Our Founder

WORLD CHAMPION Larry C. Tankson - Hanshi (10th Degree Black Belt),

was born in Chicago, IL. on October 12, 1955. On September 10, 1969, at the age of 13, he began his martial arts training at the Dravidian School of Self-Defense and Karate, where he studied Goju-Ryu Karate under the instruction of Sensei Russ Meek Following two years of strenuous training, he was promoted to the rank of Ikyu (1st Degree Brown belt). In August of 1971, he furthered his studies at the Henry Horner Boys Club under the instruction of Sensei Otis Baker and began to study Shorei-Goju Karate.

During this time, his overall competition in kata and kumite won him various championships, which includes but is not limited to, the U.S. Grand Nationals, American Karate Association Grand Nationals and the Midwest and Illinois State Championships. These accomplishments catapulted him to becoming the No. 1 ranked Junior Fighter in the Midwest

In 1973, Tankson studied Shorei Ryu and Tae Kwon Do under Sensei “Shorty.” Mills and was promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt (Sho Dan) by Sensei Mills and a board of higher-ranking Black Belts at the Ilinois State Karate Championship on March 17, 1974.

At the end of 1974, Tankson began his college career at Northern Illinois University, there he studied Judo and Ju-Jitsu under the instruction of Sensei Wally Babra. Between 1976 and 1979 Tankson earned his 2nd Degree (Ni Dan) 3rd Degree (San Dan) Black Belt ranks. In 1980, he began to study an American version of Shorin-Ryu Karate with Sensei John R. Venson.

On July26, 1981, Tankson promoted his first major tournament, at Loyola University of Chicago, where he was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt (Yon Dan). On August 1st 1981, he opened his own dojo called “Tankson Martial Arts Academy Ltd., which has produced the top karate competitors, instructors, and teachers in the Midwest.

From 1981-1984 Tankson was the American Karate Association national and International Champion (World Champion). Since November 1982, Tankson has been honored for his outstanding teaching, instruction, and competition accomplishments. He was rated the No. 1 lightweight fighter in the country from 1983-1985. Karate Illustrated Magazine rated him as the winningest male Black Belt in the nation in 1983 for forms, fighting and weapons combined, and the No. 4 rated fighter across the country. In 1984, Tankson was inducted into the “Who’s Who” in Karate and rated the No. 6 fighter overall in the nation. In 1985 Karate Illustrated Magazine ranked Tankson as the No. 3 fighter overall in the country.

Tankson, earned his 5’ Degree Black Belt (Go Dan) on Feb. 7, 1987, 6th Degree Black Belt (Roku Dan) on March 1, 1990 and 7th Degree Black Belt (Schichi Dan) on June 1, 1995. On December 8, 1996 Tankson received his Doctor of Philosophy for the oriental discipline ZEN CHUAN. He became the NBL Light-Middleweight sparring World Champion on November 28, 1997. Tankson won three additional Word Titles in 1998: Senior-Middleweight, 42 & over, and the Men’s Team Fighting. By winning these titles Tankson became the only person to win all four NBL sparring titles. In April 2003, Dr. Larry C. Tankson was promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt by the American Karate Association “AKA” and in May 2003 by “Shorty” Mills - Hanshi.