THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES KARATE ALLIANCE
By Cathy Davis and Buster Cotten, Co-National Directors
The United States Karate Alliance, Inc. was formed in 1989 by Grandmaster James H. Hawkes and Dr. David Jordan, after the passing of Grandmaster Robert A. Trias, the founder of the United States Karate Association.
Grandmaster founded the United States Karate Association in 1948. Grandmaster Hawkes was the Mountain States Regional Director for the USKA. Dr. Jordan was the South Central Regional Director for the USKA. Sensei Hawkes had also been selected by Grandmaster Trias to be in the Trias International and in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was on the USKA National fighting team. Dr. Jordan was the longtime National Points Coordinator for the USKA and hosted the USKA World Championships in 1985 in Houston, Texas. During the 1980s, their two regions had a very active USKA tournament circuit. Both Sensei Hawkes and Dr. Jordan won Coach of the Year and Team of the Year Titles during the 1980s.
When Grandmaster Trias passed away on July 11, 1989, the path forward for the USKA was unclear as longtime members and instructors in the USKA began to leave the organization. Sensei Hawkes and Dr. Jordan were Shorin Ryu and Tae Kwon Do stylists, respectively, and greatly appreciated how Grandmaster Trias created an organization for all styles to share knowledge, attend seminars and compete together. Sensei Hawkes and Dr. Jordan negotiated with the family of Grandmaster Trias for the purchase of the USKA and, when negotiations failed to lead to a purchase, they decided to form the United States Karate Alliance, Inc. in 1989.
In 1989, Sensei Hawkes and Dr. Jordan were the sole shareholders (owners); each wit.ha 50% interest. From 1990 through 1998, besides Sensei Hawkes and Dr. Jordan as the majority shareholders, there were other shareholders in the Alliance. Cathy Davis was a shareholder from 1990 through 1998 and she was also the National Administrator for the Alliance. Stephen
Donaldson was a shareholder for approximately 5 years.
The Alliance immediately went to work to organize tournaments and seminars to provide a seamless transition from the USKA to the Alliance. The first Bushido Bulletin was published in December of 1989. The USKA used to hold two major events during the year -the annual seminar in March and the World Championships in July (formerly known as the Grand Nationals). In March of 1990, the Alliance hosted its first seminar, which featured Sensei Osamu Ozawa, Sensei Fumio Demura, Sensei Roy Oyakawa, Sensei Robert Bowles, Sensei Bruce Heilman, and Mr. Benny “the Jet” Urquidez as the seminar instructors. Dr. Jordan hosted the first United States Karate Alliance World Championships in New Orleans in July of 1990. Several Trias International Society members attended the 1990 World Championships and they selected the first members of the United States Karate Alliance Hall of Fame-Mr. Mike Wall, Ms. Cathy Davis, Mr. Joe Dupaquier, Ms. Sherron Lesch, and Mr. Jack James.
Thereafter, the Bushido Bulletin was published on a quarterly basis. Dr. Jordan continued to host the World Championships each July until his passing in 2016. In 1991, along with the annual seminar featuring notable martial arts instructors, Sensei Hawkes and Ms. Davis hosted the Alliance’s first Nationals, which was limited to black belts only, and known as the United States Karate Alliance Black Belt Cup. In 1992, the Nationals Tournament was opened to all ranks but, in order to compete, one had to qualify by placing at an Alliance World, National, State or Regional tournament or be ranked in the Alliance Point standings.
In 1998, Ms. Davis decided that due to the time commitment of raising a family and running her law practice, she would need to resign as a shareholder, National Administrator and Nationals tournament coordinator although she remained as a Regional Director, the Alliance attorney, and a member of the Executive Board. Sensei Hawkes and Dr. Jordan were again the sole owners of the Alliance, each with a 50% interest. In approximately 2010, Dr. Jordan determined that he wanted his longtime student, Mr. Buster Cotton, to be his successor in the Alliance and he began the process of transferring shares to Mr. Cotten.
