Hugh Van Putten
- Actor
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.
