THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PETE MILLS KARATE SCHOOLS

In 1959 the foundations for “The Pete Mills Karate School” started being laid.  Master Mills’ father was a former golden gloves boxer. He started teaching Master Mills how to box.  This endeavor led to the Knoxville Golden Gloves gym at Chilhowee Park for three summers.  John Forgety was over it at that time.  Ace Miller was still a young man 19 or 20 years old at the time.

In 1962, Master Mills started studying Savate “French Foot Fighting” and some pressure point studies.  In 1963, he met Harold Long, a young marine, who was teaching an Okinawan style of karate called Isshin-ryu at the Continental Health Spa in Western Plaza.  He was not able to study with him on a regular basis until July 17, 1965 after graduation from high school. 

There were several good fighters at Master Long’s school.  In October 1966, Mr. Long brought his instructor, Tatsuo Shimabuku to America to be a houseguest in his home for four months.  Master Mills remembers the excitement of training under the highest-ranking karate instructor in the world.  He was tested on all of His empty hand Isshin-ryu katas from Master Shimabuku.

Master Long granted Mr. Mills the permission to teach at Carson Newman College in 1966 as a Brown Belt.  Master Mills gave a karate demonstration at Horace Maynard High School in 1967 and picked-up a new student, James Maples, who later became a great tournament player and Hall of Fame member.  Mr. Mills started the first karate school ever established in Union County and later turned it over to his student, Mr. Maples because Master Mills was drafted during the Vietnam War.  Mr. Mills and trained with the Korean Ranger Group in Cam Ranh Bay.  He met other Isshin-ryu instructors and received his San-Dan (3^rd degree black belt) and Yo-Dan (4^th degree black belt) ranks from Steve Armstrong.  It was during this time that Mr. Mills opened a “Pete Mills Karate School’ (1970) on Merchants Road in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Mr. Long started the International Isshin-ryu Karate Association and invited Mr. Mills to be on the Board of Directors.  He also served as Vice-Chairman of the International Isshin-ryu Karate Association Hall of Fame.  Mr. Don Bordinger was the Chairman. 

Mr. Mills has been fortunate to have many fine champions to train under my supervision:  James Maples, James Ogle, Mike Acuff, Harrison White, Leo Cooper, Jim Phillips and his son, Todd, who won several tournaments as a junior competitor.   

He obtained the master rank of Roku-Dan (6^th degree black belt) on February 1, 1979.  He received his Ku-Dan (9^th degree) on August 26, 1994.  A panel of master black belts tested Master Mills from The Universal Isshin-ryu Karate system with a total of over 75 years martial arts experience.  He had his rank recognized by the United Martial Arts Association.  That same promotion panel gave him a rank certificate for Ju-Dan (10^th degree), which he refused because his former sensei was still alive at that time.

Master Mills’ greatest joy in the martial arts has been the friendships that he has been able to develop.  He has done several national seminars with people like Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Michael DePasquale, Editor in Chief of Karate International magazine, Dr. Jerry Beasley, Chuck Norris, through the Educational Funding Corporation Convention.  These four people are movie stars and former martial arts champions.  Joe Lewis and Bill Wallace are world champion kick-boxers and hold the rank of 10^th dan.  These two gentlemen, along with Jerry Beasley, (featured on Black Belt Magazine cover a couple of months ago) have an organization called AIKIA (Association of Independent Karate Instructors).  They have also volunteered to sign Mr. Mill’s 10^th dan certificate.

Master Mills and James Ogle met with Master Burris in Athens, TN in early December 1998 and discussed how we could work more closely.  It was Master Burris’ suggestion that we form an association (Universal Isshin-ryu Karate Association) and work together as two associations.  We have that structure in place.  We have over 100 black belts that look to us for rank now and we want to do what is best for them.

In November, 1991 Master Mills started Karate Sports Academy in Halls.  Master Mills’ and his black belts have continued to grow.  Master Ogle has always had a great dojo in Athens and now there is a school in Karns, Mr. Keith Cofer and also the Church of God  (Master, Gregg McMahan) just off I-640 in Knoxville. Mr. Rick Breeden has a school in the East Knox County area and Master, Mike Acuff is also doing some teaching in the South Knoxville area.  Mr. Evan Bowers has spent many, many hours learning and teaching the Arnis sticks.

We continue to cross train in Jujitsu and the study of Okinawan Kubodo, (study of weapons).  As well as pressure point study and health and fitness, as well as sport play and full contact training.