DECATUR - Martial arts instructor James Davison tries to teach his students more than fighting skills.
The highly-credentialed instructor also tries to instill godly principals in his students and set them on the right path for life.
Davison, who owns All Star Martial Arts NWA in Springdale, opened a second location on Main Street in Decatur because of the need in the community for something positive for kids to get involved with. At his Decatur location, he teaches karate and boxing for all ages and trains women in Krav Maga - an Israeli Defense Forces combat system - for self-defense.
Davison’s list of qualifications is long. He was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2008, and he holds a fourth dan in Goju-Shorei Karate with the International Martial Arts Council, a second degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and a second dan black belt in White Tiger Kenpo Karate. He has boxed for the Texas Golden Gloves, with a record of 12 fights and eight wins in the Golden Glove Circuit. He is also an associate instructor in Jeet Kune Do and instructs in the Israeli art of Krav Maga.
“I’m 52 years old and still competing,” he said.
Davison has also been on three episodes of Walker Texas Ranger, two as an extra and the third as a “bad guy” who got beat up and kicked through a window by Chuck Norris’ stunt double.
Davison said he got his start in martial arts when his dad gave him karate lessons for his 14th birthday in 1974. He explained that he was bullied as a kid and begged his dad for karate lessons.
After a career in the military, Davison fell in with a rough crowd and was convicted of several crimes. Since then, he has turned his life around andhas risen to numerous successes in his martial arts career. He has also become a licensed evangelist through Beacon of Hope Restoration Ministry in Rockaway Beach, Mo.
“The only limitations you have are the ones you put on yourself, and my God is not in a box,” he said.
Davison said he is a Christian first and a martial artist second, and his background has given him a heart for working with children and at-risk teens. He frequently works with the juvenile court in Washington County to help get students back on the right track.
“We are raising these kids to take over the community,” he said. “The youth of today will be our law enforcement officers, mayors, city council members and business people of tomorrow.”
All Star Martial Arts NWA is located at 107 South Main Street in Decatur. For more information, call 313-2238.
Sports, Pages 9 on 05/22/2013