Great Grand Master Aaron Banks, World ' s No. 1 Martial Arts Promoter and a prolific speaker like none other masterfully transformed martial arts into a form of entertainment. A Bronx native who grew up in the Great Depression era with an unrelenting determination to be someone to make a difference. Hailed by those who loved and respected him as an icon, a luminary, an extraordinaire and a martial arts legend. Creator of the“ Oriental World of Self Defense” show that paved the way and opened doors for many martial artists around the world. He personally selected the best martial artists to perform in his unique show OWOSD. They came from around the world, big, small, tall and short, practitioners of various styles zealous to demonstrate on one stage, disciplines such as Taekwondo, Kung Fu, JuJitsu, Judo, Karate, Boxing, Hapkido, Aikido, Kickboxing and much more.
Mr. Banks ' martial arts journey began in 1958 and his endless talents laid the ground rules for everyone to perform at their best in weapons, self defense, breaking, wrestling, incredible feats of internal power fighting and death-defying situations. This incorporated all sorts of systems in excellent demonstrations of Martial Arts. His show toured the world and over a billion people have seen it on TV in motion pictures, Youtube, or on videos. It became the milestone for others throughout the world since it was the first time such an event of its kind debuted in 1966, in a town hall in New York City. The greatest Martial Artists throughout the world performed in his event. People such as Ronald Duncan, Gogen Yamaguchi,
Yamada, Moses Powell, Felix Vasquez, Yamashita, Richard Chun, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, George Cofield, Louis Neglia, Jonas Nunez, Rick Lenchus, Gary Alexander, Ron Jeter, Maurice Elmalem, Bill Louie, Ernest Hyman, Eric Lee, Elton Trower, John Drames, Jim Powers, Rico Guy, Robert Crosson, John Davier and hundreds of true Martial Artists, too many to mention but they know who they are. He wanted to show the different systems so that whosoever saw them, either in person or on television, would be helped or encouraged to start training in all martial arts systems and that they felt comfortable with. He believed one should“ never retire from what they do best but use Martial Arts as a journey for health purposes or self defense, live martial arts, eat martial arts, sleep martial arts.” GGM Banks was indeed a man of valor, enthusiasm, influence, honor, respect and intellect who gave unselfishly and wholeheartedly to preserve the true essence and legacy of martial arts.
He traveled Europe, Central America, South America, and throughout the United States as a martial arts trailblazer. He operated his school the New York Karate Academy, teaching over 250,000 people, creating world champion fighters, and turning Karate into a professional sport, in 1968 at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. He went above and beyond as martial arts ambassador. From television talk shows to gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated and 48 other magazines, Mr. Banks has done them all. Stories of his accomplishments as a great martial artist and the Oriental World of Self Defense events have been published in major N. Y. newspapers such as Newsday, Daily News, the New York Times, New York Post, Herald & Queens Tribune, Bronx News as well as in Chinese,
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