Professor/Grandmaster Alexander Archie began his
martial arts training with Kodokan Judo in the early 1950’s under the
tutelage of one “Sergeant Peterson” in North Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1954
he met and began training with Master Henry Yoda in both Kodokan Judo
and Kodenkan Jujitsu. After having competed in and winning a couple of
local Judo tournaments, Sensei Dale Hawkins introduced Grandmaster
Archie to Goju-Ryu Karate.
As a teen-ager he joined a boxing program, and his
talents were no less apparent. As a young pugilist in Las Vegas, Nevada,
became a three-time Amateur Golden Gloves Champion.
In 1957, he branched off into Moo Duck Kwan
Taekwando under Moon Young Kim. From 1958 through 1967 Grandmaster
Archie trained in several different styles of martial arts taught by
various instructors to include but certainly not limited to, Mr.
O'Brien, Mr. Roberto Martinez, Master Sanchez, and Mr. Reeves.
In 1967 Grandmaster Archie began training in
Chinese Kung Fu with Sifu Chuck Simpson. In 1968 Grandmaster Archie and
Sifu Simpson attended a training session with Dr. Stanford McNeal, then
teaching the Okinawan art of Shudokan Karate, and thereafter they both
became students of Dr. McNeal. In addition to his primary instructor,
Dr. McNeal also became Grandmaster Archie's big brother and very close
friend. Grandmaster Archie credits Dr. McNeal’s support and tutelage
with his later success in sport karate competition.
In 1970 Grandmaster Archie moved to Northern
Nevada and began teaching many of the above-mentioned arts at venues
throughout the area. In the meantime he continued his own training in
Kodenkan Jujitsu under Professor Lamar Fisher, and initiated his studies
in Professor Wally Jay’s “Small Circle” concept of Jujitsu under that
system’s founder. Grandmaster Archie’s Jujitsu training then continued
under the expertise of Professor LL Cary, who is still Grandmaster
Archie’s primary Jujitsu instructor and very close friend.
In 1975 Grandmaster Archie re-initiated his Moo
Duck Kwon training under Master Kang and Master Byong Yong Yu, to the
degree he oversaw the operation of several Moo Duck Kwon schools in the
Reno area in the late 1970’s. A couple of years later Grandmaster Archie
began an association with Grandmasters Steve Muhammad and Dr. Donnie
Williams, founders of BKF Kenpo Karate, and also Grandmaster Dave Hebler
of American Kenpo Karate.
Between 1978 and 2002 Grandmaster Archie was
appointed western regional Director of the Shudokan Karate System, and
was later appointed western regional Director of Goju-Shorei Systems. In
2002, with the decision of Dr. Stanford McNeal to break off from
Goju-Shorei and create the Kifaru-Jitsu Karate System, Grandmaster
Archie assumed the Professorship in Goju-Shorei Karate, formally passing
the system on to Soke Dave McNeill. He has remained the system’s chief
senior advisor.
Concurrently, Grandmaster Archie was promoted to
9th Dan in the Kifaru-Jitsu System.
Grandmaster Archie is a lifetime member of the
International Academy of Police & Military Self-Defense Tactics, and is
a Senior Master Instructor with Nevada Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) Academy. He has continues to teach defensive tactics to
law enforcement agencies throughout Nevada, California, Idaho,
Washington, and Oregon specializing in weapon retention, defense against
edged weapons, gun defense, club defense and restraint techniques,
come-a-longs, and hold breaking. He has also taught law enforcement
defensive tactics courses for Truckee Meadows Community College, and
teaches and certifies the straight baton and PR-24 (tonfa).
Some, but not all of Grandmaster Archie’s
accomplishments include:
v Two times U. S. Top Ten National Karate Champion
v Four times Nevada State Black Belt Karate Grand champion
v International Seniors Karate Champion
v Competitor of the Year award
v Instructor of the Year award
v Past President, American Teachers Association of Martial Arts (ATAMA)
v World Masters Sport Jujitsu Champion, Silver Medallist (WCJJO)
v World Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee
v World Sokeship Council Hall of Fame inductee
v International Hawaiian Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee
v United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee
v Bay Area Sport Karate Association (BASKA) Hall of Fame inductee
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