Welcome and thank you for visiting our archive page. The content here has been submitted by various members of the A.K.S. Many of the articles have been contributed by those who earned their black-belts directly from Ernest H. Lieb, founder American Karate Association (1964), American Ji-Do-Kwan System (1965), and American Karate System (1973). It is our hope that you come to understand the significance in just what an undertaking it was for him to begin a martial arts system in the United States that would come to be accepted and acknowledged as an equal to any Asian style that exists today. The A.K.S. is the only American style of karate to be recognized by the German Karate Union (Deutsche Karate Verband), and the World Karate Federation. Ernie spent a life-time in achieving this goal and it is to his credit that we have the leadship and dedication in our senior instructors that allows the A.K.S. to continue to grow and prosper in the light of Ernie's dream.
Please feel free to print / reproduce the articles listed here. We ask that you list your source should you use it for any publication.
Circa 1970s
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Attached is an article from my most recent historical find, Black Belt Magazine, Sept. 1965. From the dates in the article, Mr. Lieb went from just starting martial arts sometime in or after 1959, and was featured in an article in Black Belt Magazine 5 or 6 years later. That's pretty amazing, to me.
Click images to view larger pictures.
Note: The article below is taken from the link above to Taekwondo Hall of Fame web page in order to preserve the historical information should the website become unavailable.
The Greats of Tae Kwon Do
1940 - 2006
Ernest H. Lieb
Ernest Lieb became a well known figure in the USA during the 60s and 70s
after handily defeating Bill Wallace, Wally Slocki of Canada and numerous other champions of that era. A student of Master Hyuk Nae Kim in the
Jidokwan system, Ernest Lieb earned his place in Tae Kwon do history by being the first American to win a title in competition in Korea. In 1967 while stationed in Korea he entered the World Taesoo-do Championship held in Namwon, garnering first place in the lightweight division. After his return to the USA he became the first karate chairman of the AAU and ultimately founder and President of the American Karate -
Association.
Letter of Condolence sent to
US Jidokwan family from
GM LEE Sung Wan, President of Korea Jidokwan
(Received from Master Al Cole on October 5, 2006)
US Jidokwan family from
GM LEE Sung Wan, President of Korea Jidokwan