At
10 years old , Jerry Bell studied Judo under the
guidance of his father James Edward Bell Jr, and
Boxing under another family member, Muhammad Ali.
At 13 Jerry was studying Karate at the East Coast
Karate Association. By 17, he had traveled to
Okinawa to study Okinawan Goju under Grand Master
Hidegami Matsamura. Later in Japan, he studied
Shotokan under Grand Master Nakayama Masatoshi,
Master Ozumi Ozawa, and in the United States under
Grand Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.
Jerry
also studied Kyokoshinkai under Grand Master Masutatsu
Oyama, Shito Karate under Master Yojiro Ishikawa,
and Iaido under Master Muramasa Kudo. He then
studied Aikido under Master Shoji Nishoi, Silat
under Master Abdul Muhammad Ben, Tae Kwon Do under
Masters Simon and Phillip Rhee, and Sanuces Ryu
Jujitsu under Supreme Grand Master Dr Moses Powell.
Jerry lived more than 15 years in the Far East
studying the martial arts, and as a result speaks
both Korean and Japanese fluently.
Jerry Bell entered the Kumite in Japan, intent
on becoming the first foreigner ever to win the
traditional competition.
1984: Jerry entered the arena long before the
public arrived for his first match. He sat alone
on the fight platform meditating, a practice he
would continue throughout the rest of his career.
During
the beginning of this match, Jerry opened with
a classic Ali shuffle. His japanese opponent attempted
to mimic the movement. At this point (pictured
above) Jerry Bell stopped, and stood perfectly
still, watching his opponent dance. When the opponent
started to move in, Jerry Bell knocked him out.
The
match pictured above was also against a japanese
fighter, in Osaka. The photo above was taken just
moments before the the final blow. One can clearly
see Jerry's fist inches from his opponent's head.
You can also see Jerry's right leg about to sweep
the remaining leg off of the ground. This match
also ended in a knock out.
The
match pictured above took place at the World Championship
in Frankfurt, Germany. Jerry's opponent was a
champion from Austria, but his great size did
not help him avoid the knock out.
The
match pictured above was the championship bout
of the 1987 Kumite in Osaka, Japan. Moments after
this photograph was taken, Jerry Bell's opponent
was carried out on a stretcher.
He had accomplished what was once considered impossible,
and thus created an overnight sensation in Japan,
sending shockwaves throughout the martial arts
world.
The
following year, Jerry Bell entered and won the
Kumite in another stunning victory. In 1993 "Inside
Karate" had him on the cover during their
20th anniversary (pictured above).
Jerry
Bell continued to defend his title, and eventually
retired after more than 500 fights, never having
been defeated.
1996: Jerry founded the Black Ryu Organization
in Los Angeles, California. Some of its early
members included Cuba Gooding Jr (pictured above).
Black Ryu is an organization dedicated to the
martial arts in their most ancient form. One that
can trace its origin as far back as ancient Egypt,
and the african continent.
In
2004, Jerry Bell returned from retirement to once
again win the World Kumite in Osaka, Japan (pictured
above).
He
would later instruct the military for the King
of Malaysia, and train Recon Forces for the US
Marines. By then, his Black Ryu Organization had
evloved into an association that embraced a multiplicity
of artforms, and their masters.
Jerry
Bell is now in the Black Belt Hall of Fame, the
Martial Arts Halls of Fame, and the World Karate
Hall of Fame. He's earned 6 World Gold Medals,
and 3 Silver Medals. He has a 7th Degree Black
Belt in Shotokan, a 4th Degree Black Belt in Kyokoshinkai,
a 6th degree Black Belt in Iaido, a 2nd Degree
Black Belt in Judo, a 4th Degree Black Belt in
Aikido, and a 10th Degree Black Belt in Jujitsu.
