Studio

Professor Jimmy Willis began studying the martial arts since 1976 under Kajukenbo Black Belt Gabe Vargas (bestowed the rank of 9th degree by Sijo in 1986) and started competing on the circuit in 1976. In 1998 he received his 5th degree Black Belt and in 2002 received his 6th degree Black Belt under Kajukenbo Grandmaster Charles H. Gaylord. In 2004 Professor Willis, received his 7th degree from Sijo Adrian Emperado, himself (who passed away on the 4th of April 2009). On July 09, 2011, B.O.A. of K.S.D.I. (Board of Advisors of Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute), promoted Professor Jimmy Willis to his 8th degree and titled Professor.

Professor Jimmy Willis has been nationally rated in Men's Black Belt Fighting, Black Belt Kata and Black Belt Weapons Kata on the tournament circuit, beginning 1982. Once rated in World rating in both Men's Black Belt Kata and Weapons Kata, he is also undefeated in Full Contact Kick Boxing. Sifu Willis specializes in wrestling; in 1978 he was the Bay Area Champion (Alameda County, CA) in the 156 lbs weight class. He also competed in boxing, Muay Thai Kick Boxing, Escrima and Kabaroan (Pilipino/Escrima stick fighting art).

Professor Jimmy Willis career in competition has been limited by his military service; he participated in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm 1990-1991 with the 41st C.S.H. (Combat Support Hospital). In 1992 he was stationed in Germany and in 1994 he visited the Philippines. He moved to Fresno, CA in late 1994 where he currently resides, teaching martial arts and promoting self-esteem and self-discipline. He is known for producing top competitors within the Martial Arts Circuit. Youth and adult. Male and female. World rated, National and Regional rated within the martial art tournament circuit level.

HALL OF FAME

July 12, 1997	World Martial Arts Hall of Fame	Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts
July 15, 2000	Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame	Outstanding Competitor
July 20, 2000	Master’s Martial Arts Hall of Fame	Leadership
October 19, 2001	North America Hall of Fame	Outstanding Instructor of the Year
January 17, 2004	Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Fame	Outstanding Achievements in the Martial Arts
March 17, 2005	March Madness Hall of Fame	Many Outstanding Contributions to Martial Arts and the Sport of Karate

World ratings, National ratings and Regional ratings: Starting up again in 1998 after coming out from a semi-retirement, dating back from “1989”. Professor Willis has been rated #1.

1998-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Sparring (Middle Weight).

1999-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2000-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. Regional Ratings: GCC (Gold Cup Circuit). Rated #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata and in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2001-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. Regional Ratings: GCC (Gold Cup Circuit). Rated #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata.

2002-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2003-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2004-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2005-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2006-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Sparring (Heavy Weight).

2007-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Sparring (Heavy Weight).

2008-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #2 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #2 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2009-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata. #1 in Mens Black Belt Weapons, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata and #1 in Men’s Open Kata.

2010- National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and number #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

Noted: Ratings from 1982 - 1986 can be found in Karate Illustrated Magazine Archives, under regional #6.

2001 was a year where Professor Jimmy Willis showed off some skills by providing stunt work along with choreographing fight scenes and starred inn as a bad guy in a premier rated movie called "Battle Beast". Other movies between 2000 and 2005 where Knights of Justice, Fist of Fong and the Action Agency (were Professor Jimmy Willis stared, choreographed and applied stunt work).

Professor Jimmy Willis has represented both the U.S. Army and Karate by participating on Karate Programs in San Antonio, TX, and Fresno, CA. (Karate World and Kicks for Punches on both local and cable TV in San Antonio, TX and KMPH Morning News in Fresno, CA). Professor Jimmy Willis has also been featured in three categories. Local newspapers, tournament magazines and tournament flyers both nationally and internationally. He represented Kajukenbo and the U.S. Army by placing 2nd overall in Tae Kwon Do Olympic trials in the Men's Middle Weight Division in 1988.

The following instructors are credited for Professor Jimmy Willis Martial Arts Education: Gabe Vargas (Kajukenbo), Grandmaster Charles H. Gaylord (Kajukenbo), Grandmaster Al Dacascos (Kajukenbo, Won Hop Kwon Do), Grandmaster Larry Lockhart (Tae Kwon Do) and Sijo Ramiro Estilla (Kabaroan, Escrima stick fighting).

Professor Jimmy Willis notes; He is blessed with countless friends he has met in and out of the Martial Arts circuit, for they have enriched him not only in friendship but in knowledge as well. Martial art is great….
Kajukenbo Forever!!!