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Grandmaster Jenkins is a Texas Karate Pioneer, a Charter Member of the old Southwest Karate Black Belt Association and original American Karate Black Belt Association, and is the senior member of the "High Dan Board" in total years in Dan grade ranking. He was born in 1942. Training, originally, in Shotokan Karate while in the U.S. Navy, he attained his black belt rank at 19 years of age in 1961. He now holds dan rankings in Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan, Taekwondo Moo Duk Kwan, Ni-Gojuryu Karate, and Judo. On January 3rd, 1991 he was appointed a Shihan in North America by the Kokusai Dai Ni Gojuryu Karate Kyokai. He has studied in Aikido, Jujitsu, Bo, Sai, and Nunchaku. 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. Grandmaster Jenkins, now in his sixties, resides in Houston as the owner and operator of the Orange Grove Water Company, which provides water utility to the North Houston community. He has never given up his willingness to share his experience and skill with anyone so desiring. He served the AKBBA-CSHK as its Secretary and as the Secretary for the AKBBA-CSHK High Dan Board from 1986-2000. He currently serves as an Advisor and High Dan Board Member. Milestone Promotions & Recognition: |
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HALL OF FAME |
