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Chris Sutton's United Martial Arts & Fitness
Distance: 5.9 Mi24103 Ushighway 19 North
33763 Clearwater -
Napma
Distance: 5.7 Mi5601 116th Ave N
33760-4812 Clearwater -
Walgreens
Distance: 6.2 Mi1540 N McMullen Booth Rd
33759-2594 Clearwater -
Chinese Martial Arts Center
Distance: 6.8 Mi1370 Main St
34698-6242 Dunedin -
J Park World Tae Kwon Do
Distance: 6.9 Mi26244 Us Highway 19 North
33761 Clearwater
Description
The Authentic Martial Arts story began on August 1, 1980 when the karate school (dojo) was first opened on Missouri Avenue in Largo, Florida. That is when Ric Martin, then a third degree Blackbelt with seven years of karate training, first began his career as a professional martial arts instructor. His Sensei was the great Master Toshiyuki Itokazu (Tosh), from Okinawa, Japan. Master Itokazu was the ultimate martial arts mentor. He completely dedicated his life to his students and instructors. Sensei Itokazu and Ric Martin shared a special relationship in which Master Itokazu vowed to teach all he knew of martial arts to Mr. Martin, who was his senior student and instructor. By December of 1981 Master Itokazu had prepared Mr. Martin for the greatest competitive challenge of his life; to be the first American to travel to Okinawa, Japan to compete in The All Okinawa Karate Championship Series. This was the beginning of a thirteen year quest to become the first American to win the World Championship Title. The journey to the top required more dedication and discipline than he ever had imagined. Eight times he flew to Okinawa at his own expense to compete for the world title. From 1981 to 1990 he fought his way to a top four finalist finish three times; 1982 (3rd), 1986(3rd), and 1989 (2nd). His World Championship victory was finally realized on December 11, 1994. Upon his retirement from international competition he had competed in The All Okinawa Championship Series more...