Grandmaster Jimmy Willis

Professor Jimmy Willis began studying Kajukenbo in 1976 under Kajukenbo Black Belt holder Gabe Vargas, who was under Great Grandmaster Charles H. Gaylord. Professor Jimmy Willis received his 7th degree from Sijo Adrian Emperado, himself (who passed away on the 4th of April 2009). On July 09, 2011, B.O.A. of K.S.D.I. (Board of Advisors of Kajukenbo Self Defense Institute), promoted Professor Jimmy Willis to his 8th degree and titled Professor.
Professor Jimmy Willis has been nationally rated in Men’s Black Belt Fighting, Black Belt Kata and Black Belt Weapons Kata on the tournament circuit, beginning 1982. Once rated in World rating in both Men’s Black Belt Kata and Weapons Kata, he is also undefeated in Full Contact Kick Boxing. Professor Jimmy Willis specializes in wrestling; in 1978 he was the Bay Area Champion (Alameda County, CA) in the 156 lbs weight class. He also competed in boxing, Muay -Thai Kick Boxing, Escrima and Kabaroan (Pilipino/Escrima stick fighting art).
Professor Jimmy Willis career in competition has been limited by his military service; he participated in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm 1990-1991 with the 41st C.S.H. (Combat Support Hospital). In 1992 he was stationed in Germany and in 1994 he visited the Philippines. He moved to Fresno, CA in late 1994 where he currently resides, teaching martial arts and promoting self-esteem and self-discipline. He is known for producing top competitors within the Martial Arts Circuit. Youth and adult. Male and female. World rated, National and Regional rated within the martial art tournament circuit level.
Hall Of Fame Awards:
July 12, 1997 – World Martial Arts Hall of Fame /Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts
July 15, 2000 – Filipino Martial Arts Hall of Fame /Outstanding Competitor
July 20, 2000 – Master’s Martial Arts Hall of Fame /Leadership
October 19, 2001 – North America Hall of Fame /Outstanding Instructor of the Year
January 17, 2004 – Action Martial Arts Magazine’s Hall of Fame /Outstanding Achievements in the Martial Arts
March 17, 2005 – March Madness Hall of Fame / Many Outstanding Contributions to Martial Arts and the Sport of Karate
January 14, 2012 – United States Council of Martial Arts / Master of the Year
May 4, 2013 – USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame / Kajukenbo Silver Life Award
June 22, 2013 – USA Black Belt Hall of Fame / Hard Work and Dedication
World ratings, National ratings and Regional ratings: Starting up again in 1998 after coming out from a semi-retirement, dating back from “1989”. Professor Jimmy Willis, has been rated #1.

1998-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Sparring (Middle Weight).

1999-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2000-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. Regional Ratings: GCC (Gold Cup Circuit). Rated #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata and in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2001-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. Regional Ratings: GCC (Gold Cup Circuit). Rated #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata.

2002-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2003-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2004-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2005-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2006-World Ratings: NASKA (North American Sports Karate Association). World rated in the top #10 in Traditional Men’s Black Belt Kata and Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Sparring (Heavy Weight).

2007-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, and #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Sparring (Heavy Weight).

2008-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata. TPA (Tournament Promoter Association). #2 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #2 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and #2 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.

2009-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata. #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata and #1 in Men’s Open Kata.

2010- National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and number #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.
2011- National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and number #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.
2012- National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and number #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.
2013-National Ratings: IMAC (International Martial Arts Championship). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Kenpo Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Traditional Kata, #1 in Men’s Black Belt Open Kata and number #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata. PAC (Promoters Association of California). #1 in Men’s Black Belt Weapons Kata.
Noted: Ratings from 1982 – 1986 can be found in Karate Illustrated Magazine Archives, under regional #6.
2001 was a year where Professor Jimmy Willis showed off some skills by providing stunt work along with choreographing fight scenes and starred as a villain, in a movie called “Battle Beast”. Other movies between 2000 and 2005 where Knights of Justice, Fist of Fong and the Action Agency (were Professor Jimmy Willis stared, choreographed and applied stunt work).
Professor Jimmy Willis has represented both the U.S. Army and Karate by participating on Karate Programs in San Antonio, TX, and Fresno, CA. (Karate World and Kicks for Punches on both local and cable TV in San Antonio, TX and KMPH Morning News in Fresno, CA). Professor Jimmy Willis has also been featured in three categories. Local newspapers, tournament magazines and tournament flyers both nationally and internationally. He represented Kajukenbo and the U.S. Army by placing 2nd overall in Tae Kwon Do Olympic trials in the Men’s Middle Weight Division in 1988.
The following instructors are credited for Professor Jimmy Willis, Martial Arts Education: Gabe Vargas (Kajukenbo), Grandmaster Charles H. Gaylord (Kajukenbo), Grandmaster Al Dacascos (Kajukenbo, Won Hop Kwon Do), Grandmaster Larry Lockhart (Tae Kwon Do) and Sijo Ramiro Estalilla (Kabaroan, Escrima stick fighting).

Professor Jimmy Willis notes; He is blessed with countless friends he has met in and out of the Martial Arts circuit, for they have enriched him not only in friendship but in knowledge as well. Martial art is great……….
Kajukenbo Forever!!!