Hugh Van Putten

While attending Los Angeles City College, worked as a karate instructor for Hapkido grandmaster, Sea Oh Choi. Trained with fellow students and future karate masters Clifford Stewart, Russell R. McFadden, and Jerry Smith. Hugh also trained under grandmaster Ed Parker's Kenpo Karate system prior to his immersion into the Hapkido fighting system. Inspired by the late Bruce Lee's character of Kato in the TV series, The Green Hornet, Hugh would often be spotted carrying his version of throwing darts. Was one of the founding members of the Black Karate Association (BKF) under the first president, Steve Muhammad. Assisted in training future BKF fighting champions Sammy Pace and Gary "The Rabbit" Goodman. He was also a tremendous fan of all the Japanese martial arts films, especially the Shadow Hunters series. Van Putten also served in the U.S. Marines. Hugh once vowed to dedicate his life to acting and the martial arts.