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Grand Master Johnny "Lightfoot"
Thompson was promoted to 8th Dan on August 3, 2007 by the
International
Martial Arts Council of America and inducted into the
US Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nv. on Aug 4th 2007.
Grand Master Thompson is a veteran
of over 20 years in the United States Air Force, Master Thompson is the
Founder and President of the Tang Soo Do Karate Association headquartered
in San Antonio, Texas. He is also the Chief Instructor of Thompson’s
Karate Academy and oversees operations of other sister locations in the
United States. Once a year in December he oversees all operations
for his annual Tang Soo Do World Conference entering its 13th year.
With over 35 years of martial arts
experience including being national ranked in Region Six by Black Belt
magazine and Karate Illustrated with his partners Grand Master's Tom
Balmos and Clarence “Daddyo” Smith back in the early eighties in kata,
kumite and specialty katas, he has spent his life helping and mentoring
all that have crossed his path. Coming out of retirement back in 2001, he
competed in Kata and Kumite in the Executive Master's division and swept
the competition winning at the completion of the year with the UMA circuit
end of year banquet receiving the Grandmaster of the Year. Due to
physical limitations he has retired again.
 A
certified Police Instructor who is certified in the training of the ASP
baton & various other enforcement tools such as handcuffing, pepper spray
usage and handgun retention he has taught, trained and certified many
commissioned security officers in the State of Texas. He is also a
certified Fugitive Recovery Agent, commissioned concealed weapons owner
and teaches several courses pertaining to Bail Enforcement and is owner
and operator of Technical and Tactical Security Consultants. Owner of J&L
Trophy’s. |
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Grand Master Johnny
"Lightfoot" Thompson
Master Thompson is also one of the successful
promoters of the Annual Battle of the Alamo Open Karate Championships in
San Antonio where he is also a board member of the United Martial Arts
(UMA) organization.
A recent inductee at the Universal Martial Arts Hall
of Fame in Biloxi, Miss back in 2002 where he was honored as Tang Soo Do
Grand Master of the Year and also inducted August of 2003 into the
United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Grand Master. He also was
honored at the 2005 Action Martial Arts Magazine Outstanding
Contributions to the Martial Arts Spirit Award as a recipient. He was
also honored back and published in 1999 through Action Martial Arts
Magazine of Who’s Who in the Martial Arts. He also holds ties to the
U.M.A., AKBBA, the PKA and WBBB.
Receiving the bulk of his expertise from his deceased
Senior Grand Master James Cummings Jr., Master Thompson is surrounded by
a myriad of great blackbelts who have made him what he is today. He
owes all to his family of TKA blackbelts. The dedication, loyalty and
professionalism that they possess show in the students that they teach
who admire, respect and follow their every direction. All of this goes
to show that to date the TKA has promoted close to 100 quality
blackbelts.
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