Craig E. Carter

Craig E. Carter is a martial arts Grandmaster. He was the founder of the first true martial arts governing body put in place to uphold the standards, regulations and licenses of martial arts instructors and students in the US.
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Biography
Carter was born in Settle, Washington, and moved to Southern California about the age of 3. As a child in Southern California trained in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido & Judo during his early school years. When the school he was attending closed Shins Academy another school opened in it place but this time with a different list of styles. In the early 1980's Mr. Carter turn to the world of Karate-do and Hakko-ryu Jujitsu By the time he reached the high school level he was training in more then six styles of martial arts and competing in Regional and National events. After high school he traveled to back to Washington State looking to explore his options as the martial arts schools in his hometown of 29 Palms CA were no longer there. This did not work out and Mr. Carter returned to Southern California the same year. During the next five years he explored the arts with many different instructors and styles learning as much as he could about the arts and teaching as head instructor for the local school. In the mid 1990’s he began to write personal books and notes on each style of interest along with developing self-defense clinics for youth safety. At this time Mr. Carter also met Shihan Otto Johnson After doing over a hundred seminars and clinics in stretching fundamentals, sport kumite, weapons and youth safety he began providing small unit training to members of the US Military and local Law Enforcement. In the late 1990’s he joined the US Navy and started his military career. Every location he was stationed at he opened a new training class and by 1999 he was contracted by the bases he was stationed at to provide full time martial arts instruction. An injury on duty and personal family needs ended his naval career short with and honorable discharge in 2001. Coming off a fresh knee surgery and his honorable discharge he returned to 29 Palms California where he grew up. Once there he began working aboard the US Marine Corps base as a certified personal training and martial arts instructor. During this time the finishing touches were being put on his books and training guides and he was developing a format for an open style dojo that embraced a large number of styles without blending them. By the end of 2001 the Pure Force Martial Arts Organization was formed and the [http://pureforcemartialarts.com/care.html Children’s Active Resistance Education (C.A.R.E.)] programs were being used by the communities Parks & Rec departments and the new martial arts systems of SanDo-ryu and Setgen Kwan were recognized nationally. In the next few years a number of Hall of Fame nominations came in and he began working with a private group to open the first ever “Sports University” in the US. American Sports University showed a lot of hope for a new educational direct however after some time he felt the over all structure was weak and left the university to return full time to program development for the martial arts community. Somewhere during this same time the PFMA organization expanded to include the first ever Academic Instructor program for specialized training in the field of Martial Arts instruction. In the mid 2000’s he returned to meet with on of his close instructors (Shihan Otto Johnson) who in turn handed over his personal belt and passed the leadership of American Wado-ryu to Mr. Carter. (As stated in the new release of author Allen Woodman ~ "Introduction to American Wado-ryu") With many of the military based injuries becoming degenerative he retired from full time teaching and took on a set of apprentice instructors. These personal students are black belts that are now personally trained and many of his private skill sets have been past to them. He continues to develop programs and oversee his apprentices as they carry on passing the many different arts to the public. In 2008 Mr. Carter accepted the nomination to the for the Golden Life Time Achievement Award. He enjoys continuing to direct his staff in development of programs and systems to include the founding of the.United States Council of Martial Arts Standards
Accomplishments
*Started training March 1977 in Tae Kwon Do/Judo/Hapkido
*Started leading classes in 1985
*Started teaching all ages in 1989
*Head Instructor positions starting 1990’s
*Began opening schools in 1999
*Founded "Pure Force Martial Arts" in 2001

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Dan Rankings:
SanDo-ryu (9th Dan)
Setgen Kwan (8th Dan)
Taekkyon (Tae Kwon Do)
American Tae Kwon Do (8th Dan)
Hapkido (6th Dan)
Wado-ryu (6th Dan)
Shotokan (5th Dan)
Goju-ryu (5th Dan)
Daito-ryu Aiki-jujitsu (4th Dan)
Muay Boran (Silver Sash / monkon)
Hakkoryu (1st Dan)
Judo (1st Dan)
Tang Soo Do (Master 5th Dan Honorary)
Escrima/Kali/Arnis (Student Instructor)
2005 Completed Ph.D in Philosophy
(Dissertation on the Philosophy & Theory of Martial Science)
World Champion Titles (Four in Kumite)
International Titles (Three in Kata)
National Titles (One in Weapons)
Silver Life Time Award (25 years)
Master Rankings in Japanese & Korean Styles
Seminars (1000+)
Students (10000+ in his teaching career through his staff)
13 Pure Force Dojos Across the country
Creation of over 15 different training Programs
Instruction for the US Military
Books ~ The Ultimate Guide to Setgen Kwan
US National Martial Arts Team Head Coach 2004-2006
American Sports University Karate Team Head Coach
PhD Philosophy (dissertation on Martial Science)
Master's Hall of Fame Inductee 2008
Academy of Master's Founding Member 2009
Chairmen ~ United States Council of Martial Arts Standards
Soke ~ American Wado Association

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