Pat E. Johnson · Lineage tree

Also known as

Patrick E. Johnson

Description

American Tang Soo Do grandmaster (9th dan) and pioneering sport-karate figure. Began training in Korean Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan in 1963 while stationed in South Korea as a US Army chaplain, earning his black belt in about thirteen months. Rose to chief instructor of Chuck Norris's Sherman Oaks school (1968), captained Norris's undefeated black belt competition team (1968-1973), won the 1971 national Tang Soo Do title, and created the penalty-point system still used in karate tournaments. Served as executive vice president of Norris's National Tang Soo Do Congress (1973-1979) and then of the United Fighting Arts Federation (1979-1986), before leaving over philosophical differences and reforming the NTC, which he led until his death. Choreographed the fight scenes and played the referee in the Karate Kid films, training Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and William Zabka for their roles.

Ranks (2)

• sports_martial_artsTang Soo Do

  military_tech1 dan Probable

  Probable

  Black belt earned after roughly thirteen months of training beginning 1963, stated independently by Wikipedia and the Hollywood Reporter obituary; the exact year 1965 comes only from Wikipedia's achievements list.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Dan-Kyu System (1965)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Black belt earned after roughly thirteen months of training beginning 1963, stated independently by Wikipedia and the Hollywood Reporter obituary; the exact year 1965 comes only from Wikipedia's achievements list.

  “1965: Received 1st-degree black belt in taekwondo.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “He said it took him just 13 months to earn his black belt.”

  — Barnes, Mike. (2023-11-06). Pat E. Johnson, 'Karate Kid' Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84link history info
• sports_martial_artsAmerican Tang Soo Do

  military_tech9 dan Confirmed

  Confirmed

  The 9th-degree rank is confirmed by three independent sources; the grantor (Chuck Norris) and year (1986) rest on Wikipedia alone, but nothing found disputes them.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  Dan-Kyu System (1986)

  granted by Chuck Norris

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The 9th-degree rank is confirmed by three independent sources; the grantor (Chuck Norris) and year (1986) rest on Wikipedia alone, but nothing found disputes them.

  “In 1986, Johnson was promoted to ninth-degree black belt.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Pat E. Johnson, the ninth-degree black belt and Chuck Norris contemporary who choreographed the fight scenes, trained the actors and portrayed a tournament referee in the first three Karate Kid films, has died.”

  — Barnes, Mike. (2023-11-06). Pat E. Johnson, 'Karate Kid' Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84link history info

  “Grandmaster Pat Johnson 1939 - 2023 9th Dan Pin”

  — Grandmaster Pat Johnson - Who's Who in Tang Soo Dolink history info

Offices held (2)

• corporate_fareExecutive Vice President and Chief of InstructionNational Tang Soo Do Congress Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia only.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  1973 – 1979

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  1 source expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia only.

  “In 1973, Norris founded the National Tang Soo Do Congress (NTC), and named Johnson as executive vice president and chief of instruction.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info
• corporate_fareExecutive Vice President United Fighting Arts Federation Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia only.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  1979 – 1986

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia only.

  “In 1979, Norris disbanded the NTC and formed the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF), again naming Johnson as executive vice president.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “Due to philosophical reasons left UFAF, and reformed the National Tang Soo Do Congress.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info

Students (3)

• 
  William Zabka

  sports_martial_artsAmerican Tang Soo Do Probable

  Probable

  The relationship itself is certain, resting on Zabka's first-person accounts in two independent interviews. The American Tang Soo Do attribution is an inference from Johnson's own art; neither source names the style Johnson taught Zabka, so the assertion as a whole is Probable rather than Confirmed.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1984)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  The relationship itself is certain, resting on Zabka's first-person accounts in two independent interviews. The American Tang Soo Do attribution is an inference from Johnson's own art; neither source names the style Johnson taught Zabka, so the assertion as a whole is Probable rather than Confirmed.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “He's a legend in martial arts. He built me up from nothing. I didn't know anything about it when I first started. I was a wrestler in high school and very limber and athletic. The discipline that he gave physically, mentally and technically was incredible; so much so, that I trained with him after the film was over.”

