About Us

The United States Black Belt Association© (USBBA©)is one of the oldest, most respected martial arts organizations in the world. Membership in the USBBA© offers many benefits:

  • Unique On-site Training
  • Seminars
  • Top Quality Certification, Including Recognition of Rank
  • The Finest Martial Arts Instructors Online Video Training Courses
  • Opportunities for Your School to become an Authorized Training Center© (ATC©)
  • Nomination of Instructors to the Registry of Martial Arts Coaches © (RMAC©)
  • Custom Designed and Embroidered Uniforms and Gear
  • The Finest Combative Martial Arts Training in the World.
Shihan Hurst

Shihan D. Michael Hurst, born in April 1947, began studying the family art of close quarters combat under his father in 1952.

  • He has logged over 41,000 teaching hours since opening his first school in 1965.
  • He completed two combat tours in the Republic of Viet Nam.
  • He co-founded the United States Black Belt Association© (1970) and served as its president for 22 years.
  • He has developed and taught credit courses in both self-defense and karate at four colleges.
  • In 1977, he was named to the World Karate and Jujitsu Union Hall of Fame (Outstanding National Karate Instructor), and named to the premier editions of "Who's Who in Karate" (1982), "Who's Who in American Martial Arts" (1984) and "Masters, Founders and Leaders of American Martial Arts" (1985).
  • Shihan Hurst also coached the 1999 Wu Lung Martial Arts Team that placed 6th in the world in power breaking and self-defense (ISKA).
  • He has studied with more than 30 martial arts legends and is ranked under 12 of them.
  • He has instructed more than 30,000 students, but has promoted only 65 to the exclusive status of black belt.
  • He has instructed over 400 seminars, demonstrations and presentations on martial fitness and healing and combative martial concepts, and has been the subject of more than 40 articles in various media concerning his exploits.
  • His writing experience includes 12 training manuals, several newsletters, articles, and reports.
  • He has chosen never to publish any work outside the closed audience of his own students until now.
  • He currently writes and creates video instructional pieces exclusively for the USBBA membership on this website.
  • He is a Certified Personal Trainer (ACE), and is pursuing other clinical exercise certifications.
  • He is also a licensed private investigator with several years experience.
  • He is now enrolled in college level courses to complete additional college degrees.