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Coach Marty Martin Biography
Owner Karate Training Centers
Coach Thunderbirds National Karate Team


Author of:
"Self Defense" Newspaper Column
Basics In Karate Training Series
Kenpo Jiu Jit Su Series & Kenpo Set Karate

Producer of:
Children's Self Defense Videos
"In Self Defense" Television Show
Tai Chi for Health Television Show
K2 Kardio Kickboxing Television Show

Mr. Martin has been teaching Kenpo Karate for thirty-two years and is currently a seventh-degree black belt, owner of Marty Martin's Karate Training Centers and Coach of the Thunderbird's National Karate Team. Mr. Martin wrote his own newspaper column for the Panama City News Herald, Sumter Daily Item and Statesburg Gazette for over seven years with over ninety published columns. He has written over forty training manuals on the subject of Kenpo Set Karate, produced eleven children's self defense karate-training videos and was the host and executive producer of the television show "In Self Defense" from 1997-98. Coach Martin currently produces Tai Chi for Health and K2 Kardio Kickboxing. There are plans in the works for a pre-school and teen oriented show as well. He started and coached the Gunfighter’s National Karate Team from 1995 until 1999 and in 1999 after moving to Florida started the Thunderbirds. He has also instructed the art of Tai Chi at his Karate Training Centers, Gulf Coast Community College and Bay Medical Health Plex in Panama City, Florida. Mr. Martin has lectured at both the University of South Carolina and Florida State University. He has appeared on several television shows inclusive of PM Magazine and the Morning Show with Ann Varumn the CBS affiliate in Dothan, Alabama. The Gunfighters were featured on the A&E presentation about modern sport karate filmed at the “Battle of Atlanta” in 1998. Mr. Martin is very active in both civic and community organizations. Mr. Martin was very active within the Sumter community. His "Gunfighter National Karate Team” performed numerous demonstrations supporting the Sumter Merchants Association, the Clarendon "BooMania" Festival, Jessamine Mall, Epworth's Children's Home, the children's cancer ward at Richland Memorial Hospital and made two videos in support of the Sumter County Crimestoppers telethon which helped raise more than $25,000 dollars. His Thunderbird team has already made numerous show appearances supporting various civic functions like the Jaycee's, Phil Am Society, Early Childhood Services, Kid's Fest, Tyndall AFB Asian Pacific Festival, Barrio Fiesta, Northside Spring Carnival, March of Dimes and St. Andrews Mardi Gras.

Mr. Martin began his martial arts training in the mid-nineteen sixties, receiving his first black belt in 1972. Of particular note the “Father of American Karate”, the late Mr. Ed Parker, promoted him to his third, fourth and fifth degree black belt. Mr. Al Tracy, the current tenth degree black belt and “Grandmaster of Kenpo Karate”, promoted him personally in April of 2001, to his present degree.

Mr. Martin has a competitive history spanning three decades. During the nineteen sixty's and early seventies he won numerous divisions in tournaments like the California Karate Championships, San Francisco Open, California Invitational and California Pan Am Games. While in the United States Air Force and stationed in Taiwan during the early 1970's he was a member of "Team America" and traveled to Japan to fight in the All Japan Open in Tokyo. During the mid-nineteen eighties he was the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion, American National Karate Association Kata Champion and the 1985 American National Karate Association Instructor of the Year. Mr. Martin's last competition was the 1986 US Open Karate Championship where he lost to Mr. Billy Blanks.

Coach Martin has a prestigious coaching record training numerous past and present karate champions. He coached the 1985/86 South Carolina Lightweight Champion, the 1986 American National Karate Association Female Kata Champion, the 1989 Florida State Female Champion and the 1989 Men’s Yoshukai Kumite Champion. In 1996 Mr. Martin coached two nationally rated champions, Josh and Joe Fife, who in their divisions were rated #3 & #7 (respectively) in the United States by the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA). In 1997, Coach Martin coached eleven students who were rated in the top ten for their respective divisions in NASKA. This is no small feat considering NASKA is actually an international organization where there are over one hundred thousand competitors representing forty countries who compete annually. In just the last five years alone his teams have won over 500 awards in both national and international open competitions. This includes several national & world events such as the Charlie Lee Nationals, Bluegrass Nationals, Battle of Atlanta, US OPEN, Diamond Nationals and OTOMIX World Championships. Over twenty of Mr. Martin’s team members have been rated top ten in the national and world rankings of the North American Sport Karate Association. In 1998 there were five Gunfighter’s rated in the top ten in the United States with three of then entering the world ratings for the first time .The Gunfighter’s won fourth place win in the "World Team Competition" at the OTOMIX World Championships. In 1999 Coach Martin was asked to be the open forms coach for the US National Martial Arts Team for the "2000 World Games". In the year 2001, Coach Martin also coached on “Team America” competing in Ireland. Also in the year 2000 the Thunderbirds won eight out of thirteen divisions in the first ever “Cyber Warriors” championships hosted by “Karate Tournament Central”.

Coach Martin has an established record as competitor, coach and school owner. He has consistently become a contributor to his community by donating his time and talents in helping young athletes reach world-class achievement.

To read about Coach Martins Thunderbirds go to the Thunderbird Biography page.

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