| Sijo Steve Muhammad's Page |
| Sijo Steve (Sanders) Muhammad founder of the Martial System "Wu Shur Shin Chuan Fa" (Fist Law of the Warrior Spirit) |
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Sijo Steve Muhammad is a co-founder of the Black Karate Federation and the organization’s
first president. He is also one of most dynamic and celebrated figures in the history of
American martial arts. From his days as a tournament competitor with an unrivaled
championship record, to becoming a trainer of fighting champions and of thousands of
martial art practitioners worldwide, Steve Muhammad exemplifies the true spirit of the martial
arts tradition. In short, he is a warrior and a true gentleman.
Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1944, Muhammad was the youngest of several siblings, all of whom
were raised in a tight knit and fairly athletic family. Muhammad’s first exposure to the fighting
arts actually began observing his mother! To keep her boys in line, she developed “a mean
right hook.”
In high school, Muhammad became an outstanding athlete who excelled in football, baseball
and track. He later attended Kansas State University on a football scholarship before leaving
to join the Marine Corps. While in the military as a member of the Pathfinders, he received
his first real exposure to the martial arts. Training with the Pathfinders was similar to training
with the Green Berets – it was intense and highly disciplined.
During his military years, Muhammad was stationed at Camp Pendleton, which is in Southern
California. Twice a week he drove north to Los Angeles to train in kenpo with Ed Parker. Even
after he was later transferred to El Toro Marine Base, he continued to travel and train in Los
Angeles. Muhammad’s training was eventually interrupted with a tour of duty in Vietnam. The
experience of fighting in Vietnam gave him discipline and a first-hand look at the reality and
brutal effectiveness of combat.
After his enlistment was over in 1963, Muhammad returned to California and immersed
himself in the study of kenpo with Ed Parker. He earned his first black belt three years later
under Parker’s instructors Dan Inosanto and Chuck Sullivan.
As A tournament competitor, Muhammad became a member of the West Coast Karate Team.
During those early days of sport karate, he faced renowned fighters such as Joe Lewis, Al
Dacascos, Chuck Norris, and Benny Urquidez. Many tournament veterans called Muhammad
‘The fastest hands in karate.’ He later received the ultimate tribute from the late Bruce Lee,
who said Muhammad had the ‘fastest hands I had ever seen.’
In the decades following Muhammad’s magnificent tournament career, he became interested
in developing a more personal approach to fighting and began to introduce his own
techniques in his training. Some of his theories, such as “Brain Sight” and the “Principles of
Mathematical Fighting” have revolutionized his art.
The quiet-spoken Muhammad has twice been awarded the Golden Fist Award by his
colleagues, and he has been nominated for the Black Belt magazine Hall of Fame for his
outstanding contributions to the martial arts. He is co-author of “Championship Kenpo,” “The
God Side Of Kenpo” and “Brain Sight.”
Mr. Muhammad has also found time to appear in a few films. His most notable role was in
“Enter The Dragon.” In this classic Bruce Lee movie, Muhammad played the role of Jim Kelly’
s instructor. Additionally, Mr. Muhammad has worked with actor Wesley Snipes for several
years as his bodyguard and accompanied him throughout his film career.
first president. He is also one of most dynamic and celebrated figures in the history of
American martial arts. From his days as a tournament competitor with an unrivaled
championship record, to becoming a trainer of fighting champions and of thousands of
martial art practitioners worldwide, Steve Muhammad exemplifies the true spirit of the martial
arts tradition. In short, he is a warrior and a true gentleman.
Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1944, Muhammad was the youngest of several siblings, all of whom
were raised in a tight knit and fairly athletic family. Muhammad’s first exposure to the fighting
arts actually began observing his mother! To keep her boys in line, she developed “a mean
right hook.”
In high school, Muhammad became an outstanding athlete who excelled in football, baseball
and track. He later attended Kansas State University on a football scholarship before leaving
to join the Marine Corps. While in the military as a member of the Pathfinders, he received
his first real exposure to the martial arts. Training with the Pathfinders was similar to training
with the Green Berets – it was intense and highly disciplined.
During his military years, Muhammad was stationed at Camp Pendleton, which is in Southern
California. Twice a week he drove north to Los Angeles to train in kenpo with Ed Parker. Even
after he was later transferred to El Toro Marine Base, he continued to travel and train in Los
Angeles. Muhammad’s training was eventually interrupted with a tour of duty in Vietnam. The
experience of fighting in Vietnam gave him discipline and a first-hand look at the reality and
brutal effectiveness of combat.
After his enlistment was over in 1963, Muhammad returned to California and immersed
himself in the study of kenpo with Ed Parker. He earned his first black belt three years later
under Parker’s instructors Dan Inosanto and Chuck Sullivan.
As A tournament competitor, Muhammad became a member of the West Coast Karate Team.
During those early days of sport karate, he faced renowned fighters such as Joe Lewis, Al
Dacascos, Chuck Norris, and Benny Urquidez. Many tournament veterans called Muhammad
‘The fastest hands in karate.’ He later received the ultimate tribute from the late Bruce Lee,
who said Muhammad had the ‘fastest hands I had ever seen.’
In the decades following Muhammad’s magnificent tournament career, he became interested
in developing a more personal approach to fighting and began to introduce his own
techniques in his training. Some of his theories, such as “Brain Sight” and the “Principles of
Mathematical Fighting” have revolutionized his art.
The quiet-spoken Muhammad has twice been awarded the Golden Fist Award by his
colleagues, and he has been nominated for the Black Belt magazine Hall of Fame for his
outstanding contributions to the martial arts. He is co-author of “Championship Kenpo,” “The
God Side Of Kenpo” and “Brain Sight.”
Mr. Muhammad has also found time to appear in a few films. His most notable role was in
“Enter The Dragon.” In this classic Bruce Lee movie, Muhammad played the role of Jim Kelly’
s instructor. Additionally, Mr. Muhammad has worked with actor Wesley Snipes for several
years as his bodyguard and accompanied him throughout his film career.