Master John Black 7th Degree
Legend or Mr Bean?
Johnny Black has been involved in martial arts for many years, it was way back in 1973 in Hong Kong that he started training under Master Lee Chung Ho (who also instructed Bruce Lee). Johnny Black, now one of the top instructors in the Professional Unification of Martial Arts, who's talents are not just restricted to teaching and training, he is also a renowned and respected umpire, coach and referee. He is a Sports Council approved National Coaching Foundation Qualified Coach, (N.C.F.). Not to mention a Class 'A' Umpire and Class 'A' Referee. Since 1989 he has been an International Referee and was selected to officiate at the 2000 World Championships. Where two of his students became World Champions. Maria Clark won the junior heavyweight girls sparring, and Carl Lavis took the gold in the junior patterns. More recently in October 2004 John was selected to referee at the World Championships in Korea. Again John was proud to have two of his students selected for the UK-ITF squad. In 1978 John became a Physical Training Instructor and Unarmed Combat Instructor in the British Army, and has been a Self Defence Consultant for over 25 years. He was the Chief Instructor for Devon and Cornwall T.A.G.B. and was responsible for setting up most of the schools in the area. Many of the the higher grade instructors in the South West, were at some time or other trained by Johnny Black.
It doesn't stop there, as well as being twice nominated for South West of England Instructor of the Year, he was awarded National T.A.G.B. Instructor of the Year. 1994 brought him Sports Personality of the Year, while in 1995 he was nominated by Leisure Service for National Coach Award. A very special prize, was to receive the Westcountry Television Sterling Salute for outstanding charity work. Then there is the General Officers Commendation for bravery while serving in Northern Ireland when he disarmed a man with a knife. Johnny Black is one of those people who knows everybody, it doesn't matter where he is, whether he's at the local gym, in town shopping or even hundreds of miles away from home, he will bump into not just one but several people that know him. Most people know him as a very friendly, kind, gentle, generous, over enthusiastic live wire. Many would describe him as scatty, dithery and I have even heard him likened to "Mr Bean" (actually it was me that said that). He may well be all of those things but there is also a serious side to "JB". Passionate and uncompromising about his beloved art of Taekwon-Do, make no mistake, he would rather die than forsake his art. He's a colourful character who avoids conflicts like the plague and wants to be everybody's friend.
As a 7th degree Master, he's a highly qualified martial artist with a military background as an unarmed combat instructor, which makes him a very dangerous man. Those that know him well would not want to cross him, although many like to take advantage of his extremely good nature, but they know just how far to go. As an instructor/trainer he is probably one of the best there is, known as Exeter's Mr Motivator and Captain Fitness his legendary training sessions at summer training camps will always be remembered long after the camp has become a distant memory.
John always had an interest in martial arts, and like many of us he was captivated by those Chinese martial art films of the early seventies, especially those featuring Bruce Lee. It was while he was serving in Hong Kong the British Army in 1973 that he became aware of the full potential of mastering a martial art.
"The army had taught me unarmed combat but when I saw a demonstration by 6th degree (Korean Special Forces) Taekwon-do Master Lee Chong-Oh I realised my future was with Taekwon-do. Master Lee Chong-Oh was an unbelievable man, he was the original "Hong Kong Hero" once saving a man from a gangland murder attempt, he single handedly fought off five or six gangsters, seriously injuring a couple of them. He was also known for training Bruce Lee, and it's rumoured he was offered a part in "Game of Death" but declined on the basis that it would be bad for Taekwon-do to have a Korean Master beaten by a free style opponent. Recently found manuscripts written by Bruce Lee have verified this story. Master Lee is not named but it says that one of the floors in the Pagoda was to be defended by a Master of a Korean kicking art. Master Lee was my first teacher in taekwon-do".
John's fascination with Bruce Lee got him into serious trouble and almost caused an international incident. John found out where Bruce Lee's house was, and in true John Black style, and without any consideration of the consequences he went straight there to get some snap shots. He arrived at the house with his wifes Afghan and promptly tied it to the gates, which he then climbed and positioned himself on top to take the photos. Moments later three police cars screeched to a halt and six police officers jumped out with their guns drawn aiming at John who was perched on top of the gates like a bird on a wire. Needles to say John's yarn spinning skills got him off the hook and most probably left the police officers completely bewildered.
Being in Hong Kong at this time was like a dream come true for John, Bruce Lee was becoming bigger by the day throughout the world, and the world focused on Hong Kong as the epicentre for martial arts. At that time there was a martial arts publication in the U.K. called "Dragon Magazine" and John often sent in articles and stories and he was portrayed as their 'Hong Kong correspondent'. John was nothing short of ecstatic when he was sent an appointment to interview Raymond Chow at the Golden Harvest studios. Chow directed those epic movies of the era, the ones that still today some thirty years later, every self respecting martial arts fan will re-plan their schedule to make sure they get to watch them yet again. John spent the whole day at the studios and was treated to a tour and was shown some of the sets used in the films. The highlight of the day was when he met and had his photo taken with Angela Moa Ying and James Tien, who both starred alongside Bruce Lee. Angela Moa Ying showed John the set where she played that famous scene as Su Lin (Lee's characters sister in Enter the Dragon) who was pursued by Han's evil men before she took her own life.
