“Black America’s Karate Godfather”
Fred Hamilton 1925 – 1986
“Black America’s Karate Godfather”
Born in Harlem, New York, Grandmaster Fred (Olu Balogun) Hamilton began Karate-do training in Japan from 1940 to 1968, when he returned to the US. He was a practitioner and instructor in Traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate-Jitsu; Traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate-do; Kodokan Judo; an African martial arts master practitioner, Afro-Centric American Traditional Martial Arts Master, and martial arts promoter and visionary.
He was a direct student of Tomosaburo Okano (1922-2003), who was a direct student of Gichin Funakoshi and Gigo Funakoshi (Yoshitaka Funakoshi). Okano was granted permission to start his own school of shotokan, and created the Kenkojuku style of Shotokan in 1942. Developed from Okinawan-Japanese origins, with the philosophy of making karate accessible to all, Kenkojuku Shotokan is considered biomechanically sound and more self- defense oriented than other Shotokan styles.
The founders of NZ Whanake Rangataua Karate (1978) chose to work with Master Fred Hamilton in Japan and New York because he was considered closely akin to them in spirit and ideals. Masters Frederick Hamilton and Toyoto Miyazaki both trained in New York while affiliated to Kenkojuku shotokan karate and were head instructors to Whanake Rangataua Karate Chief Instructors Charles Mareikura (1952-2009) and Vern Winitana, kyoshi and Chief Instructor. The goal of the NZ Whanake Rangataua Karate
is to assist and uplift the oppressed, disadvantaged or those marginalized by the wider community and society.
Grandmaster Hamilton viewed the martial arts knowledge and teachings passed on to him as an opportunity to help others. From 1968-1973 he used karate in conjunction with Operation Helping Hand, a program for inner city youth which produced major results, to keep thousands of kids (and adults) off the crime riddled streets of Harlem. He was tough but caring, and known for lengthy sessions with his protégées, which included training, seminars on lifestyle, counseling, and tough love. He effectively created a community drop-in, where all were encouraged to join the training, gradings, competitions, and to keep in touch with those who passed through. As a promoter of competitive and special events, he actively encouraged his charges to become involved. His students became his legacy as top fighters.
Hamilton extended his efforts by lending a hand in many prison, college and University programs. He became known as War God--defender of the people. In 1975, he hosted the first bare-knuckle full-contact professional karate tournament in the U.S.A. Along with this, he was the first promoter to allow women to fully participate in all categories of martial arts competition. Black Belt magazine named him The Great Black Hope.
Growing up in Harlem was a task of survival in the 60's and 70’s. Training was raw, bordering on brutality. Sparring was taken and given seriously. ‘Periodically students would dish-out a whippin and sometimes they would take a whippin but we all went home as friends and family.’ The two decades were known as the Golden Years of Karate in Black America.
Fred Hamilton is recognized as a popular and respected promoter, 10th dan karate practitioner, and one of the Legendary Black Martial Arts fighters of the 60’s and 70’s. He was the recipient of numerous Hall of Fame awards and honors including The Tribute to the Greatest Masters of the 20th Century Hall of Fame in 1998.
The martial arts community continues to mourn the death of Fred Hamilton a true legend and warrior for all times.