User:PadovaniML/Dennis Nackord

Dennis Nackord is the highest ranking student (9th degree black belt) under Karate/Kickboxing Champion Joe Lewis and on the board of directors of the Joe Lewis Fighting Systems.

During his over forty years of professional karate training and teaching, Mr. Nackord has contributed to the opening of over 25 martial arts schools in the USA and overseas.

He began his training in his birthplace of San Francisco in 1966 and credits four men as his teachers. The founder of American Kenpo Karate, Ed Parker (deceased), taught the principles and relationships of movement. Eight-time world heavyweight karate champion and the first American kick boxer, Joe Lewis, teaches strategies and attitudes of fighting. World champion boxing trainer, Marty Feldman of Philadelphia, teaches skills and realism found only in the art of boxing. And, the internationally known person who first brought kickboxing to the United States and founder of the American Bando Association, Dr. Maung Gyi, teaches the true combative, health, and spiritual aspects of the martial arts.

Mr. Nackord was the founder and head of the 15 American Karate Systems schools in the 1970's and 1980's. He is currently the head of the Nackord Karate System.

His awards include among others a citation from the United States Navy and Marine Corp for training support for troops in the Middle East, and an award from the City of Nice, France for establishing the Kenpo Karate Federation in that city.