Joe Lewis

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"The Father of Full-Contact Karate"

Joe Lewis

Kickboxing Heavyweight
Joe Lewis was born on 7 March 1944 and passed away on 31 August 2012. He is widely credited as the father of full-contact karate and a pioneering founder of kickboxing in the United States. A champion in Shorin-ryu karate point tournaments, Lewis envisioned something bigger—combining karate striking with Western boxing to create something harder, faster, and more realistic. He became one of the first fighters to embrace full-contact rules, demonstrating their effectiveness in competition and earning a massive following. His contribution to combat sports went far beyond his own record. He dedicated his life to teaching, promoting, and developing full-contact karate and kickboxing across North America, laying the groundwork for the global sport that exists today. Joe Lewis passed away in 2012, but his legacy lives on in every kickboxer who steps into a ring.
At a glance
Country
UNITED STATES   United States
Born
07-03-1944
Deceased
31-08-2012
Weight class
Heavyweight

I didn't just fight - I built the sport that millions now love.

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