Legends of Karate
The Late Professor Ronald D.Duncan
June 5,1937 to November 19,2012
Father of American Nin Jitsu
Creator of: Way of the Wind Martial Arts System
Visit his site: www.wayofthewinds.com
Professor Ronald Ducan
Father of American Nin jitsu
Creator of: Way of the Wind Martial Arts System
Visit his site: www.wayofthewinds.com
The late Professor Ronald D.Duncan
June 5,1937 to November 19,2012
The late GrandMaster George Cofield (Tong Dojo) Shotokan
Passed:March 22,2001
Tong Dojo
The founder of the Tong was Mr George Cofield. He started his training with Mr Maynard Minor who from rumors have it that he was a junior ina class with Okazaki in Japan. Training in Brooklyn, New York on Utica Avenue, sensei honed his skill under the watchful eye of Mayor sensei. His ability to adopt to the techniques of karate made him eager to have his own dojo. With the help of the Solowitz Bros a moving firm at the time near Snyder Avenue & Utica sensei formed his first line. The founders sensei students were to my best memory was. Mr Benny Pugh, Mr Paul Harris and Curt Blackwood. The school on Snyder and any other school sensei opened was never of one ethic group. I Thomas Carroll Lapuppet joined that group in 1959.
Looking to expand his operation sensei taught in St. John's Recreation Center and then opened a school on Fulton and Rockaway Avenue. This school was known as The Brooklyn School of Self Defense. At this location Alex Sternberg, Dwight (Hawk) Frazer, Bob Shapoff, Speedy Leacock, Bill Swift, George Young and many other well known athletes found their foundation in the art. Always looking to expand to a better location, the school needed to grow. Moving to Flatbush & St. Marks Avenue , the Tond Dojo was formed as the legend grew, but that's a tale for another time...
LaPuppet, Sensei
Any names or information left out was not intentional ...40 years is a long time to remember.
This information was given to AL-Mu'assis Karriem ABdAllah Thursday July 23,1998. He was my commentator for a Hard Piont Karate Championship I promoted. It was a snow storm but Thomas still came to my show. Before his passing we spent much time in telephone conversations.
GrandMaster George Cofield as head instructor made this the most outstanding dojo in all of New York. Tongs dojo produced champions after champion. Master Thomas LaPuppet, Dwight(Hawk)Frazier, The Walder twins, Speedy an so many others. If you know the names of others kindly e-mail that information to, kahpk@optonline.net.
The late Dr. Moses Powell
(10th Degree Black Belt)
Creator of Sanuces Ryu Jiu Jitsu System
The late Dr. Moses Powell
Creator of The Sanuces Ryu Jiu Jitsu System
The late Kyoshi Ronald Victor Austin
Creator of The Jaribu System of Martial Arts
10th Degree Black Belt
A pioneer in the Karate World
Born November 29,1934 Passed: March 2,1998
Visit his site: www.truejaribu.com
The late GrandMaster Peter Urban
10th Degree Black Belt in American Gojo
The late GrandMaster Ed Parker was the President and Founder of the International Kenpo Karate Association (I.K.K.A.) He was also called the father of American Karate.
GrandMaster Gary Alexander
10th Degree Black Belt
Isshin Ryu Plus
Shihan won Mas Oyama Championship
Visit www.rockmelt.com/is/3v5pzjs
GrandMaster Steve Muhammad 10th Degree Black Belt
Wo Ying Chuan Kenpo
B.K.F.
GrandMaster Russell Perron
9th Degree Black Belt
Tae Kwan Do
GrandMaster Robert Dickerson
9th Degree Black Belt
Universal Martial Art
Visit his site: www.unitycommunity.com
Visit site: universal_pasha_karate_school.htm
The late Master Fred Hamilton
Master Linda Ramzy Ranson
8th Degree Black Belt in Fuji Ryu
GrandMaster Jeff W.Smith
The late GrandMaster Joe Lewis
The late GrandMaster Joe Lewis
The late Master Leon Wallace
System: USA Gojo
GrandMaster Henry Cho
Tae Kwan do
The late Master Thomas La Puppet
Tongs dojo (Shotakan)
Hall of Fame fighter
Tong Dojo
Profile: Thomas LaPuppet
Started Judo in North Africa in 1957 while in the Marine Corps.
Studied Judo in the United States with Elliot Farrell top judo instructor in Brooklyn. classes were held in the Lions den at the St. John Recreation Center early 1959. Trained under Mr Visitacion in Ju Jitsu and then with Ronald Duncan Chief Ninja trainer in street Self-Defense. Met Sensei George Cofield Shotokan Karate instructor at the St. John's Center later in 1959 and joined his Snyder Avenue dojo. In 4 years earned his Black Belt under Sensei Cofield, training 7 days a week 4 hours per session. In 1968 was voted as one of the Top 50 fighters in the World and one of the Top Ten in The United States. In 1969 was the second fighter in the World voted into the black Belt Hall of Fame. I was the First African American to receive this distinction.
I was the President of the USA Karate group of New York
National Treasurer for the USA Karate Federation. This groupgot karate into the Pan-American Games.
Senior Coach for the National Program and a former PUKO referee.
Former member of the World Karate Organizing Committee (110 Countries).
Member of the New World Karate Confederation.
Member of the New York Sports Alliance.
Member of the Brooklyn Sports Foundation
Retired 1st Sgt.USMCR 1977 (22 years)
Retired New York City City Fire Department 1982 (20 years)
Past personal body guard for Donald Trump & family
Past trainer of Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
Master George Young
Shodokan Karate
Learned under The late Grandmaster George Cofield
Master Dwight Frazier
(The Hawk)
Tong dojo shotokan
The late Master Fred Miller
System: Gojo
The late GrandMaster Masutatsu Oyama aka Mas Oyama was the founder of Kyokushinkai Karate.
The late GrandMaster Gogen Yamaguchi (Japanese Goju Kai)
(The Cat Man)
(The Cat Man)
Professor Robert Brown
Kung Fu
Bennett vs The late Fred Miller
The late Master William Oliver (Kenshikaikan Karate)
The late Master Joe Versocki
The late Master Happy(Robot)Crump
The KA System of Karate
Dwight(Hawk)Frazier vs Toyotaro Miyazaki
Town Hall
New York, NY
I saw this match Frazier won this bout but was never given the decision.
Kendo/Superb kata
Dr.Khemfoia T. Pardu
Shidoshi Ron Van Clief
Chinese Goju System
The late Master Ron E. Jeter sr.
(Master Breaker)
Pass October 21,1999
Master Sam McGee
Harlem Gojo
GrandMaster Bill Wallace
Master Felix Vasquez
The late Master Louis Delgado
Nisei Karate
Instructor The late Master Frank Ruiz
Owen Watson aka Charles Song, Owen was a very good fighter his instructor the late Master Frank Ruiz & the late Master Pete Siringano. Master Ron Van Clief was also a student of Master Frank Ruiz.
