Our History & Tradition
A martial arts education at U.S. Blackbelt Academy is like no other. Modern training meets a rich history inside the doors of our dojang. While many schools claim to offer training in a variety of disciplines, USBA instructors can track their lineage directly back to the founders and grandmasters of the most popular, most beautiful, and most lethal fighting arts in the world.
Hung Ga Kung Fu
Hung Ga Kuen (Hung Family Fist) is one of the most popular martial art styles of Southern China. It is known for its devastating close range hand techniques, delivered through the power of a strong-rooted stance. Utilizing the techniques of the five animals and 5 elements, this sytem combines both hard and soft power to offer a complete system for health and self-defense, as well as internal power and mental focus.
Wong Fei Hung, (see lineage below) often considered the father of modern Hung Ga Kung Fu, is the most famous of all Hung Ga masters to date. The story of his life has been immortalized by over hundred movies, publications, TV and radio shows. Kwan Tak Hing, a well known Chinese actor, rose to fame playing the character of Wong Fei Hung over 80 plus movies. Even today, many movies and TV shows are still made about his life and his adventures by such famous actors like Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
In the early 1900’s, a Japanese jiu-jitsu instructor by the name of Esai Maeda went to the state of Para in Northern Brazil. There he befriended Gastao Gracie, a influential businessman, who helped the Japanese get established. To show his gratitude, Maeda, also known as “Count Koma,” offered to teach the traditional Japanese jiu-jitsu to Gastao’s oldest son, Carlos.
The youngest son of Gastao and Cesalina Gracie’s eight children, Helio was always a very physically frail child. He would run up a flight of stairs and have fainting spells. Nobody could figure out why. So, after completing second grade, he convinced his mother that he shouldn’t go to school any more.
Royce Gracie with Ivan Kravitz, USBA Owner
Quick Link: USBA Class Schedules
Click here for instant access to USBA class schedules!Our monthly event calendars are found here.
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