Aaron Banks
Encyclopedia
Aaron Banks is a Grand Master Martial Artist born in 1928 in Bronx, New York and made it his personal mission to distribute the different forms of martial arts to the western world. He has brought Chinese Kung Fu, Korean Moo Duk Kwan, Japanese and Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate, judo
and boxing
under the same roof in his New York Karate Academy. During his life, he has promoted 352 karate tournaments, conducted more than 1,000 demonstrations, and organized 250+ martial arts shows. His karate influence can be seen through his karate school which he operated for 30 years and the 200,000+ students he has taught. Great Grandmaster Aaron Banks also brought Martial Arts
to the public with his "Oriental World of Self-Defense" shows that played in Madison Square Garden
for over 20 years via ABC
-Wide World of Sports
, NBC
Sports world, CBS
sports, and HBO sports, where millions of viewers watched.
in Bronx, New York. His mother was nurse who consistently gambled. His father was an editor of sports writing for the failed New York newspaper Morning Journal. Banks was married twice. His first wife was a secretary who left him after his drug use and his short stint in the hospital due to pneumonia
. Banks said that she was constantly nagging him to settle down. Banks' second wife was a show girl, but the marriage quickly dissolved again due to the difference in salary. Banks earned around $40 a week and his wife $1000 a week. It was shortly after this that he was employed at the record store where an infamous incident changed his life.
along with Harry Belafonte
. When Banks failed to make it big-time, he moved onto to his third career as a director of plays. He started his first studio and held auditions. One of his memories was of a girl singing. "She's terrible," he commented not knowing that this girl was Barbra Streisand
. He also ran through many small jobs such as salad-maker, dishwasher, short-order cook, and theater usher.Finally his string of jobs ended when he tried to be a salesmen at a Colony record shop. His simple and short statement on the incident that changed his life was, "I had a fight and lost." While the original argument was trivial, Banks exploded and while he was obviously the smaller opponent, he fought ferociously. In the end, it took 6 policemen to drag him away from the fight.
Banks then studied karate under John Slocum. After 10 lessons, his drug and alcohol use ceased. He trained under multiple teachers and learned many different techniques. Within four years, Banks earned his black belt in Goju Ryu
.
Though there was public suspicion, Bank's show grew until he believed that it was time to approach Madison Square Garden. When Banks met with the vice president of Madison Square in 1972, Banks was so confident he let the Garden have a signed bond guaranteeing them a certain amount of money. In fact, he volunteered to sign anything they wanted. Starting with the Felt Forum, Banks quickly graduated to the main arena within 2 years. Many new artist gained notoriety through Aaron Banks such as Chuck Norris
who achieved some of his first major exposure in the Oriental World of Self Defense's competitions held monthly. Lou Neglia, a Karate Hall Famer and name fighter of the year in 1984
, admits to owing much of his success to Banks due his start fighting in the Oriental World of Self Defense and the World Karate Championships. At age 82, Banks still puts on scaled-down versions of his show, which play to significantly smaller crowds at a local theater in New York.
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
under the same roof in his New York Karate Academy. During his life, he has promoted 352 karate tournaments, conducted more than 1,000 demonstrations, and organized 250+ martial arts shows. His karate influence can be seen through his karate school which he operated for 30 years and the 200,000+ students he has taught. Great Grandmaster Aaron Banks also brought Martial Arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
to the public with his "Oriental World of Self-Defense" shows that played in Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
for over 20 years via ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
-Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports
Wide World of Sports can refer to:*Wide World of Sports , screened on the Nine Network*Wide World of Sports , screened on the American Broadcasting Company...
, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Sports world, CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sports, and HBO sports, where millions of viewers watched.
Personal life
Aaron Banks was born in 1928, a year before the Great DepressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
in Bronx, New York. His mother was nurse who consistently gambled. His father was an editor of sports writing for the failed New York newspaper Morning Journal. Banks was married twice. His first wife was a secretary who left him after his drug use and his short stint in the hospital due to pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. Banks said that she was constantly nagging him to settle down. Banks' second wife was a show girl, but the marriage quickly dissolved again due to the difference in salary. Banks earned around $40 a week and his wife $1000 a week. It was shortly after this that he was employed at the record store where an infamous incident changed his life.
