 2001, is a charter member of the old Southwest Karate Black Belt Association, original AKBBA, and current American Karate Black Belt Assn-CSHK. He began studying Shotokan Karate in 1958 while in the U.S. Navy earning 1st Dan in 1961. Studying several martial arts styles, he holds dan grade ranking in Judo, Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan, Okinawan Dai Ni-Gojuryu, Tang Soo Do, Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan and has studied Aikido, Nunchaku, Sai, Bo, Yawara Stick, and Kama.
He’s the original program director for Allen Steen’s Texas Karate Institutes, helping establish comprehensive business, financial, student recruiting, and advertising programs that helped build one of the most successful string of karate schools and systems in Texas and the nation.
In 1970 he, Fred Wren and Mike Anderson opened five karate schools in St. Louis. In late 1971 Anderson and Jenkins opened three schools in Oklahoma City. In 1974 with Walt and Debbie Bone, opened schools in St. Pete, Seminole, and Largo, FL. In 1979 opened his own karate school in Brownfield, TX which he ran successfully for over a decade until following his father’s death moved home to take over operations of their family-owned Northeast Houston community water utility system.
He was also a noted fighter winning or placing in numerous local and national tournaments such as the Texas Open Karate Championships, American/Taiwanese Team Full Contact Matches, Illinois and Florida State Championships, Karate Olympics, and All American Open.
1988 he was awarded AKBBA Instructor of the Year, in 1991 appointed a Shihan in North America for the International Ni Goju-Ryu Karate-Do System, 2004 inducted into the Texas Martial Arts Hall of fame. On retirement from the High-Dan Board in 2012 he was inducted into the prestigious Karate Masters Hall of Fame, and 2019 inscribed into the Who’s Who In Martial Arts Library.
Grandmaster Jenkins’ martial arts career spans over six decades. He has produced many black belts, champions, and successful school owners in their own right, and still in demand continues to pass along his experience and wisdom helping others become successful instructors and school owners.
James Toney served with distinction as our Chairman from 1997 to 2011. He was one of the original board members of the old Southwest Karate Black Belt Association and of the original AKBBA. He began his karate training in the early 1960s at the Texas Instruments Karate Club. He always considered himself a student, achieving black belts in TaeKwonDo MooDukKwan, TaeKwonDo ChungDoKwan, Okinawan Dai Ni Gojuryu, and Jujitsu. He was named Shihan for North America by the Kokusai Dai Ni Gojuryu Karate Kyokai. Many champion fighters of the early era called Mr. Toney sensei.
For years he was research geologist at the University of Texas at Arlington. He was a true Texas and American Karate pioneer, and much of what made karate in the Southwest the toughest and fastest growing in the nation, can be attributed to Mr. Toney who passed away in 2015.
We are saddened to report that Royce Young, a Texas karate pioneer, passed away on March 12, 2022. Royce Young, a Texas karate pioneer, served as AKBBA Vice-Chairman from 1997 to 2011. Beginning his training in 1964, he was one of the earliest students of the Texins (Texas Instruments) Karate Club and he took over as head instructor at that club from his teacher, Allen Steen. Royce promoted many students to black belt and they continue his legacy teaching in clubs and schools across Texas.