John recalls the time he was introduced to the famous Wing Chung master Sifu Leung Ting. "I went to the cinema to watch a film called something like 'Bruce Lee Lives' and I sat next to a European guy and we got chatting. When the film started and the mainly Chinese audience realised that the film starred Bruce Li and not Bruce Lee they went berserk and all hell broke loose. Me and the guy I was sat with got out of there as quickly as we could because it didn't look like things were going to calm down. When we were outside he said he was going to meet his instructor and would I like to go along and meet him. I didn't even know he practised a martial art until then so we had a lot to talk about. When we arrived at his instructors house I couldn't believe it when it turned out to be Sifu Leung Ting who was a student of the world renowned Master Yip Man. Master Yip Man also trained Bruce Lee in the art of Wing Chung so I was honoured to be in his presence."
John began to train with Sifu Leung Ting and enjoyed learning Wing Chung techniques. He never gave up Taekwon-Do and continued working towards his black belt. Master Lee Chong-Oh noticed the Wing Chung techniques were being used during sparring and when John got to his red belt he spoke to him about the consequences of cross training. Master Lee told John that it was good to train in other martial arts, but he likened it to a hunter tracking two animals. Somewhere along the line the animals would take separate paths and the hunter would have to decide which one to follow. He told John if he wanted to continue to train in Wing chung he must give up Taekwon-Do or visa versa, but he would need to decide which one he wanted to put his dedication to and that he would understand when he was a black belt. John had no hesitation, he loved Taekwon-Do and felt it was the best art for him.
Needless to say he reached his black belt grading under a panel of 7th dans, and it was probably the hardest grading he has ever done. There was the usual line work, pattern work and set sparring but it just seemed to go on forever, technique after technique, pattern after pattern, hour after hour. Then it was time for the power testing. First he had to break 18 tiles with each hand and then a house brick using a knife hand strike with both hands. Then came the kicks, 3" of wood with a turning kick, both legs of course and then a jumping side kick over six people to break 2" of wood. Back to the tiles and a high kick held by someone on the shoulders of another. Finally an air break using a jumping reverse turning kick high section to 2" of wood. In those days if you didn't break, you didn't pass. Now it's on with the sparring gear and spar against all the black belts up to 5th dan, including two on one. Not finished yet, there's the real self defence against a knife and stick attack, which required restrain and disarm techniques. And that's all there was to it!!!!
It was sometimes months before you found out if you had passed your grading and you dare not ask and show impatience, as that would mean instant failure. The day before John and his wife Pat were due to fly back to England they were both invited to have a meal with Sifu Leung Ting. It was then when Sifu Leung Ting offered to buy John out of the army and give him a five year contract to learn Wing Chung and then open an academy in the U.K. From there he would expand throughout Britain. He very graciously declined the offer and said his farewells to a man he deeply respected. The following day he was contacted by Master Lee Chong-Oh who said he should come down to the dojang before going to the airport. When John arrived he was greeted by Master Lee who presented him with his black belt and insisted that he initiate it by sparring with the other black belts. He had little choice even though he was wearing jeans and tee shirt. When he eventually met Pat to go to the airport he looked like he had been in a street fight.
On his return to England John lived with his in-laws in and as he was unable to find an ITF school he went to train with the WTF at the 'Percy Boys Club' in Bath under Mr Lee and Fred Lowe. John was in contact with the UKTA and was surprised to hear that as he didn't attain his black belt in the U.K. it might not be recognised by Master Rhee Ki Ha. John felt that this couldn't be right as his certificate was an official ITF certificate signed by General Choi himself, but John would never question his seniors and decided to wait and see what happened. In the mean time John was sent to Northern Ireland where he set up a Taekwon-Do school. It was there that he received a letter from Tom MacCallum of the UKTA who informed him that at this stage they were unable to accept his black belt grade and he would have to train as a white belt. John accepted this in the belief that it might be a test of character. Eventually after a long six months a letter arrived inviting John to attend a masters seminar at the UKTA academy in Glasgow where he would be assessed. While there he managed to throw a cup of tea all over himself when he panicked to get to his feet when Master Rhee and General Choi entered the room. This not only amused everyone but also ensured John Black would be remembered for eternity. John's character was obviously admired as he was invited to have a meal with the masters and was finally recognised as a black belt.
