Biography
Joseph Henry Lewis was born on March 7, 1944, in Knightdale, North Carolina. He joined the United States Marine Corps on March 13, 1962 and was stationed at Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina from July 20, 1962 to April 12, 1964. He studied Shorin-ryu Karate with Eizo Shimabukuro, John Korab, Chinsaku Kinjo and Seiyu Oyata while stationed in Okinawa between May 21, 1964 and November 29, 1965, earning his black belt in a mere seven months. He was one of the first Marines stationed in Vietnam, there meeting Anthony (Rocky) Graziano. From February 7 to July 14, 1966, he was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, at which time he was released from Active Duty. Upon returning to the USA, he began a winning tournament career. From 1967 to 1968, he studied privately with the influential martial artist and Jeet Kune Do founder Bruce Lee. Hong Kong cinema historian Bey Logan says Lewis was the original pick of Bruce Lee for the villain Colt in Way of the Dragon, but that Lee and Lewis had a falling out before the film and thus Chuck Norris was tapped instead.
In July 2011, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Doctors told him that if he did nothing, he’d have six to eight weeks to live. On July 18, surgeons removed the tumor. “He had the best doctors, and they think they did a good job of getting it all out,” said Dennis Nackord, Lewis’ senior black belt.
Lewis died one year and forty-five days later, on the morning of August 31, 2012.
Read more about this topic: Joe Lewis (martial Artist)
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