Jim Butin

Tough Texan - Tough Oklahoman

Jim Butin began his Martial Arts training at the General Dynamics Plant club in Ft. Worth, Texas, under J. Pat Burleson in 1965. He earned his 1st dan Black belt in June of 1968.

Jim Butin was one of the most aggressive and successful tournament fighters of his day. In a Black Belt tournament career that spanned from 1968 through 1992. He achieved over 45 Black belt championship titles, including winning every championship in the Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisansa region. In 1972 he was named the number 1 rated fighter in the tough southwest region by Professional Karate Magazine. That is pretty impressive considering that about 2/3rds of the national top ten rated fighters were in the Southwest at the time.

Four National Black Belt titles belong to Jim Butin, as well as a silver medal in the 1st World Tae Kwon Do Championships held in Seoul, Korea in 1973. He was also a member of the undefeated American team in European competition in 1974. That team consisted of Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith, Howard Jackson, and Jim Butin.

Jim faced and defeated such national figures as Fred Wren, Roger Carpenter, Roy Kurban, Chuck Loven, Billy Watson, Jeff Smith, and John Natividad. Jim Butin was also the #2 rated Light Heavyweight kickboxer in the World in the PKA from 1974-78.

Jim Butin is listed in Bob Wall's Who's Who of Martial Artists, and was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio in 1991. The NBL (National Black Belt League) also honored him with a place in their Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 1997.

Butin owned and operated a successful karate school in Denton, Texas during the early 70's and graduated from North Texas University with a B.S. in physical education in 1972. He moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where he established and still operates a very successful school which has trained many fine fighters and Champions. Jim Butin is currently a 9th Degree Black Belt.

Jim Butin founded and served as director of the Oklahoma Karate Association from 1985-1988. He was the Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma Sport Karate Association from 1991 through 1996. He is also Author of the Video Aerobic Kickboxing Techniques and Workout.