  — Hornik, Susan. (2019-04-11). How Karate Training Helped Cobra Kai's William Zabka Get Back in Fighting Shape at 53 link history info

  “In the Sports Illustrated piece, Zabka said he "got the attitude for my character from Pat. I used his Ki-yahs. I used the way he stood with his hands in his belt."”

  — Barnes, Mike. (2023-11-06). Pat E. Johnson, 'Karate Kid' Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84link history info
• 
  Ralph Macchio

  sports_martial_artsGoju-ryu Confirmed

  Confirmed

  First-person account naming both teacher and style, corroborated by Johnson's own account of training him intensively for the film.

  The evidence establishes the claim: it is sufficient and consistent, and any conflicting evidence is resolved.

  (1984)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  First-person account naming both teacher and style, corroborated by Johnson's own account of training him intensively for the film.

  visibilityFirst-hand

  “Apart from four jiu-jitsu lessons when I was 10, I had no martial arts experience. Before filming, I was trained in Okinawan Gōjū-ryū karate by Pat E Johnson, who coordinated the fight scenes and played the head referee in the tournament at the end of the film.”

  — Gilbert, Ben. (2023-09-18). 'Everyone was doing the crane kick': Ralph Macchio on making The Karate Kidlink history info

  “For The Karate Kid (1984), Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 2018 that he trained actors Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio "separately, really hard.”

  — Barnes, Mike. (2023-11-06). Pat E. Johnson, 'Karate Kid' Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84link history info
• 
  Pat Morita

  sports_martial_artsGoju-ryu Probable

  Probable

  Two independent secondary accounts agree that Johnson trained the lead cast in goju-ryu karate for the film, but no firsthand statement from Morita himself was located, so Probable rather than Confirmed.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  (1984)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  2 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Two independent secondary accounts agree that Johnson trained the lead cast in goju-ryu karate for the film, but no firsthand statement from Morita himself was located, so Probable rather than Confirmed.

  “For The Karate Kid (1984), Johnson told Sports Illustrated in 2018 that he trained actors Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio "separately, really hard.”

  — Barnes, Mike. (2023-11-06). Pat E. Johnson, 'Karate Kid' Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84link history info

  “In those lessons, Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio were taught goju-ryu style, Okinawan classic karate.”

  — Press, Lindsay. (2024-02-18). Did Pat Morita Learn Martial Arts to Play Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid?link history info

Honours (2)

• descriptionNorth American Sport Karate Association Hall of Fame Probable

  Probable

  Wikipedia and two Tang Soo Do profiles agree on 1993; the two profiles share their wording, so not independent.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Other (1993)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Wikipedia and two Tang Soo Do profiles agree on 1993; the two profiles share their wording, so not independent.

  “1993: Inducted into the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Hall of Fame.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “In 1993 he was inducted into the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Hall of Fame.”

  — Grandmaster Pat Johnson - Who's Who in Tang Soo Dolink history info

  “In 1993 he was inducted into the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Hall of Fame.”

  — Grandmaster Pat Johnson - Tang Soo Do Masters link history info
• descriptionBlack Belt Magazine Instructor of the Year Probable

  Probable

  Dated 1995 by two Tang Soo Do profiles that share their wording and by Wikipedia's text, while Wikipedia's own achievements list gives 1996 - plausibly the induction-ceremony year rather than the award year.

  The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.

  Other (1995)

  fact_checkassessed by FSMverified

  Frederico Muñoz

  Researcher, Martialis

  3 sources expand_more

  fact_check

  Dated 1995 by two Tang Soo Do profiles that share their wording and by Wikipedia's text, while Wikipedia's own achievements list gives 1996 - plausibly the induction-ceremony year rather than the award year.

  “In 1995 was honored by Black Belt Magazine as Instructor of the Year.”

  — Grandmaster Pat Johnson - Who's Who in Tang Soo Dolink history info

  “He was the 1995 Black Belt magazine Instructor of the Year.”

  — Wikipedia contributors. (2026). Pat E. Johnson. Wikipedia (English)link history info

  “In 1995 was honored by Black Belt Magazine as Instructor of the Year.”

  — Grandmaster Pat Johnson - Tang Soo Do Masters link history info

Sources

Identifiers