The Karate Institute of America - 1984 - Blast from the Past: Group Belt Testing
Photo of the Week – 21 June 2010
This Karate Institute of America “Blast from the Past,” from 1984, highlights many of its stars during the early years. The KIA opened its doors on 31 August 1979. Five years later, seventeen year old Steven Ho, pictured in the upper left photo, executes a kata during his Black Belt testing on the way to being the first Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu. Top center shows a group pow wow with Mr. King, Juliette Williamson, Bob MacFarlane and Larry Vetter. Top right is Jerry Gentry, one of the first of a long list of great fighting competitors to emerge from the KIA and the second Kiado-Ryu Black Belt. Bottom left is a “call for points” during a sparring match. Center bottom is Juliette Williamson during a fight. “JW” would become the 4th KIA Black Belt behind #3, Dr. Milton Jacobson [not pictured]. On the far right are Bree Corbett [front] and Jimmy/Jonah Edge [center].
It’s hard to believe these images are twenty-six years old! How time does march on! Nonetheless, these pictures capture some of the magic of the Karate Institute of America in its early years, years for which there is much gratitude and mountains of memories.