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Pat E. Johnson

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Pat E. Johnson
Born(1939-12-31)December 31, 1939
Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 5, 2023(2023-11-05) (aged 83)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
ResidenceLos Angeles, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
StyleAmerican Tang Soo Do
Teacher(s)Chuck Norris, Kang Do Hee
Rank  9th degree black belt
Notable studentsSteve McQueen, Bob Barker, Osmond family, William Zabka[1][2][3]

Patrick E. Johnson (December 31, 1939 – November 5, 2023) was an American martial artist and actor. He was a 9th degree black belt in American Tang Soo Do and was the president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was originally created by Chuck Norris in 1973.

Johnson was famous for the martial arts choreography in The Karate Kid series, in which he also starred as the All Valley Karate Tournament head referee, and was involved in many films, as choreographer and actor, including Enter the Dragon (as a Mafia collection-agent who gets coldcocked by John Saxon), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,[4] Mortal Kombat, Green Street Hooligans, and Punisher: War Zone.[5] He was the 1995 Black Belt magazine Instructor of the Year.

Biography

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Patrick E. Johnson was born in 1939 in Niagara Falls, New York.[6][7] He began training in traditional Korean Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan in 1963, while stationed in South Korea as a chaplain in the U.S. Army. While under the tutelage of a Korean master named Kang Lo Hee, Johnson earned his black belt in just thirteen months.[8] After his army service ended, Johnson met and formed an association with Tang Soo Do instructor Chuck Norris. Johnson soon rose to the rank of chief instructor at Norris' school in Sherman Oaks, California in 1968. That same year, he formulated the penalty-point system still used by karate tournaments.[9]

From 1968 to 1973, Johnson was captain of the undefeated Chuck Norris black belt competition team, which won 33 consecutive national and international titles. In 1971, he became the National Tang Soo Do Champion. In both 1975 and 1976, Johnson was awarded the prestigious Golden Fist Award for best karate referee in the United States.[9]

In 1973, Norris founded the National Tang Soo Do Congress (NTC), and named Johnson as executive vice president and chief of instruction. In 1979, Norris disbanded the NTC and formed the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF), again naming Johnson as executive vice president.

In 1980, Johnson had a small supporting role in the feature film The Little Dragons (later known as The Karate Kids U.S.A.). In the film, Johnson played the karate instructor to a pair of young brothers (portrayed by Chris and Pat Petersen) who use their martial arts skills to foil a kidnapping plot.

In 1984, Johnson served as stunt co-ordinator on The Karate Kid. Johnson also featured in the movie as the chief referee in the All Valley Karate Tournament.[10] He was one of only four cast members who knew any martial arts before shooting began.[a]

In 1986, Johnson was promoted to ninth-degree black belt. The same year, after a difference of opinion with Norris, he left the UFAF and reformed the NTC.[11]

Johnson died in Los Angeles on November 5, 2023, aged 83.[7]

Achievements

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  • 1963: Began training in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan in South Korea under Kang Do Hee.
  • 1965: Received 1st degree black belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan.
  • 1968: Began training under Chuck Norris and was made chief of instruction for the Chuck Norris Karate Studios.
  • 1968: Formulated the penalty point system currently used in karate tournaments.
  • 1968–1973: Served as captain of the Chuck Norris Black Belt Competition Team, which won 33 consecutive national and international titles.
  • 1971: Became national Tang Soo Do champion
  • 1973: Was named vice-president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, by Chuck Norris.
  • 1975–1976: Won the Golden Fist Award for the best karate referee in the United States.
  • 1980: Named as executive vice-president of the United Fighting Arts Federation.
  • 1984: Served as the stunt coordinator for The Karate Kid.[1][12][13]
  • 1986: Awarded 9th degree black belt by Chuck Norris.
  • 1986: Due to philosophical reasons left UFAF, and reformed the National Tang Soo Do Congress.
  • 1989: Served as stunt coordinator for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
  • 1993: Inducted into the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Hall of Fame.
  • 1995: Served as stunt coordinator for Mortal Kombat.
  • 1996: Inducted into the Black Belt magazine Black Belt Hall of Fame as "Instructor of the Year".

Notes

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  1. ^ The others being Chad McQueen (Dutch), Ron Thomas (Bobby), and Darryl Vidal (who was featured in the Semi Final against Johnny Lawrence).

References

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  1. ^ a b "Pat e. Johnson from 'The Karate Kid' Wasn't Just a Referee". February 2021.
  2. ^ "Sweep the Leg! Interview with the real Johnny, William Zabka". Kung Fu Magazine. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  3. ^ O'Neal, Sean (June 8, 2010). "William Zabka". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  4. ^ Johnson, Pat E. "Paradise Lost: Can Arts Recapture the Tradition?" M. A. Training. November 1997. P. 37.
  5. ^ Pat E. Johnson at IMDb
  6. ^ "Episode 14 – Pat E. Johnson". BICBP Radio. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Pat E. Johnson, 'Karate Kid' Choreographer, Trainer and Referee, Dies at 84". The Hollywood Reporter. November 6, 2023. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Ley, Rodney. "Evolution of Tang Soo Do" Black Belt Magazine. March 2000. P. 112.
  9. ^ a b Ley. P 117.
  10. ^ "Karate Kingpin".
  11. ^ Beaver, William K. "The Man Behind the Ninja Turtles", Black Belt magazine, July 1991. p18.
  12. ^ "Who's Who : Pat E. Johnson". Martial Arts Entertainment. July 10, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2023. Martial artist, stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and actor ... Many martial artists know him for his work as the martial arts coordinator on The Karate Kid (1984, 1986,1989, 1994) series of movies.
  13. ^ Brandhuber, Steph (September 5, 2018). "20 Wild Details Behind The Making Of The Karate Kid". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 13, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
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