Early career
At the age of 19, Aaron Banks decided his job was to be an actor. He charged in and managed to get the part of a gangster in the movie Greenwich Village Story and the Broadway play Two by Saroyan. When he failed to achieve any star roles, Banks decided to start with a singing career. He studied under the tutelage of Alan GreeneAlan Greene
Alan "Al" Greene was an American diver who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.In 1936 he won the bronze medal in the 3 m springboard event.-References:...
along with Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
. When Banks failed to make it big-time, he moved onto to his third career as a director of plays. He started his first studio and held auditions. One of his memories was of a girl singing. "She's terrible," he commented not knowing that this girl was Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
. He also ran through many small jobs such as salad-maker, dishwasher, short-order cook, and theater usher.Finally his string of jobs ended when he tried to be a salesmen at a Colony record shop. His simple and short statement on the incident that changed his life was, "I had a fight and lost." While the original argument was trivial, Banks exploded and while he was obviously the smaller opponent, he fought ferociously. In the end, it took 6 policemen to drag him away from the fight.
Banks then studied karate under John Slocum. After 10 lessons, his drug and alcohol use ceased. He trained under multiple teachers and learned many different techniques. Within four years, Banks earned his black belt in Goju Ryu
Goju Ryu
, is one of the main traditional Okinawan styles of karate, featuring a combination of hard and soft techniques. Both principles, hard and soft, come from the famous martial arts book Bubishi , used by Okinawan masters during the 19th and 20th centuries...
.
Oriental World of Self Defense
In an attempt to bring knowledge of martial arts to America, Aaron Banks started the successful Oriental World of Self Defense. This television show was unprecedented and brought the martial arts to public attention. The show toured the world playing in packed houses. Near its peak, the show sold out twice in one day at the 20,000 seat arena in Madison Square Garden. Banks' first show premiered in 1966 and featured many of the best martial artist on the East Coast. The show sold out the Town Hall's 1700 seats in Manhattan, New York.Though there was public suspicion, Bank's show grew until he believed that it was time to approach Madison Square Garden. When Banks met with the vice president of Madison Square in 1972, Banks was so confident he let the Garden have a signed bond guaranteeing them a certain amount of money. In fact, he volunteered to sign anything they wanted. Starting with the Felt Forum, Banks quickly graduated to the main arena within 2 years. Many new artist gained notoriety through Aaron Banks such as Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris
Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...
who achieved some of his first major exposure in the Oriental World of Self Defense's competitions held monthly. Lou Neglia, a Karate Hall Famer and name fighter of the year in 1984
, admits to owing much of his success to Banks due his start fighting in the Oriental World of Self Defense and the World Karate Championships. At age 82, Banks still puts on scaled-down versions of his show, which play to significantly smaller crowds at a local theater in New York.
Small Film Parts
| Film Title | Role |
|---|---|
| One Down, Two to Go | Announcer |
| Fist of Fear, Touch of Death Fist of Fear, Touch of Death Fist of Fear, Touch of Death, also known as The Dragon and the Cobra, is a 1980 martial arts film about a martial arts tournament at Madison Square Garden that will determine the supposed "successor" to Bruce Lee. Within the film, the tournament is hosted by Adolph Caesar... |
Promoter |
| The Bodyguard The Bodyguard The Bodyguard is a 1992 American romantic-thriller film starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Costner stars as a former Secret Service Agent turned bodyguard who is hired to protect Houston's character, a music star, from an unknown stalker. Lawrence Kasdan wrote the film in the 1970s,... |
Small Role in US version |
| Mean Johnny Barrows Mean Johnny Barrows Mean Johnny Barrows is a 1976 filmJohnny Barrows is dishonorably discharged from the army for punching out a fellow officer. Shipped back home to Spiddal, Johnny promptly gets mugged and hauled in by some racist cops for being drunk... |
Capt. O'Malley |
| Cry Uncle | Cop |
| Greenwich Village Story | Franko |
Memorable Events
This list present 10 events that were important to the memory of Aaron Banks and essential for the movement of the martial arts.- Earned a black belt in 1962. His span of arts included:
- Shotokan karate taught by John Slocum
- Moo Duk Kwan by Richard Chun
- Goju-ryu by Peter Urban and Gonnohye Yamamoto
- Southern Praying Mantis Kung Gu
- Tai Chi Chuan
- Organized karate demonstration in 1963. It was held in the 41st Street Theater. It was the start of many karate presentations.
