Dr. Jerry Beasley Chairman of AIKIA, 9th Degree Black Belt

  1966:  Begins martial arts instruction in kenpo and Oyama-style karate   1968:  Begins instruction in tae kwon do moo duk kwon (tang soo do) with Master Soo Lee   1971:  Earns 1st dan in tae kwon do under Master Ju Kim; opens tae kwon do school   1972:  Begins ITF-style tae kwon do; opens club at a community college; studies hapkido   1973:  Earns 2nd dan in tae kwon do under Master Hosik Kang; earns B.A. degree in philosophy from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.); begins karate club at Radford University (Radford, Va.)   1974:  Earns 3rd dan in ITF-style tae kwon do from Master James Lee; begins kickboxing and full-contact karate   1975:  Begins study of shaolin kung fu; advances in study of jiujitsu; 1975 National All-Star Taekwon Do Champion   1976:  Studies boxing and judo; 1976 American All-Star National Taekwon Do Champion   1977:  Earns M.S. degree in sociology from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.); promoted to 4th dan tae kwon do   1978:  Publishes first article in KarateIllustrated   1978:  Begins AIKIA   1980:  Earns 5th dan in tae kwon do; opens full-time AIKIA karate studio; earns Doctor of Education degree from Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Va.); begins study of wing chun and tai chi, Continuous advancement in hapkido and tang soo do   1981:  Travels to Raleigh, N.C., to spar with Joe Lewis; becomes Lewis’ student; travels to Charlotte, N.C., to study JKD/kali with Dan Inosanto; receives 2nd dan in hapkido   1982:  Becomes editor of Karate Digest magazine; publishes first book   1983:  Joe Lewis joins AIKIA; AIKIA begins national advertising and promotions   1985:  Takes an assignment as writer/promoter for the American Ninjutsu Federation; receives 6th dan JLAKS (Joe Lewis American Karate Systems)   1986:  Begins multicultural martial arts option at Radford University (Radford, Va.); receives title “Czar of Sport Ninjutsu” from Martial Arts Stars magazine (Los Angeles, Calif.)   1988:  Publishes first JKD book (Paladin Press); begins Karate Collegesummer camp   1989:  Inducted into World Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Ohio) and other halls of fame   1990:  Promoted to 7th dan JLAKS. Introduces the Mixed Martial Arts format at Karate College.   1992:  Largest Karate College draws 485 participants; promoted to 5th dan in jiujitsu/Goshindo; Bill Wallace joins AIKIA   1993:  Publishes third book, Way of No Way; promotes first original JKD camp     1995:  Promoted to 8th dan JLAKS (also signed by Bill Wallace and presented with top-name martial arts personalities in attendance, including Gokor Chivichian)   1996:  Heads college division at World Conference in Washington, D.C., with 108 countries represented. Promoted to Full Professor, Department of Excercise, Sport and Health Education, Radford University.   1997:  Produces through Panther Video a tape series entitled JKD Scientific Street Fighting   1998:  Featured on the cover of Black Belt magazine; promoted to 9th dan tae kwon do (World Headmasters Sokeship Renmei, Europe); JKD Hallof Fame (England)                            

  1999:  Receives 9th dan from Professor Wally Jay and Professor Michael DePasquale, Sr. (IFOJJ)   The 1999 IFOJJ Promotion Board (Professor Wally Jay and Grandmaster Michael DePasquale, Sr.) presents the certificate of 9th Dan to Dr. Jerry Beasley and the certificate of 10th Dan to Bill “Superfoot” Wallace. Also receiving special awards on behalf of Karate International magazine were (back row) Michael DePasquale, Jr (IFOJJ 9th Dan), Joe Hess, Joe Lewis (IFOJJ 10th, Dan), Allan Goldberg. Front row are Professor Wally Jay, GM Michael DePasquale, Sr. and GM Joe Bonnacci.     2000:  Receives U.S. patent and trademark for inventing the Road Rage Reducer “Polite-Lite”, an inter-vehicular communication device. Publishes “The Jeet Kune Do Experience.”   2000: Inducted into the Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame as “Instructor of the Year.”   2001:  Receives 8th dan and from the American Moo Duk Kwan Council. 2002:  Promoted to 9th Dan by the American Moo Duk Kwan Council. Publishes “MasteringKarate” for Human Kinetics; Completes a 100k grant for the National Institute of Health on Road Rage     2003:  Introduces first “mixed martial arts” national association (WFMMA) at Karate College. Becomes president of American Moo Duk Kwan Council as designated inheritor of the system from first (1968) instructor, Grand Master Whitman Davis, 10th dan.     2004:  Poses for his second Black Belt Magazine cover.   2005:  Develops . Whose goal is to establish state chapters to reduce road rage through highway courtesy.   2005: Special Guest Instructor for Black Belt Magazine Hall of Fame Reception and Seminars.   2006: Publishes “Jeet Kune Do Experience II” for Paladin Press     2008: Publishes Jeet Kune Do: High-Risk Sparring     2009: Karate College voted the nations #1 martial arts training camp   2009: Publishes Dojo Dynamics: Essential Marketing Principles for Martial Arts Schools