Joe Corley
Encyclopedia
Joe Corley is an American karate and kickboxing competitor, instructor, broadcaster and promoter who was instrumental in the success of the Professional Karate Association
and the early establishment of professional kickboxing
in the United States
.
at age sixteen and earned his black belt at nineteen, opened his first martial arts studio at age nineteen. He won the National Karate Grand Championship in 1969, 1971, 1972; the Southeast Grand Championship in 1967, and the Southern US Open in 1971 and 1972. Corley opened Atlanta's first karate studio in 1967 and created Joe Corley's American Karate System in 1972.
(PKA), which was a martial arts organization instrumental in establishing professional kickboxing as a sport in the United States. Corley also became a commentator for American Karate on national television, along with Chuck Norris
and Pat Morita
, appearing on NBC
, CBS
, ESPN
, Showtime, USA Network
, SportsChannel America
, Prime Network
and Fox Sports South. In February 1990, Corley was featured in a Black Belt Magazine article. Joe Corley was named Man of the Decade by Official Karate magazine and was inducted into the Black Belt Magazine
Hall of Fame as Man of the Year in 1998. He appeared in the documentary films Modern Warriors (2002) and Mystic Origins of the Martial Arts (1998). He also appeared in the Joe Lewis film Force Five in 1985.
In 2011 Corley was seeking financing for the new era of PKA Kickboxing and organizing broadcasts for these events. He serves as Master Instructor at Atlanta Extreme Warrior, founded in 2010.
Professional Karate Association
The Professional Karate Association was originally a martial arts sanctioning organization, now transformed into a martial arts promotion company....
and the early establishment of professional kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Early years
Joe Corley began studying Tang Soo DoTang Soo Do
Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art promoted by Hwang Kee that has roots in various martial arts, including taekkyeon and Subak.-Etymology:...
at age sixteen and earned his black belt at nineteen, opened his first martial arts studio at age nineteen. He won the National Karate Grand Championship in 1969, 1971, 1972; the Southeast Grand Championship in 1967, and the Southern US Open in 1971 and 1972. Corley opened Atlanta's first karate studio in 1967 and created Joe Corley's American Karate System in 1972.
Later career
With Chris McLoughlin, Corley founded the annual Battle of Atlanta karate event in 1970, and in 1979 he became a partner in the Professional Karate AssociationProfessional Karate Association
The Professional Karate Association was originally a martial arts sanctioning organization, now transformed into a martial arts promotion company....
(PKA), which was a martial arts organization instrumental in establishing professional kickboxing as a sport in the United States. Corley also became a commentator for American Karate on national television, along with 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...
and Pat Morita
Pat Morita
Noriyuki "Pat" Morita was an American actor of Japanese descent who was well-known for playing the roles of Matsuo "Arnold" Takahashi on Happy Days and Mr. Miyagi in the The Karate Kid movie series, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1984.-Early life:Pat...
, appearing on 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...
, 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...
, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, Showtime, USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
, SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America
SportsChannel America was a cable television network operated by Cablevision. It was the country's first regional sports network, and thus an important ancestor to many of the United States' regional sports outlets, especially Fox Sports Net and Comcast SportsNet. SportsChannel New York was the...
, Prime Network
Prime Network
The Prime Network was a group of regional sports networks owned by Liberty Media that served several regionalized areas that was in operation between 1983 and late-1997. While Liberty owned many of these stations, some were affiliates and owned by other companies...
and Fox Sports South. In February 1990, Corley was featured in a Black Belt Magazine article. Joe Corley was named Man of the Decade by Official Karate magazine and was inducted into the Black Belt Magazine
Black Belt Magazine
Black Belt is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports founded in 1961 by Mitoshi Uyehara. During the early years of the publication, Uyehara was a hands-on owner and publisher...
Hall of Fame as Man of the Year in 1998. He appeared in the documentary films Modern Warriors (2002) and Mystic Origins of the Martial Arts (1998). He also appeared in the Joe Lewis film Force Five in 1985.
In 2011 Corley was seeking financing for the new era of PKA Kickboxing and organizing broadcasts for these events. He serves as Master Instructor at Atlanta Extreme Warrior, founded in 2010.