- Launching the Oriental World of Self-Defense in 1966.
- The venue was the Town Hall in New York City. It presented different martial artist of jujitsu, aikido, kung fu, taekwondo, aikido etc. Many Americans learned of the various arts besides karate and judo.
- Organizing the East Coast vs. West Coast Team Competition in 1967.
- Hosted in Manhattan Center, the West Coast Team consisted of Steve SandersSteve SandersSteven Ike Sanders is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, Jerry TaylorJerry TaylorJerry Taylor is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute where he researches environmental policy. He attended the University of Iowa as a political science major....
, Joe LewisJoe LewisJoseph Peter "Joe" Lewis is an English footballer who plays for Peterborough United as a goalkeeper, having made a £400,000 transfer from Norwich City on 8 January 2008.-Norwich City:...
, and Chuck Norris. Banks' East Coast Team consisted of Thomas Carroll (martial artist)Thomas Carroll (martial artist)Thomas "Lapuppet" Carrol, was an African-American martial artist, and also a member of USA Karate Hall of Fame , and the Black belt Hall of fame of Brooklyn, NY. He was also a member of the US Ju-Jitsu Federation. . He focused in Ronin Karate and shotokan karate...
, Joe HayesJoe HayesJoe Hayes was an English footballer who played as a striker for Manchester City F.C. and scored the opening goal in the 1956 FA Cup Final....
, Louis Delgado, and Kazuyoshi Tanaka. - 3,800 spectators showed up and the West Coasters won the competition.
- Hosted in Manhattan Center, the West Coast Team consisted of Steve Sanders
- Held the First Professional Karate Championship in 1968.
- Joe Lewis defeated Vic MooreVic MooreVictor Moore holds a 10th Degree Black Belt in Karate and was one of the late Robert Trias' Chief instructors of the Shuri-ryū Karate system. Moore was one of the first ten original members of the Trias International Society and also studied and trained with William J. Dometrich in the style of...
in the heavyweight category - Mike StoneMike StoneMike Stone may refer to:*Mike Stone , former guitarist for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche*Mike Stone , retired American professional ice hockey centre...
beat Bob Tiani in the light-heavyweight category - Chuck Norris defeated Louis Delgado in the middleweight categorys
- Banks predicted Norris would become famous when he picked himself up after Delgado almost knocked Norris out with illegal contact.
- Skipper Mullis beat Kazuyoshi Tanaka in the lightweight championship
- In a show that had Norris, Lewis, Stone, and LaPuppet fighting against a group of Asian fighters, the Americans won 4 out of 6 fights.
- Joe Lewis defeated Vic Moore
- Began his tournament-a-month competition in 1969. It ran the Sunnyside Gardens Arena in Queens, once a month for three years.
- This tournament included George Cofield, Joe Hess, Moses Powell, Frank RuizFrank RuízFrank Ruíz is a former Peruvian footballer.-Club career:Ruíz played for most of his career with Alianza Lima in the Primera Division Peruana. He also had a spell with Veria in the Greek Super League.-References:...
, Tom LaPuppet, J.T. Will, Jerry Piddington, Nick Cerio and Joe Lewis.
- This tournament included George Cofield, Joe Hess, Moses Powell, Frank Ruiz
- Toured the USA in 1973. Banks hosted the Oriental World on the road and toured 25 US States before moving to Europe. He entertained cities such as BirminghamBirminghamBirmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and ManchesterManchesterManchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He then appeared in Royal Albert HallRoyal Albert HallThe Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
which was also watched by the Queen of England. - The Oriental World attracted 19,000 spectators in 1974. The show which moved to Madison Square Garden in 1972, attracted 4,000 people the first year it was held. Two years later, the viewers number 20,000.
- He shattered 58 boards in 60 seconds in 1982 on the Mike Douglas Show.
- Held The World Professional Martial Arts Organization Hall of Fame Banquet in Madison Square Garden on January 17, 2010.