Larry Ritchie
8th Degree
Black Belt
Contact Information
American Black
Belt Academy
4978 Hwy 6 N., #A
Houston,TX
77084
abbahouston@pdq.net
http://www.abbahouston.com/
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Certified
Member
Larry Ritchie
(0000025) |
http://www.wmara.net/ |
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Larry Ritchie is one of Texas'
truly dedicated Karate Pioneers, beginning his
martial arts training in 1965 under J. Pat
Burleson at his Korean Ways school in Ft. Worth,
Texas. He trained with Mr. Burleson until
1972…when he moved to Houston, Texas to assist
Mr. George Minshew in running and developing his
well-known and respected string of schools, the
Black Belt Academy. In 1985 - he opened his own
school, the American Black Belt Academy, which
has steadily grown and prospered; developing
many fine students and champions under Master
Ritchie's dedicated and experienced
guidance.
Along with classmates Pat and
John Worley, Gary Hestilow, Larry Carnahan, Jim
Butin and many other top-ranked black belts of
the era, Ritchie competed extensively in karate
tournaments from 1965 until 1982. Although, he
successfully competed throughout the Southwest
for 18-years, Master Ritchie is still best known
for his outstanding teaching skills, for his
outspoken and direct honesty, and for his
loyalty to the Texas Rough and Tough brand of
martial arts.
In addition to teaching his
strong brand of martial arts professionally,
Larry's unique talents made him highly sought
after as a bodyguard for rock and roll stars
from 1972 until 1980, as well as, a security
consultant and specialist. He is very well-known
and respected for his expert and highly
effective self-defense abilities and street
survival skills. His abilities have been
utilized and proven many times while "on the
job".
Over the years, Master Ritchie's
American Black Belt Academy in Houston, Texas
has earned a widely known reputation for
developing many fine and very strong fighters.
His students have won national and international
championship titles, some as far away as Mexico,
England, Austria, Germany, and Puerto Rico, and
have won numerous top championship titles all
across the United States, too many to list here.
He is widely recognized as a highly proficient
and expert instructor of self-defense, sport
karate, and kickboxing. Now, in his mid sixties,
he still actively teaches and runs his school,
and continues to train and develop many fine
students. Many martial artists seek him out for
his experienced advice and
guidance.
"Training & Promotion
History"
1965-71 Promoted to 2nd Brown by J.
Pat Burleson
1972 Promoted to 1st Brown by
George Minshew
1978 Promoted to 1st Black by
George Minshew
1985 Promoted to 4th Black by
Joe. Lewis
1997 Promoted to 6th Black by J.
Pat Burleson
2004 Promoted to 8th Black by J.
Pat Burleson |
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