Karate Stories
From the "Blood and Guts" Era of tourament Karate
Karate Stories reflects on the "Blood and Guts" era of Tournament Karate as documented by Grand Master 10th Degree Black Belt, Jim Butin with humor and insight.
“In my experience, I have been blessed to be a part of martial arts history in the U.S. since 1966. As a 16-year-old high school student starting classes with Master J. Pat Burleson in Ft. Worth, Texas, I was like a sponge from my very first class.”
After earning a Black Belt in June of 1968, Jim competed in and won every major tournament in the Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas areas. He has won over 150 awards, all in fighting divisions. He won four National titles and was rated as the #2 light heavyweight in the world by the PKA from 1974 to 1978. He was inducted into Official Karate’s “Legion of Honor,” and he is listed in four Martial Arts Halls of Fame, including an inaugural induction to the Taekwondo Hall of Fame, and can be found in the “Who’s Who of Martial Arts”.
Besides competing and winning the silver medal in the 1st World TKD Championships in Seoul, Korea in 1973, Jim also competed in Europe in 1974 with another famous US team, including Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith, Howard Jackson, and Bill Wallace, against Germany, and the Netherlands. The team was undefeated in six separate contests. He is also a history general for the Sport Karate Museum.
Follow Jim as he takes us through his lifelong passion for the sport of Martial Arts.
This book also pays honor to his longtime friend and Mentor J. Pat Burleson. History records J. Pat Burleson as America's karate pioneer and "Father" of all karate champions.
Gary Lee, the curator of the Sport Karate Museum in Houston Texas stated. "No other man in martial art history has had first-hand experience in the bare knuckle era of the 60's, the 1st World Tae Kwon Do Championships, and the '1974 Dream Team' (which included Jim Butin, Superfoot Bill Walace, Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith and Howard Jackson) and the U.S., vs, Europe team fights.”
Gary Lee... Curator of the Sport Karate Museum stated...
"No other man in martial Art history has had first hand experience in the bare knuckle era of the 60's. the 1st World Tae Kwon Do Championships, and the "1974 Dream Team" the U.S. vs. Europe team fights"
