Richard Jenkins
Grandmaster Richard W. Jenkins
9th Dan
of the AKBBA High Dan Board
- 1961 - 1st DAN SHOTOKAN by Japan Karate Association, Jerry Spates 3rd Dan
- 1963 - 1st DAN KODOKAN JUDO by Japan Kodokan Judo Federation, Jim Giles 3rd Dan
- 1968 - PROMOTED TO 1st DAN TAEKWON-DO by Southwest Karate Black Belt Association, Allen Steen
- 1988 - INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR by American Karate Black Belt Association Membership
- 1989 - MARTIAL ARTS DEDICATION & SUPPORT AWARD from Members of the AKBBA in West Texas
- 1991 - APPOINTED "SHIHAN" TO NORTH AMERICA by International Ni-Goju Ryu Karate Association
- 1995 - 8th DAN by International Ni-Goju Ryu Karate Association
- 1995 - 8th DAN by Korea Teakwon-Do Moo Duk Kwan Association
- 1999 - 9th DAN by American Karate Black Belt Association Allen R. Steen, J.Pat Burleson, Skipper Mullins, Ed Daniel, Fred Wren, Jim Harrison, James Toney, Royce Young and Bill Wallace.
- 1999 - TEXAS MARTIAL ARTS LIVING LEGEND AWARD along with many other Texas martial arts old-timers and pioneers. Event hosted in Houston by Master Gary Lee.
- 2004 - TEXAS MARTIAL ARTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION by nomination of Peers. Event hosted in Waco by Master Danny Passmore.
Jenkins settled in Dallas, as manager of the Adam & Eve Health Resort, in late 1965 where he encountered a member and World Grand Champion, Allen R. Steen. Steen was just beginning to establish his Dallas area Texas Karate Institute schools. After a brief sparring session and extended discussion, Steen asked Jenkins to come and work with him as his business manager and to run the Texas Karate Institute Hillcrest school. Due to Allen Steen's, James Toney's, Fred Wren's, and Keith Yates's generous help (along with others), coupled with his former Shotokan training, Jenkins quickly adapted to the Texas Karate Institute methods.
Much of Jenkins' managerial skill and personal charisma went into what resulted in a very dynamic and rapid growth of Allen Steen's Dallas organization into a Texas-wide chain of successful and profitable schools. Richard Jenkins is a motivator. He can motivate people in their business and personal lives, and has been responsible for setting many people up in some very successful business ventures. He is always willing to unselfishly help anyone he can (even a competitor) in bettering themselves. There is a long list of those he's helped, including: Jack Hwang, Hee Deok Park, George Minshew, John Liles, etc.
After helping establish a firm foundation for Allen Steen's karate empire, Jenkins moved with Fred Wren and Mike Anderson to the center of the country where they opened and operated successful schools, the Black Belt Karate Association, in Oklahoma City and St. Louis. Jenkins later moved to Florida, with student Walt Bone, and established a highly successful chain of schools, the Florida Karate Academies.
Jenkins had a very respectable tournament career, especially considering the competition of his era. He placed in or won numerous regional and state titles, as well as, being a champion at Jack Hwang's All American Open, which was one of the key national tournaments. He is, also, a highly skilled teacher of martial arts, utilizing his instruction ability to motivate his students to be the very best they can be and to attain goals they would have thought to be impossible. He was awarded Instructor Of The Year-1988 by vote of the AKBBA membership and instruction staff. He can claim both national and state champions among his students. Many who have continued on to become Instructors and School Owners.
