Robert Bowles is an American Karate

American Karate

American Karate is generic term usually referring to hybrid martial arts systems that employs cross-training throughout many of the traditional Asian styles. As such, American Karate incorporates the "most useful" elements of Japanese, Okinawan, and Korean Karate. It may also use techniques from...

 teacher and the founder of the International Shuri-Ryu Association. Bowles is a member of the United States Karate Alliance Hall Of Fame.

Bowles has studied martial arts for over 35 years. He holds a 10th Degree black belt in Shuri-ryū

Shuri-ryu

karate, is an eclectic martial arts system developed by Robert Trias , the first person to teach karate in the mainland United States, who opened the first dojo in 1946 in Phoenix, Arizona. Later in 1948 he formed the first karate association in the U.S., The United States Karate Association...

 karate, and is one of the late Robert Trias

Robert Trias

Robert A. Trias was a U.S. karate pioneer, founding the first karate school in the mainland United States. He also developed Shuri-ryū karate, an eclectic style with roots in the Okinawan Shuri-te tradition.-Early years:...

' eight Chief instructors of the Shuri-Ryu system.

Competitions

In 1972, Bowles was a member of the first United States National Karate Association team to tour Europe. Since then he has represented the United States on seven different world tours visiting the following countries: Okinawa, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan, England, Germany, Scotland, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Panama, and Venezuela.

Bowles was the first person in the history of the United States Karate Alliance (USKA) Grand Nationals to win the Triple Crown: 1st place in Kata

Kata

is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practised either solo or in pairs. The term form is used for the corresponding concept in non-Japanese martial arts in general....

, Kumite

Kumite

Kumite means sparring, and is one of the three main sections of karate training, along with kata and kihon. Kumite is the part of karate in which you train against an adversary, using the techniques learned from the kihon and kata....

and Weapons in 1973. With tournament championships spanning over 25 years, he has won the title of USKA World Champion six times.