Bill "Superfoot" Wallace - A legend in the martial arts

Bill Wallace will attend the 1st Open Black Belt World Championships. He will be demonstrating, signing autographs, and posing for pictures. Meet this great martial art celebrity at the championship in August. purchase tickets here

Bill Wallace retired as the undefeated Professional Karate Association (PKA) Middleweight Champion after defeating Bill Biggs in a 12-round bout in June 1980. The victory, Wallace's 23rd straight, signaled the end to an illustrious 15-year career in tournament and full contact fighting.

Known to the karate world simply as "Superfoot," symbolic of his awesome left leg, which was once clocked in excess of 60 mph, Wallace left a string of battered and bruised bodies along the martial arts fighting trail.

He used his foot as others would use their hands, faking opponents with two or three rapid fake kicks and following with one solid knockout technique. His power was amazing, his precision astounding.

Wallace, a 5-foot, 10 1/2 inch native of Portland, Ind., began studying karate in February 1967 after suffering a right leg injury in a judo accident. The injury left him without the use of the leg in karate competition. Some observers said Wallace was committing martial arts suicide. Wallace, however, had other ideas.

In the next seven years, "Superfoot," named after his manager saw an advertisement for a "super foot long hot dog" at a sporting event, dominated the point-tournament circuit.

As a national champion point fighter three years in a row, Wallace captured virtually every major event on the tournament circuit. The more prestigious victories included: the U.S. Championships (3 times), the USKA Grand Nationals (3 times), and the Top Ten Nationals (2 times).

He was such as dominant figure in martial arts that Black Belt magazine, the bible of industry publications, named him to its Hall of Fame three times in seven years -- twice as "Competitor of the Year" and once as "Man of the Year."

In 1973, Wallace, whose education includes a bachelor's degree (1971) in physical education from Ball State University and a master's degree (1976) in kinesiology (the study of human movement) from Memphis State University, suffered what many considered a career-ending injury. However, one of Wallace's friends, the late Elvis Presley, flew in a Los Angeles acupuncturist to treat the Karate champion at Graceland Manor.

A year later, Wallace turned professional and captured the PKA middleweight karate championship with a second-round knockout (hook kick) of West German Bernd Grothe in Los Angeles. He relinquished the crown in 1980, undefeated and respected around the world.

Despite his retirement, Wallace continues to be one of the martial arts most popular figures. He is the author of three books: Karate: Basic Concepts & Skills, Dynamic Kicking & Stretching, and The Ultimate Kick.

As well as a former member of the President's Council on Physical Fitness, Wallace also has been active in the film industry.

His credits include : A Force of One with Chuck Norris; Kill Point, with Cameron Mitchell; Continental Divide and Neighbors, with John Belushi, whom he acted as trainer and bodyguard; Protector, with Jackie Chan; A Prayer for the Dying,with Mickey Rourke; Ninja Turf; and A sword of Heaven.

Meet Bill Wallace at the 1st Open Black Belt World Championship 2007.

Dr. Dan Netherland - Holder of numerous Guinness Records and 10th degree black belt

Dr. Dan Netherland will be attempting a new world record at the 1st Open Black Belt World Championship 2007. He will also be available for pictures and autographs. He will perform a special martial arts demonstration. purchase tickets here

Dr. Dan Netherland, 10th degree black belt, is a solitary warrior, misplaced in time. An extraordinary martial artist, he's a gentle but fierce man who teaches an incredibly violent martial art. 

As a  child he was a polio victim given little chance to walk or succeed, but he did. He dedicated himself to a life of martial arts in 1954. Now, years later, he is a multi black belt holder, with advanced ranks in Jujutsu, Karate, Kempo and Judo. Dr. Netherland is a former Police Capitan and S.W.A.T. Team commander / Major with the Sheriffs Department.

He has been called "Hands of Thunder" and "King of Breaking." At 5'6", weighing over 300 solid pounds. He was once described as a "Bank Vault.".

He is a 10th degree black belt, the highest attainable in the martial arts, and awarded the title "Hanshi" or High Master. He is the Guinness Breaking Champion, featured in the 2004 Guinness Book of World Records. Dr. Netherland holds two seperate Guinness World Records to date with two others pending verification.

In February of 2003 He broke 55 slabs of poured cement, not cinder or cap block, weighing a total of 3014 pounds. He broke these blocks by hand in only 17.45 seconds. In November of the same year he broke 76 red house bricks, by hand, in 25 seconds.

Dr. Netherland has shattered 20" of standing concrete through a S.W.A.T. issue, class 3A bullet proof vest with a steel trauma plate insert. He's broken river rocks, granite slabs, stones, padlocks, chains, wrenches, 2x4's, violent prisioner maximum restraint straps, and other seemingly impossible objects.

According to Dr. Netherland, "impossible", "never", and "can't" are all catch phrases used by those unwilling to dedicate themselves to persevere through the pain and fire to achieve victory. Decisions backed by definitive action determine destiny. It is all a matter of having a forged and resolute spirit of steel.

Dr. Netherland is without argument, by the sheer weight of physical evidence, one of the most powerful martial artists of all times. He is capable of a documented incline bench press of 650 pounds, a leg press in excess of 1400 pounds.

He has been actively involved in the martial arts for over 50 years. He holds black belt ranks in Aikijujitsu, Jujutsu, Judo, Kempo, Karate, and Kobojutsu.

In 2002 He was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame.  Again in 2003, he was honored as "Grandmaster of the year" by the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Later in the same year he was inducted into the World Professional Martial Arts Hall of Fame, because of his breaking achievements.

He is featured in the Tiger Claw martial arts supply catalog, international edition, endorsing their breaking and re-breakable supplies. Specifically their bricks, tiles and boards.

Dr. Netherland is not a martial artist in the modern sense, he follows a more ancient martial warrior path. He is a vetern Police Officer having served as a Patrol Officer, Police Captain, S.W.A.T. team commander and trainer. He has taught armed/unarmed tactical combat, Police urban street survival, arrest methods against armed/unarmed, single and multiple assaliants.

Dr. Dan Netherland is not an artist, he is a warrior.

Meet Dr. Dan Netherland at the 1st Open Black Belt World Championship 2007.

Watch a video Dr. Dan Netherland breaking concrete:

Guinness Break - Dr. Dan Netherland

Slow Motion