It was at the Glasgow academy that he met Mike Dew who would prove to be a major influence in his life. Another 'John Black' moment happened when Mike Dew and his wife Pat along with Master Rhee gave John a lift to Norton Manor army camp, and when John got out of the car as always he showed his respect by bowing. Unfortunately he head butted the car and virtually knocked himself out!!!!
After leaving the army he found himself living in Taunton where he worked as a fitness consultant at the 'Riverside Health Club', which was owned by Julie & Martin Barre. Martin Barre was the lead guitarist with rock band Jethro Tull. In his work he had cricketers Martin Crowe of New Zealand and Steve Waugh of Australia as his clients. John declined an offer from Martin Barre to accompany Jethro Tull on their world tour as fitness consultant on the grounds that it would be bad for his health once Mrs Black found out!!!!
In Taekwon-Do, John worked under Mike Dew and helped to run schools with him as his assistant instructor. Schools were steadily spreading across the country and then John opened the very first school in Devon and Cornwall. The Honiton UKTA school was in effect the planting of a small acorn as far as John Black was concerned, although he didn't know it back then. Taekwon-Do spread throughout the region and in 1983 he was firmly behind Mike Dew when the TAGB was formed and John became a major driving force for the TAGB in the area. It would be true to say that virtually all non WTF Taekwon-Do exponents in Devon & Cornwall could probably be traced back to John Black somewhere along the line.
In August 2000 John joined his two best friends Mark Ogborne and Ray Gayle when they left the TAGB to form the 'Professional Unification of Martial Arts' P.U.M.A. As a senior member of the association he found himself working alongside two of his former students, Nick Bale 4th dan and Chris Wood 4th dan who at the time were also part of the all important management team (Nick Bale has since left the association). P.U.M.A. are arguably the fastest growing Martial Arts association in the U.K. and will continue to be successful as long as people like John Black are behind it. John is enjoying being part of the ITF again and was proud (relieved more like) to grade to 6th degree when he graded in Korea during the World Championships in October 2004. This was a very special time for John, because earlier in the year following months of ill-health he struggled to achieve the required standards under Master Choi Jung Hwa, and was told although he was very close he would just need to polish up the technical side of his techniques. In true John Black style he accepted the decision in a most humble manner despite being internally shattered, he continued to show great respect and was genuinely pleased when Mr Don Deedigan (his training partner) passed. Master Choi was impressed with John's attitude and told him he had not failed but would just need to retake the grading at a later date. Master Choi also insisted that John stand with the successful students for the photo. Needless to say, to retake and pass his grading in the country where Taekwon-Do was born during the ITF's historical return was the ultimate rush.
On Saturday 15th November 2008 at the 19th P.U.M.A. Black Belt Presentation Evening, Mr John Black was promoted to 7th Degree Master. This special event is usually hosted by P.U.M.A. Chairman Master Ray Gayle who was unable to attend due to the sad loss of his father which meant he had to go to Jamaica to be with his family and attend the funeral. Mr Black was assisting Master Ogborne host the evening and was enjoying the success of his own students who had done well in their own gradings, when at the end of the evening 'Master LP' (the Little Puma's mascot) arrived bringing along a special guest. The special guest was Lieutenant Colonel Stockton who Mr Black had served under while serving in the army. Lieutenant Colonel Stockton spoke of his experiences with Mr Black and how he was assigned to him as his Body Guard during active service in some of the worlds most dangerous places, and paid tribute the the fact that the reason he was "here today was in no small part due to this individual" and it was an honour for him to be here. He then handed the microphone back to Master Ogborne who then introduced Master Ray Gayle via a live phone link from Jamaica. Master Gayle acknowledged that Mr Black had started training a long time ago in Hong Kong and that over the years he had raised an incredible amount of money for charity and was one of those people who always gives to others. He said that Mr Black was responsible for many of the instructors in the UK and he embodies what P.U.M.A, is all about - Loyalty, Humility & thinking of others before himself. Master Gayle then went on to say that with the support of everyone there and the support of Master Ogborne he would like to present Mr Black with his 7th Degree Masters. The entire hall of around 300 people erupted with cheers and everyone stood to give Master Black a standing ovation. Tears of happiness & joy were flowing in abundance as everyone lined up to congratulate Master Black & wish him well. His closest friends and his loyal students were among the first to share in his special moment as the emotions of the evening touched everyone. The following day Master Black took his first class as a Master and will be remembered by all who attended. (For me it was a great honour to announce to the class and the students parents the news, and to share with them all the success of the Exeter P.U.M.A. Taekwon-Do School)
Ask any of Master Black's juniors who their instructor is and they will tell you, "The legendary Johnny Black" says it all really.
Charlie Dowling©
info@devonmartialarts.co.uk Tel: 01392 668862
© Devon Martial Arts/Exeter Kickboxing 2006/2007/2008