Miyagi: Karate come from China, sixteenth century, called te, "hand." Hundred year later, Miyagi ancestor bring to Okinawa, call kara-te, "empty hand."
Daniel Larusso: I thought it came from Buddhist temples and stuff like that.
Miyagi: You too much TV.

- Karate Kid

The evolution of our style: from American Freestyle Karate to the Superfoot System

American Freestyle Karate is an umbrella term used for systems of karate that were developed in America, by American instructors after extensive training in one or more systems of martial arts. Their original styles are usually augmented by application, analysis and synthesis of their combined training and personal experience. As with any of the arts, they should continue to evolve with the head instructor's continued study, experience, and pursuit of excellence.

While the staunch traditionalists once frowned upon cross-training in the martial arts, it is now a much more common practice. The first to take this courageous step on a large and public scale was the great Bruce Lee. He, by example, has led the way for the rest of us to embrace the benefits of all styles and to learn as much as we can from each other.

Dan Anderson was the first to use the name "American Freestyle Karate" to describe his system back in the 1970's. Since then, this name has been used for a number of American-born systems that fall under the same general heading. It is important to note that there are well over one hundred recognized systems that fall under the heading of Japanese Karate, and literally hundreds of systems that are called Chinese Martial Arts, or Kung Fu. The exact style of martial art that is taught will vary from dojo to dojo based on the individual approach of the sensei, or head instructor. This is in the same spirit as boxing gyms, gymnastic academies, dance studios, and the original dojos of Okinawa and Japan.

Family Martial Arts Academy

The system of American Freestyle Karate that is taught at Family Martial Arts Academy originally came from Israel. Amnon Dahabany-Levy, a boxer and a combat instructor in the Israeli Military, first brought it over in 1961. His system was one of few techniques that were easily adaptable to many situations. Rather than focus on preset movements (katas) with many techniques, his philosophy was that for combat purposes, one needs a handful of techniques that can always be counted on. With his "find a way and get it done" mentality, his highly adaptable method was proven time and time again in the ring, on the street, and on the battlefield during very hostile times. His methods and mentality were passed on and further developed through his son, Sensei Joel Levy who continues as the head instructor of the system.

For more on Sensei Levy's martial lineage, see Sensei Levy's bio page.

Sensei Joel Levy

Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1967, Sensei Joel Levy's training began at the age of four under the tutelage of his father. At the age of ten, he was diagnosed with diabetes, and told by his doctors to take up a year-round physical activity. It was then that he began studying karate formally, and followed with boxing and kickboxing at the age of seventeen. Levy continued to train in all of these systems simultaneously, in addition to his father's strenuous (and often painful) regimen.

Sensei Levy's teaching career began when he was asked to teach martial arts to elementary school children, while a senior in high school. Finding this experience to be rewarding, he readily accepted when he was again asked to teach while attending college. All the while he continued to train with the same passion and determination. After college he fine-tuned his skills as he continued to train, and test his style and techniques against martial artists from many different backgrounds.

This continued until the age of twenty-seven, when due to a lifetime of juvenile diabetes, and prolific diabetic retinopathy, Sensei underwent many eye surgeries, and was left completely blind in his left eye. Unable to train and be competitive at the level to which he was accustomed, Mr. Levy sensed deeply that he had to pass his knowledge on to others. He spent the next three years putting together his combined experience into a teachable system that anyone could learn. A public school teacher since 1990, he was able to put all of his talents to use in combining his collective martial arts background, curriculum writing skills, and sound teaching methods in order to best serve his students.

In 1997, at the age of thirty, Sensei Levy was ready to teach his brand of American Freestyle Karate, and opened his dojo in Highland Park, New Jersey. It evolved as a synthesis of his father's approach and mentality, and the techniques, applications, and training methods of karate, boxing, kickboxing, physical fitness, and self-defense. The system is characterized by three main components. One is its approach to self-defense, which is simple, effective, and straight to the point. The second is its very safe, and highly effective development of physical conditioning, strength, and flexibility. Last, but not least, is its emphasis on martial arts being used mainly as a vehicle for personal development and character building.

Sensei Levy was officially awarded the title of Grandmaster when he was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame on April 24, 2004 in New York City. As such, he is now nationally recognized as a Grandmaster of American Freestyle Karate. Also widely recognized for his passion and excellence in training full contact kickboxers, several of whom have become champions, he has been named the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame's Kickboxing Grandmaster of the Year, 2005. Like his boyhood hero, Bruce Lee, Levy continues to be a student of the arts, and dedicates himself to constantly refining and upgrading all aspects of what he teaches.

Going along with our philosophy of constant-and-never-ending-improvement, Sensei Joel Levy continues to lead by example. Already a nationally recognized Grandmaster of both American Freestyle Karate and American Kickboxing, he constantly seeks to raise his own standards. After more than 30 years in the martial arts, he has aligned himself with the best of the best in karate and kickboxing, and taken our original style (American Freestyle Karate) to the next level.

In July 2004, we officially linked up with karate and kickboxing living legend, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace (www.Superfoot.com). After an extensive training and testing process, our Head Instructor, Sensei Joel Levy, M.Ed. was awarded a 6th degree Black Belt in the Superfoot System, and our Head Kinder Karate Instructor, Sensei Yvonne Levy was awarded a 2nd degree Black Belt in the Superfoot System. In addition, both Joel and Yvonne Levy are fully certified instructors of the Superfoot System directly under Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. Sensei Wallace has worked diligently with Sensei Joel Levy to integrate the Superfoot System with our original style of American Freestyle Karate. The net result of this fusion is a style that blends the best elements of karate, boxing, and kickboxing into one cohesive and highly effective system. (For more information about Bill "Superfoot" Wallace or the Superfoot System, visit www.Superfoot.com.)

Levy's belief is that martial arts training is beneficial to everyone, regardless of age or experience. "There are so many ways to benefit from martial arts training, it is astounding," he says. He holds progress over perfection, and inspires his students to achieve their personal best in all areas of life, while consistently raising their own standards. He maintains that learning to focus our bodies, minds, and efforts towards a specific goal, like achieving a black belt, gives one a blueprint for how to succeed in anything. He adds that adaptability and persistence in the face of any obstacle are what see us through to achieving our goals. Sensei Levy's goal is simple: to help all of his students become black belts in martial arts, and black belts in life.

“It's not if they will succeed, it's how they will succeed.”

Sensei J. Levy