Grand Master
Gordon Franks has over 40 years experience in the martial arts.
After earning his black belt in 1972, it took him just three years
to win the PKA World Super Lightweight championship in full contact
karate.
Grand Master Gordon Franks is one of the USA Karate School's original founders. The organization operates several schools in the Twin Cities serving thousands of active members.
Grand Master Franks was a ground breaker in Professional Full Contact Karate. He was the first World Professional Super-light-weight Karate Championship which he won in Berlin, Germany, on September 21st, 1975. He was the first African American World Champion. He was the first to win his title in a foreign country. Many of Grand Master Franks' fights were televised, as he was at his prime during the infancy of the sport.
Being one of
the most recognized fighters in the country had many benefits, such
as a chance to travel to Paris, France in May of 1976 as a member
of the American All Star Team along with World Champions Bill
Wallace, Jeff Smith, Joe Lewis and Isaias Duenas.
Other accomplishments include:
Feature articles in Karate Illustrated Magazine, Professional Karate Magazine, Sport Karate Magazine, Official Karate Magazine, and Minnesota Business Journal. He is listed in the History of Martial Arts, and Who's Who in American Martial Arts. Franks was the chairman of the PKA Fighters Association and a deputy commissioner on the Minnesota Boxing Board in charge of competitive karate activity in Minnesota. Franks' fights have been televised on CBS and on the ESPN cable network, where he has also been an expert commentator. He and Pat Worley have been recognized as KARATE MASTERS.
Grand Master Pat
Worley began his martial arts training under Grand Master Pat
Burleson in Ft. Worth, Tx in 1967. In 1969, he earned his Black
Belt under the instruction of Master Chuck Loven, His Black Belt
review panel included well known Martial Artists such as Grand
Master Chuck Norris and the father of Texas Karate, Grand Master
Allen Steen.
As stated in "The Official History of Karate in America",
written by Al Weiss, "Pat Worley is a twenty-two year-old
competitor who has claimed some of karate's most coveted titles in
the past few years. Among these are… the 'Nationals' in Washington,
D.C. He has been referred to as one of the most well-mannered
competitors on the tournament circuit." Grand Master Worley, who
was rated in the national top ten for fighting from 1970 through
1975, 
was the number
one contender for the World Middle-weight title from 1974 to
1977.
Grand Master Worley moved to Minnesota in 1974 and is one of the original founders of USA KARATE.
He is a martial arts instructor, retired top-ranked national competitor, and is currently a Tenth degree black belt registered with the World Martial Arts Ranking Association.
In April 2009, Grand Master Worley was inducted into the Tae Kwon-Do Hall of Fame.
Other accomplishments include:
Feature articles in Karate Illustrated Magazine, Professional Karate Magazine, Sport Karate Magazine, Official Karate Magazine, and Minnesota Business Journal. He is listed in the History of Martial Arts, and Who's Who in American Martial Arts. As an expert in Martial Arts, he has written articles for various Martial Arts magazines.
Minneapolis Convention Center
Join us at the Healthy Life Expo! see the new USA Karate Bouncy Hous...
Minneapolis Convention Center
Join us at the Healthy Life Expo! see the new USA Karate Bounc...