In March of 2012, Sensei Hawkes passed away. The loss ofSensei Hawkes was felt deeply by many and the Alliance mourned his passing. Pursuant to the Shareholders’ Agreement between Dr. Jordan and Sensei Hawkes, Dr. Jordan became the sole shareholder.
In September of 2016, Dr. Jordan unexpectantly passed away on his beloved ranch. Once again, the Alliance was in mourning. Ms. Davis and Mr. Cotten became the Co-National Directors. It is difficult to name a martial arts organization that has survived the death of its founders. However, our organization is strong and has been around quite a long time. Mr. Cotten continues to host the World Championships, which have been held since 1990. Ms. Davis continues to host the Nationals, which have been held since 1991. The Bushido Bulletin continues to be published. The Hall of Fame meets twice a year. There are very loyal Regional Directors, State Representatives and school owners that were members of the United States
Karate Association and have been with the Alliance for many years – many since the beginning. Our tournaments attract talented competitors from all over and we continue to provide an organization and tournament circuit for martial artists of all styles.
HISTORY OF THE
UNITED STATES KARATE ASSOCIATION
Grandmaster Robert A. Trias was born on March 18, 1923, in Tuscon, Arizona. In 1944, while serving the United States Naval Reserve in World War 11, Robert Trias was stationed in the Solomon Islands. During that time, Grandmaster Trias was a Navy champion middleweight boxer. There, he began his study of the martial arts under Hsing Yi {Tode) and Shuri-te Master Tung Gee Hsing, a Chinese missionary of Chan Buddhism. Hsing often watched Grandmaster Trias work out and imitated his boxing footwork. After losing to Hsing in a sparring match, Grandmaster Trias asked Hsing to instruct him in the martial arts.
Hsing taught Grandmaster Trias martial arts including Shuri-Te, which Hsing had learned in Okinawa from Master Choki Motubu. Grandmaster Trias would also study Kempo-Juititsu with Hoy Yuan Ping, and Judo with Jajui Yamata. Grandmaster Trias was President of the Judo Yudanshakai for six years and and trained many judo champions.
In late 1945 after returning to the United States, Grandmaster Trias began teaching martial arts in his backyard. Grandmaster Trias also served as an officer of the Arizona State Highway Patrol from 1946-1961.
Grandmaster Trias opened the first commercial karate school in the United States mainland in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1946. Over the next thirty years, Grandmaster Trias fine-tuned his beloved system. In 1974-75, Grandmaster Trias, with the assistance of Grandmaster Yasuhiro Konishi, was responsible for the recomposition and standardization of the Shuri-Ryu system as it stands today.
In 1948, Grandmaster Trias founded the United States Karate Association, the first karate organization in the U.S. The USKA included all legitimate martial arts styles and encouraged the sharing of information between all styles. Grandmaster Trias also was the first to produce a karate instructional video in the U.S.
The USKA hosted the first national karate tournament in the United States, called the 1st World Karate Tournament, at the University of Chicago Fieldhouse in 1963. This event was re-named the USKA National Championships in 1966 and the USKA Grand Nationals in 1968.
In 1961, Grandmaster Trias founded the Trias International. Members were initially personally selected by Grandmaster Robert Trias based on outstanding achievement, competitive spirit, knowledge, ability, and unselfish perpetuation of the art. In 1973 the Trias International Society was formed, whose new inductees were selected by the Trias International Society members.
Grandmaster Trias authored 5 books on karate and martial arts:
Karate is my Life, The Hand is my Sword, The Pinnacle of Karate, The Supreme Way, and Render Yourself Empty.
In 1983, Grandmaster Robert Trias received his 10th dan certificate from
Grandmaster Makoto Gima.
On July 11, 1989, Grandmaster Robert Trias passed away and we lost a true pioneer and luminary in the martial arts. Grandmaster Trias was laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix.
