Lewis Ray "Skipper" Mullins is an American martial arts fighter who has been described as "the greatest kicker in the history of the U.S. karate scene".

Biography

Mullins was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He began training in taekwondo in October 1963, under Texas-based martial arts instructor Allen Steen

Allen Steen

Allen R. Steen is an American martial arts practitioner, teacher, and promoter. He was taught by Jhoon Rhee, the "Father of American Taekwondo", and was the first of Rhee's American students to reach black belt standing. He was inducted into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame in 2007.Steen was a business...

 at the Red Bird National Guard Armory. In April 1966, Mullins was promoted to 1st degree black belt by Steen.

In November 1965, Mullins enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. After finishing his basic training Mullins was sent to Marine Corps Base Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico, sometimes abbreviated MCB Quantico, is a major United States Marine Corps training base located near Triangle, Virginia, covering nearly in southern Prince William County, northern Stafford County, and southeastern Fauquier County...

 in Quantico, Virginia

Quantico, Virginia

- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...

, where his MOS

United States military occupation code

A United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...

 was that of a pay and separation clerk. Mullins would teach martial arts to fellow marines and FBI candidates from the FBI Academy

FBI Academy

The FBI Academy, located in Quantico, Virginia, is the training site for new Special Agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was first opened for use in 1972 on 385 acres of woodland. It is a relatively small government academy, housing three dormitory buildings and...

 also located in Quantico. During this time Mullins would begin training under his instructor Allen Steen's instructor Jhoon Rhee who had schools in nearby Washington D.C.

In 1968, he became the vice president of Steen's Texas Karate Institute. He was a founding member and director of the Southwest Karate Black Belt Association, later renamed the American Karate Black Belt Association.

He has won seven world titles and was inducted on April 6, 2007 into the Taekwondo Hall of Fame

Taekwondo Hall of Fame

The Taekwondo Hall of Fame ® is an international organization of technical advisors who are themselves members of the World Taekwondo Federation , International Taekwon-Do Federation , and other major taekwondo entities...

. Mullins was defeated several times by Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris

Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. After serving in the United States Air Force, he began his rise to fame as a martial artist and has since founded his own school, Chun Kuk Do...

 throughout 1965, 1966, and 1967. In 1967, Black Belt Magazine

Black Belt Magazine

Black Belt is an American magazine covering martial arts and combat sports founded in 1961 by Mitoshi Uyehara. During the early years of the publication, Uyehara was a hands-on owner and publisher...

 recognized Mullins as one of the top 10 fighters in the U.S.

Personal

Mullins is a retired firefighter

Firefighter

Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...

 captain with the Dallas Fire Department, having worked for the department for 36 years.

External links