Born in Graham, Texas in
1950, as a young child Dick suffered serious injury as a result of
an automobile accident. Possibly it was this experience that
compelled him to become super fit at an early age. He started body
building at the age of 12, and his interest in fitness,
strength, and his dedication to discipline, has never diminished.
Dick
began training in karate in 1964 studying under Mike Steen
at North Texas University.
Jhoon Rhee was present when Dick was promoted to Brown Belt, by
Allen Steen, Skipper Mullins and Fred Wren, world champions all
and honored members of the Texas Karate Hall of Fame. He
then continued his study in Dallas until he earned his Black Belt.
He earned his Black Belt in July 1969. He also
studied Judo under
Mose Woodson at the oldest nonprofit Judo Club in
America.
Drafted into the army in
1970 he formed a karate club and instructed his fellow officers and
soldiers. Later Dick formed a local community martial arts
training center. He instructed children in Kenpo,
Tae Kwondo and Judo Pro Bono. One of his mentors,
Ruben Martin (read Martin's testimonial) who is now a
class A Olympic coach, was a guest instructor at the
school. Dick has always had an impulse to bring the martial arts to
those who would benefit by the learning experience. He has never
desired to make money doing so.
Dick was
fortunate enough to train with
Ed Parker, founder of American Kenpo Karate.
Ed Parker
is highly revered and respected in the martial arts community. He is
credited with bringing Bruce Lee to the US, and was a serious
trainer to celebrities including Elvis Presley. To study
with the master was indeed a great honor, and the philosophy and
complete discipline of American Kenpo is far more than a simple
"style" of Karate.
Parker personally promoted Dick to second degree Black Belt. He once told Dick to
expand upon his art and take it to a new level.
He currently holds a fifth degree Black Belt in his own eclectic
style.
As wide as it is deep, Dick's study of many of the martial arts has
given him a unique understanding and perspective, which he brings to
his instruction.
Today, at 55 years of age, Dick is a world class martial arts
competitor.
He won a Silver at The 3rd Annual Pan American
Masters Championship in Nov. '05, and will represent the US
in the Jiu Jitsu World Championship in the Blue Belt Division,
August '06 in Brazil , and in the World Judo Games in June of '06 in
France. His world class status is a testament to his dedication,
focus, discipline and commitment. Dick Bowden brings these same
qualities to all that he does.
Fitness
Highlights
-
Body Building age12
-
Karate training age14
-
'69
Black Belt Tae Kwondo
-
'90 2nd degree Black Belt Kenpo Karate from Ed Parker
-
'91- Studies with Ruben Martin. now a class A Olympic Coach, Dick
begins Pro Bono teaching Kenpo - Tae Kwan Do - Judo
-
'93 Second Degree Judo Black Belt
-
April 2005 3rd Degree Black Belt Dick Bowden wins Mose Woodson Judo
Tournament
-
May 2005 Win Pan American Jiu Jitsu
-
Representing US in Nov. '05 Pan American Games
-
Representing US as Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World
Championship - Aug. '06
-
Representing US in World Judo Games in June '06 in France
"Dick and I started Judo together with Sensei Tamura. He already had
a 5th
degree black belt in Kempo, but he was prescient enough to know
(this was
before Royce Gracie and the UFC) that striking was not enough, that
he
needed grappling skills to complete his martial arts training. Dick
continually hones his grappling and striking skills. He is my ideal
of the
complete fighter."
Timothy Paskvan
National Judo Championships: 1993 Bronze, 1997 Gold, 2001 Bronze,
2003 Bronze in 86kg and Open
PanAm Jujitsu:'90's, a Gold in Heavy Weight and Super Heavy Weight
Recently, Dick has been teaching self
defense in Fort Worth. He was written up in the July 3 Fort Worth
Star Telegram in an article called
"Teaching homeless to survive."
