Roy Kurban began his martial arts training in 1965 under Texas Karate greats Allen Steen and Skipper Mullins; earning his black belt under Skipper Mullins. He also sought out other Tae Kwon Do masters and trained with Park Hee Deok, and spent a full year in Korea training with Park Won Chic.
Roy Kurban is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet outside of the ring and one tough and mean competitor when you met him inside the ring. His competitive career began in 1966 and continued until 1977, during which time he won one hundred and seventeen awards in national and international competitions. Just a few of his titles include: 1970 Southwest Black Belt Champion, 1971 Central North American Champion, 1972 United States Champion, 1973 All American Grand Champion, 1974 Member of the International Championship Team, 1975 Four Seasons National Champion, and 1976 US Tournament of Champions Heavyweight Champion.
Roy Kurban ranked in the Top 10 fighters in the U.S. for 5 consecutive years, and among the Top 10 in the World for two years. Official Karate Magazine named him as their "Man of the Decade" in their 1980 Legion of Honor. Karate Illustrated Magazine chose him as the Outstanding Tournament Referee in the U.S. in 1980. In 1981 Black Belt Magazine inducted him into their Hall of Fame as the "Man of the Year".
Roy Kurban has served as an instructor for the U.S. Army, National Guard, Great Southwest Police Academy, and for U.S. Treasury and FBI agents. He also established an ongoing accredited karate course for the University of Texas at Arlington Physical Education Program. He is the Rules Commissioner for the Karate International Council of Kick Boxing and serves as a referee for world championship Kickboxing matches.
Kurban has had a tenure as a law enforcement officer, Justice of the Peace, and County Judge, demonstrating that his talents carry outside of the martial arts as well as in them. He is author of Kicking Techniques for Competition and Self Defense. He has also been a competitor, supporter, and coach for the Police Olympics.
Mr. Kurban founded the American Black Belt Academy in Arlington Texas in 1973. Where he has trained and continues to train many national and world rated fighters. He currently holds a Seventh Degree Black Belt from the World Tae Kwon Do Federation, and is one of the very few Americans to receive a Master Instructor Certificate from the WTF.
Copyright 1999 by Charles Bouton, all rights reserved.