Destined to be a grandmaster

By KEVIN HARRIS

On an ordinary night in 1968, a 19-year-old Terry Middleton attended a martial arts demonstration at a karate studio in Jeffersonville.

While watching the demo, Middleton made a huge discovery — his destiny in life.

That night, he found out what he wanted to do in his career, which was to become a martial arts instructor.

“I knew it the first time I saw it. I loved it,” Middleton said.

Not only did Middleton become an instructor, he has become quite successful at his craft.

On Oct. 20 of last year, Middleton received one of the biggest honors for any martial artist, as he was inducted into the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Durham, N.C. The 59-year-old is an eighth-degree black belt grandmaster, which is one of the highest ranks in karate.

“It’s one of those things that takes you basically a lifetime to get there,” said Middleton, a 1966 Charlestown High School graduate. “It’s an honor given by an organization that recognizes the best. It’s a very big honor for me.”

Middleton has owned Terry Middleton’s Karate/Kickboxing/Boxing since 1972, making it one of the oldest martial arts schools in the United States. The school, which is located on the corner of State and Market streets in downtown New Albany, is also one of the biggest martial arts gyms in the country. For the last 36 years, thousands of Southern Indiana and Louisville residents have enrolled at the school to learn martial arts skills.

The school teaches several styles of martial arts, including karate, tae kwon do, kung fu, aikido and judo. Middleton is not picky about what form of martial arts he teaches.

“They’re like tools in a toolbox — I like them all. They’re equally enjoyable,” Middleton said.

Middleton says martial arts do more than just teach a person self-defense. They help build character, particularly in young people.

“It changes their lives. It turns them from not being successful to being successful,” Middleton said. “Basically, you take the arts and make yourself a better person and make the world a better place.”

Martial arts are not the only products Middleton’s school instructs.

Middleton and his staff train approximately 150 boxers. The school has trained former world heavyweight champions Greg Page and Jimmy Ellis and ex-world cruiserweight titlists Arthur Weathers and James Pritchard along with several Golden Gloves champions. Also, the gym currently has one of the best female boxers in the world in Terry Blair, who currently holds three world title belts.

Middleton’s gym also teaches kickboxing and has produced a couple of successful kickboxers.

Corydon native Matt Kitterman won a heavyweight national title in the mid-1990s and earned a silver medal in a world competition in Russia. In 1991, New Albany native Shawn Wheat collected a bronze medal in a world championship meet as a member of the U.S. kickboxing team.

The school also conducts self-defense courses for women, children and teenagers. Middleton also has helped create instructional videos in martial arts, ladies’ self-defense and kickboxing, and has performed several exhibitions at area schools.

“You write it, we’ve done it,” Middleton said.

Middleton is a firm believer that anyone is capable of competing in martial arts. He and his training staff have trained a wide array of students that range from 6-year-olds to people in their 70s. They have instructed government officials, movie stars, doctors and fighter pilots.

“Never, ever tell somebody you can do this or that,” Middleton said. “They have to like it. You must be dedicated and must practice constantly. The benefits are self-defense and it will trim you up. It sweats out the toxins.”



TERRY MIDDLETON FILE

AGE: 59

HIGH SCHOOL: Charlestown, 1966 graduate

PROFESSION: Martial arts instructor, owner of Terry Middleton’s Karate/Kickboxing/Boxing in downtown New Albany

HONORS: Currently eighth-degree black belt grandmaster; earned first black belt in 1971; inducted into Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

WEB SITE: www.terrymiddletons.com

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