Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
2 siblings arrested in attempted break-in
Police say Cuyahoga Falls man used woman's cell phone to stalk her
Boy left in truck, dad goes to strip club
Four injured in Akron collision
Police find an arsenal in apartment after blast
Truck carrying illegal immigrants falls off Texas cliff
Blogs:
Pets:
Dog Eats 130 Nails, Survives
The Heldenfiles:
Happy Thanksgiving
Patrick McManamon:
A holiday wish
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Eastern Michigan — Preview
Tribe Matters:
Seven players added to Tribe’s 40-man roster
Cleveland Browns:
Conference calls with Bengals Head Coach Marvin Lewis and wide receiver Chad Ochocinco
Kent State Sports:
Kent State vs. Buffalo | Preview
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Gameblog: Cavs at Detroit – Abridged Edition
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeye Football – Present and Future
Varsity Letters:
Gridlocks Playoff Edition Week 4
All Da King's Men:
Census Worker's Death Ruled Suicide
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Wrong On Afghanistan
Akron Law Café:
Giving Thanks for . . . the Fed?
See Jane Style:
Vintage Chic
Car Chase:
What Automotive Thing Are You Thankful For?
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Happy Thanks for giving!
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Monique asks how to get tickets for the Polar Express.
Sound Check:
On The Town: Top Entertainment Picks
HRLite House:
Genetic Discrimination
Akron Gamer:
Nintendo's Mario endures even as games come and go
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Wednesday, Aug 12, 2009
Akron has lost one of its best known karate experts.
George Anderson, 77, died Thursday of complications following recent cancer surgery.
Anderson, was a beloved and respected karate instructor. A grandmaster, Anderson owned the Akron Center for Martial Arts on Kenmore Boulevard for decades and also was an instructor at the University of Akron for nearly four decades.
Anderson was a highly respected martial arts expert.
He also was a concert violinist, accomplished enough to earn a music scholarship to Wichita State University after he graduated from Garfield High School in 1949. He even was a national-ranked swimmer, winning a gold medal in Junior Olympic competition.
Anderson also was a champion race car driver, earning driver of the year honors at Dragway 42 in 1978.
An expert roofer, he owned and operated Anderson Roofing and Spouting with childhood pal Bud Housley for 35 years.
But in the area of martial arts, he wrote 50 technical guides, training manuals, constitutions and books.
''It's almost beyond comprehension all of the things Dad did and mastered throughout his lifetime,'' said son David Anderson, an attorney and CPA in Albany, N.Y., who is a first-degree black belt.
''He was a voracious reader, reading around 40 magazines a month. But the true genius of Dad was that he was the guy who could open a book at the library, read it and fully understand and apply it in a masterful way right away.
''He was most perfectly self-taught person I've ever met.''
Anderson began training in the martial arts in 1950. He rose to a level of prominence throughout the world in martial arts, quite unusual for an American.
What's more unusual is how he readily mastered the intricate disciplines of taekwondo, karate and jujitsu with Il Joo Kim and Tong Choo Choi.
''He never had a lesson,'' David Anderson said. ''He was completely self-taught through books and magazines.''
David Anderson said his father's ability to understand several disciplines and successfully merge them along with his fundamental understanding of the function of the human body was what enabled his dad to become a master of the masters in a field dominated by the legends of the Far East.
''Dad wasn't allowed to compete in physical sports as a kid because his parents wanted to protect his hands for playing the violin,'' David Anderson said. ''He matured into a beast of a man — he was 6 foot, about 220 pounds — but he only was allowed to swim.
''It wasn't until the early 1950s that he started to get into martial arts. Again, it started with just a book.
''But like everything else, he read everything he could find. He looked at everything with a complete understanding and he was able to put it all together better than anyone else.''
So well, in fact, that Anderson came to be regarded as one of the must influential people in modern martial arts. He spearheaded the creation of the Central TaeKwonDo Association and served as its first chairman.
He also served as secretary general of the Pan American Union. He was president of the AAU Karate, president of the World Referee's Council and served on the United States Olympic Committee.
Anderson, who attained the rank of 10th-degree black belt in four different disciplines, was named Man of the Year by Black Belt Magazine in 1985.
And it is estimated Anderson developed more than 2,500 students who earned black belts in his personalized style of karate, KwanMuKan.
''But of all the things we are proud of, we are most proud of the fact that Dad was a very generous man,'' David Anderson said.
''He would go out of his way to help people who needed help, often giving months of karate lessons for free and paying students' fees at karate tournaments.''
David Anderson said his father, who also was an honorary Kentucky colonel and admiral in the Texas Navy, remained physically fit throughout his life.
''He bench-pressed 340 pounds six times when he was 74,'' David Anderson said. ''He was an animal.''
Anderson is survived by Joan Anderson, his wife of 59 years. He also is survived by son John along with daughters Lesley Anderson, Lynn Pethtel and Joany Aquila.
The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. today at Riverside Alliance Church at 2433 S. Main St. There will be family visitation beginning at 9 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Medina County.
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Akron has lost one of its best known karate experts.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
akron, oh
Posted 07:58 AM, 08/12/2009
George was a great man, but they forgot to mention a great sense of humor. George did many jobs for me in the 70 and 80's and always gave a fair price and stood behind his work.
RIP George
Akron, OH
Posted 08:33 AM, 08/12/2009
He was an excellent instructor...he taught me lessons I'll never forget!
RIP Hanshi Anderson
Posted 11:54 AM, 08/12/2009
RIP, Mr. Anderson.
You have been a positive influence in many lives, including mine. I will never forget your chi (inner harmony, peace and power) and how well you taught your students by example of your life.
Well Done.
akron, oh
Posted 12:49 PM, 08/13/2009
I met this man once and had the honor to chat with him for about an hour at Dodie's cafe. He truly was larger than life. A great man, I am sure he will be missed by his family and friends.
Akron, OH
Posted 03:03 PM, 08/13/2009
RIP Mr. Anderson.
