Pat E. Johnson
Born
1939-12-31, Niagara Falls
Died
2023-11-05, Los Angeles
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)
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military_tech1 dan ProbableProbableBlack 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
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkBlack 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. -
military_tech9 dan ConfirmedConfirmedThe 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
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe 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.
Offices held (2)
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corporate_fareExecutive Vice President and Chief of InstructionNational Tang Soo Do Congress ProbableProbableWikipedia only.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.1973 – 1979
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corporate_fareExecutive Vice President United Fighting Arts Federation ProbableProbableWikipedia only.The evidence favours the claim and nothing credible contradicts it, but it falls short of establishing it.1979 – 1986
fact_checkassessed by FSMverified
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia only.
Students (3)
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William Zabkasports_martial_artsAmerican Tang Soo Do ProbableProbableThe 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
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkThe 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.”
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Ralph Macchiosports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ConfirmedConfirmedFirst-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
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkFirst-person account naming both teacher and style, corroborated by Johnson's own account of training him intensively for the film.visibilityFirst-hand -
Pat Moritasports_martial_artsGoju-ryu ProbableProbableTwo 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
2 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkTwo 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.
Honours (2)
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descriptionNorth American Sport Karate Association Hall of Fame ProbableProbableWikipedia 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
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkWikipedia and two Tang Soo Do profiles agree on 1993; the two profiles share their wording, so not independent. -
descriptionBlack Belt Magazine Instructor of the Year ProbableProbableDated 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
3 sources expand_moreFrederico MuñozResearcher, Martialisfact_checkDated 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.
Sources
Identifiers
https://martial.is/entity/01M0TFB9H0HC3R48RJTFV77PCN
Cite and reuse
CC BY-SA 4.0expand_more
Plain text
Muñoz, Frederico (YEAR_PLACEHOLDER). Pat E. Johnson. In Martialis: Martial Arts
Lineage Database. https://martial.is/entity/01M0TFB9H0HC3R48RJTFV77PCN - CC
BY-SA 4.0. Accessed ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER.
BibTeX
@incollection{martialis_01M0TFB9H0HC3R48RJTFV77PCN, author = {Muñoz, Frederico},
title = {Pat E. Johnson}, booktitle = {Martialis: Martial Arts Lineage
Database}, year = {YEAR_PLACEHOLDER}, url =
{https://martial.is/entity/01M0TFB9H0HC3R48RJTFV77PCN}, urldate =
{ACCESSED_DATE_PLACEHOLDER}, note = {CC BY-SA 4.0} }
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