Skipper Mullins

The Man Who Changed Kicking in Tournaments

Skipper Mullins began his martial arts training at the Red Bird National Guard Armory in October 1963 under Allen R. Steen. Mullins was once described as someone whose legs attached at his arm pits. His kicking technique was considered phenomenal. He could tag you with a front leg spin kick from across a room. To those who are familiar with both eras, Mullins is thought of as the greatest kicker in the history of the U.S. karate scene. Bill Wallace, who fought in competition after the time of Mullins is thought of as a tremendous kicker, but he got a lot of his kicking technique from Mullins.

Skipper Mullins became one of the most successful competitors of his period. During his tournament career he won seven World titles, was named the number one fighter in the world in 1966, and selected as one of the top 10 all time fighters in a survey held by Black Belt Magazine in its July 1987 issue. He even managed to compete in three different tournaments in three different parts of the country on the same weekend and won two of them, placing in the third.

When Allen Steen began his empire of commercial karate schools, the Texas Karate Institute, Skipper Mullins was named as Vice President in 1968. He was charged by Allen Steen to see that all Texas Karate Institute Dojos received the best instruction possible. Mullins carried out his charge exceptionally well. The Texas Karate Institute chain under his and Allen Steen's guidance produced some of the finest karate competitors of the 60's and 70's, dominating the top ten ratings in the U.S. for over 15 years.

Mullins was a charter member of the old Southwest Karate Black Belt Association, and when that organization grew to the point that it was really a national organization of top schools and competitors, the name was changed to the American Karate Black Belt Association. Skipper Mullins was one of it's initial Board of Directors members. In a short period of time the association grew to over 5000 members.

While serving on duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, Skipper Mullins trained fellow Marines, Officers, and FBI academy candidates at Quantico, Virginia. Among Mullins students were many World and national ranked competitors including: Roy Kurban, Demetrius Havanus, Jim and Jeanice Miller, Ronnie and Dennis Cox, and Raymond McCallum. He has trained more than 10,000 students in his long career.

Currently a 10th Degree Black Belt, Skipper Mullins who pursued a career as a fireman and paramedic, still stays in top shape. While largely retired from active teaching he still pops up when needed to give a student a push in the right direction.