Jay T. Will

Mr. Jay T. Will was an 8th-degree black belt in the style of Kenpo Karate and was trained and promoted by Senior Grandmaster Edmund K. Parker. Mr. Will is one of the most versatile and well-established martial artists in the field today. He has taken top awards as a competitor, a teacher and a referee.

As a former nationally ranked fighter and author, he is seen regularly in both print and broadcast media. It's no exaggeration to say that Mr. Will is one of the most well-known karate men in America. Mr. Will began his kenpo training with Mr. Parker in Santa Monica, CA in 1965. Mr. Will found kenpo a "stimulating, competitive and disciplined sport" - and he wasted no time in leaving his mark on the tournament scene. Mr. Will, who was selected as one of the year's "Top Ten Karate Competitors" by Karate Illustrated magazine in 1972-1973, claimed over 50 trophies during a seven year competition career when there were 10 "top" tournaments a year at best. Included are: Ohio State Black Belt Heavyweight Champion (1972), Ohio State Black Belt Grand Champion (1972), East Coast vs West Coast Black Belt Champion (1971), Tournament of Champions Black Belt Champion (1972), Ohio / Pennsylvania Karate Championships Grand Champion (1972), Kenpo Karate Black Belt Grand Champion (1973), Pro-Am Black Belt Grand Champion (1972-1973).

Mr. Will began officiating in 1976, and was named PKA Referee of the Year in 1982 and 1983. In 1991, Karate International magazine named Mr. Will "Referee of the Decade". As the director of referees for the International Sport Karate Association (ISKA), Mr. Will has refereed over 6000 rounds of World, US, and Regional fights televised by ESPN, NBC, CBS, SHOWTIME, CTV and European TV.

Since opening the Jay T. Will Karate Studio in Columbus, Ohio in 1968, Mr. Will has taught over 15,000 students, and was named "Karate Instructor of the Year" and was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1976. In 1984, he was inducted in the Inside Kung-Fu Hall of Fame as the "Kenpo Karate Instructor of the Year."

Mr. Will has also taught law enforcement agencies, sheriff departments, Ohio State University and Wittenberg University basketball teams, as well as professional football and baseball players. Mr. Will taught the only accredited karate program through the physical department at Ohio State University.

Mr. Jay T. Will died March 15, in Atlanta, Georgia. the UKKA he founded remains under the guidance of his student, David Harris and can be viewed at UKKA.com