Джо Льюис: Американдық жекпе-жек шебері және актері

American martial artist and actor (1944–2012)

Joe Lewis (March 7, 1944 – August 31, 2012) was an American martial artist, professional kickboxer and actor. Originally a practitioner of Shōrin ryū karate and champion in point sparring competitions, he became one of the fathers of full contact karate and kickboxing in the United States, and is credited with popularizing the combat sport in North America. As a fighter, Lewis gained fame for his matches in the 1960s and 1970s, and was nicknamed "the Muhammad Ali of karate." He has twice been voted the greatest fighter in karate history, having won several karate tournaments, and has attained the titles of "United States Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion," "World Heavyweight Full Contact Karate Champion," and "United States National Black Belt Kata Champion." He competed professionally from 1965 to 1983, with a 16 1 4 record and 14 wins by knockout.

Joseph Henry Lewis was born on March 7, 1944, in Knightdale, North Carolina. In 1962, Lewis enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina from July 20, 1962, to April 12, 1964. He studied Shōrin ryū Karate with [[Shōbayashi Shōrin ryū, John Korab, Chinsaku Kinjo, and Seiyu Oyata while stationed in Okinawa between May 21, 1964, and November 29, 1965, earning his black belt in seven months. He was one of the first Marines stationed in Vietnam; there, he met Rocky Graziano. From February 7 to July 14, 1966, he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, during which he was released from active duty. Upon returning to the US, he began a winning tournament career. From 1967 to 1968, he studied privately with the influential Wing Chun kung fu teacher, Jeet Kune Do founder, and Chinese/Hollywood martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. Hong Kong cinema historian Bey Logan says Lewis was the original pick of Bruce Lee to play Colt in Way of the Dragon, but as a result of either Lee and Lewis having a falling out or Lewis having a scheduling conflict, Chuck Norris was chosen instead.

Starting in 1967, Lewis began training privately with Bruce Lee and former heavyweight boxing contender Joe Orbillo. In late 1969, promoter Lee Faulkner contacted Lewis to fight in his upcoming United States Karate Championships. By this time, Lewis had retired from point fighting, but agreed to fight if Faulkner would promote a full contact karate bout with Lewis and an opponent who would fight to the knockout, which Faulkner agreed to. The match took place on January 17, 1970. As Lewis and Greg Baines entered the ring wearing boxing gloves, the announcer identified them as "kickboxers". That night, Lewis won the first ever kickboxing bout in North America with a second round knockout over Baines. Prior to this, Lewis defeated Chuck Lemmons in point karate at the US Pro Team Karate finals. On June 20, 1970, in Dallas, Texas, Lewis defended his United States Kickboxing Association heavyweight title against "Big" Ed Daniel at the U. S. A. Professional Open Karate Championships, which was promoted by Lee Faulkner and Allen Steen. Daniels had a background in professional wrestling and amateur boxing as well as a black belt from Lewis' original teacher; he was also a police officer at the time. Lewis knocked out Daniel in 2 rounds, and in 3 rounds in a later rematch. On January 24, 1971, at the 2nd Annual United Nations Open Karate Championships, which was promoted by Aaron Banks, Lewis knocked out Ronnie Barkoot. At another Banks promotion; United States Championship Kickboxing Bouts, Lewis scored a 3rd round knockout over "Atlas" Jesse King. In total, Lewis defended his United States Heavyweight Kickboxing title with 8 straight knockouts between 1970 and 1971. Lewis was the first kickboxer to be featured in both The Ring boxing magazine and Sports Illustrated. to begin his comeback for a title, Lewis defeated T. Morrison by KO, decisioned Charleton Young and Curtis Crandall, and knocked out Melvin Cole. On April 16, Lewis lost a decision to Tom Hall in an upset. He also developed a fast back fist punch; if it failed, he would grab his opponent's dogi and use the reverse punch instead. After cross training in boxing with Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Orbillio and then training Jeet Kune Do with Bruce Lee, Lewis gained a unique view on how to handle distance and closing the gap. His preferred techniques as a full contact karate and kickboxing fighter were his trademark side kick and hook punch, and once referred to them as his "main weapon". Thanks to his background as a wrestler and studying of several types of fighting, such as Shōrin ryū Karate, Okinawan Kenpo, Judo, Jeet Kune Do, Boxing and Tai Chi, Lewis was a well rounded fighter. As a teacher, Lewis was devoted to instructing martial artists in the Five Angles of Attack and other principles, which he learned from Bruce Lee and then modified through his full contact experience.

Early in July 2011, Lewis was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and was told he would have six to eight weeks to live without surgery. He underwent surgery on July 18 to remove the tumor. Lewis died on the morning of August 31, 2012, at Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, at the age of 68. The cancer had spread to his left shoulder and hip prior to his death. He was buried at Knightdale Baptist Church Cemetery in Knightdale, Wake County, North Carolina.

Lewis left behind his own system of martial arts teaching; the Joe Lewis American Karate Systems, which focuses on full contact fighting. Due to his role in developing and promoting the sport's first event in the American continent, Lewis is considered to be the "Father of Kickboxing" in the western world, and has also been called "the man who brought us Full Contact Karate." Black Belt Magazine describes his process of solo training in boxing and combining those techniques with his karate techniques as "the result is the martial sport now known as Kickboxing." His efforts in these fields eventually resulted in the Mixed martial arts competition of today. In the cover story "The Passing of the Torch Legendary Fighter Joe Lewis Grooms His Successors" for the February 1993 issue of Black Belt, Lewis stated that his proteges John and Jim Graden were his choice to carry the torch of his system after his death.

Ken Masters from the Street Fighter series was based upon Lewis' likeness and career, both being Americans who learned traditional karate styles in Japan then returned home to become United States champion to worldwide acclaim. Masters' characteristic red uniform and blond hair were patterned after a popular cover in which Joe Lewis appeared sporting that same look. Like how Lewis' personal mixture of karate, boxing and Jeet Kune Do showcases the eclectic approach some American martial artists took towards more traditional martial arts, Masters sports a flashier fighting style than Ryu. The American kickboxer, Joe, from the first Street Fighter game, was also seemingly based on Lewis. Lewis is indirectly referenced in a scene from the 2019 Quentin Tarantino film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood when Bruce Lee (played by Mike Moh) refers to him as "[T]hat white kickboxing a hole." to differentiate him from the boxer Joe Louis.