Lorraine Lewis – 7th Dan
I started my martial art training in 1965 by studying Judo. I had always wanted to throw someone like Mrs. Peale on The Avengers; so when the very first martial art school opened in Asheville, NC, a girlfriend and I signed up. The school was called The Academy of Martial Arts and was managed by Tom Pisuit and Charles E. K. Matthews (Makaio). After suffering a separated shoulder in Judo, I started watching the Karate class and asked to join. Sensei Matthews said “NO!” He didn’t (at that time) teach women. After begging and groveling, he relented so my first class consisted of walking back and forth, back and forth on the Dojo floor in a cat stance doing a front snap kick after class so I wouldn’t embarrass the regular class. I didn’t return to Judo class. I had found my love, my passion, which I equate with my love for my husband and family. After taking class every time the Dojo doors opened and competing on weekends, finally, in 1971, I received my Shodan (1st Dan) from Master Robert A. Trias in Shorei. I became one of very few female Black Belts for the time and possibly the second female in our system to attain the rank of Black Belt (Master Trias’ daughter being the first).
I started winning and/or placing in Kata competition from FL to CT and became the USKA point-standing female Kata champion twice in the 1970’s. I was involved in the cause of women’s safety and fairness in competition. I was asked by Master Trias to assist or head meetings at the USKA Grand Nationals for women’s concerns. I became the NC State Representative for USKA and was the first time a female had held this type of appointment.
As Lawrence was in the Army, we traveled; and wherever we were, we taught. I retired from active competition in 1975 as we went overseas and we started a family.
Today, as I am disabled, I continue to teach to the best of my ability; not so much physically, but through oral explanation and using our higher-ranked students as bodies.
The following are breakdowns for ease in reading:
Teaching Areas –
Asheville, NC
Waynesville, NC
Hickory, NC
Ft. Bragg, NC
Berlin, Germany
Brunswick, GA (Jekyl Island)
Ruskin, FL (Tampa Bay area)
Ranks –
1st
07-12-71
Shorei
USKA
Robert A. Trias
2nd
07-08-74
Shorei
USKA
Robert A. Trias
3rd
05-13-81
Shuri
USKA
Robert A. Trias
4th
10-20-89
Shuri
OKU
Alan Wheeler
5th
11-22-91
Shuri
OKU
Alan Wheeler
6th
08-22-94
Shuri
USKA, Inc.
Dr. Roberta Trias-Kelley
7th
09-09-98
Shuri
USKA, Inc.
Dr. Roberta Trias-Kelley
7th
07-25-00
Shorei
Kondo-No-Shokai
Terry Sanders
Places of Competition –
Bridgeport, CT
Jacksonville, FL
N. Miami Beach, FL
Atlanta, GA
Decatur, GA
Kankeekee, IL
Anderson, IN
Indianapolis, IN
Kansas City, KS
Covington, KY
St. Louis, MO
Jackson, MS
Asheville, NC
Belmont, NC
Chapel Hill, NC
Fayetteville, NC
Ft. Bragg, NC
Gastonia, NC
Greenville, NC
Hickory, NC
Jacksonville, NC
Newton-Conover, NC
Raleigh, NC
Wilmington, NC
Winston-Salem, NC
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Newark, OH
Reading, PA
Columbia, SC
Florence, SC
Greenville, SC
Spartanburg, SC
Chattanooga, TN
Johnson City, TN
Knoxville, TN
Memphis, TN
Blacksburg, VA
Chester, VA
Norfolk, VA
Petersburg, VA
Richmond, VA
Woodbridge, VA
Williamsburg, VA
Milwaukee, WI
I have taught at seminars and classes at high schools, technical colleges as well as liberal art ones, and for the Rape Crisis Centers. I continue to judge and referee at tournaments.
I started winning and/or placing in Kata competition from FL to CT and became the USKA point-standing female Kata champion twice in the 1970’s. I was involved in the cause of women’s safety and fairness in competition. I was asked by Master Trias to assist or head meetings at the USKA Grand Nationals for women’s concerns. I became the NC State Representative for USKA and was the first time a female had held this type of appointment.
As Lawrence was in the Army, we traveled; and wherever we were, we taught. I retired from active competition in 1975 as we went overseas and we started a family.
Today, as I am disabled, I continue to teach to the best of my ability; not so much physically, but through oral explanation and using our higher-ranked students as bodies.
The following are breakdowns for ease in reading:
Teaching Areas –
Asheville, NC
Waynesville, NC
Hickory, NC
Ft. Bragg, NC
Berlin, Germany
Brunswick, GA (Jekyl Island)
Ruskin, FL (Tampa Bay area)
Ranks –
Today, as I am disabled, I continue to teach to the best of my ability; not so much physically, but through oral explanation and using our higher-ranked students as bodies.
The following are breakdowns for ease in reading:
Teaching Areas –
Asheville, NC
Waynesville, NC
Hickory, NC
Ft. Bragg, NC
Berlin, Germany
Brunswick, GA (Jekyl Island)
Ruskin, FL (Tampa Bay area)
Ranks –
Teaching Areas –
Asheville, NC
Waynesville, NC
Hickory, NC
Ft. Bragg, NC
Berlin, Germany
Brunswick, GA (Jekyl Island)
Ruskin, FL (Tampa Bay area)
Ranks –
Waynesville, NC
Hickory, NC
Ft. Bragg, NC
Berlin, Germany
Brunswick, GA (Jekyl Island)
Ruskin, FL (Tampa Bay area)
Ranks –
1st
07-12-71
Shorei
USKA
Robert A. Trias
2nd
07-08-74
Shorei
USKA
Robert A. Trias
3rd
05-13-81
Shuri
USKA
Robert A. Trias
4th
10-20-89
Shuri
OKU
Alan Wheeler
5th
11-22-91
Shuri
OKU
Alan Wheeler
6th
08-22-94
Shuri
USKA, Inc.
Dr. Roberta Trias-Kelley
7th
09-09-98
Shuri
USKA, Inc.
Dr. Roberta Trias-Kelley
7th
07-25-00
Shorei
Kondo-No-Shokai
Terry Sanders