Kwanmukan International Society Announces Death of Great Grandmaster Hanshi George E. Anderson

AKRON, OH--(Marketwire - August 10, 2009) - It is with deepest regrets and profound sadness that the Shihan Board of the Kwanmukan International Society reports that founder and head, Great Grandmaster George E. Anderson, died on August 6, 2009, in Akron, Ohio. Hanshi Anderson was 77 at the time of his death.

Hanshi Anderson was unarguably one of the most influential figures in modern martial arts, having begun his study and training in the early 1950s. His Kwanmukan style of karate boasts more than 2,500 black belts with multi-art schools throughout the United States, Canada, the Middle East, Europe and South America. Grandmaster Anderson expected his students to develop an intellectual side to their training, demanding them to understand that being a successful martial artist is linked directly to family, education, friendship and civility.

Hanshi Anderson's insight and organizational skills led to the formation of the USA Karate Federation (USAKF), which served as the first National Governing Body (NGO) for karate under the United States Olympic Committee banner. He was instrumental in unifying WUKO (WKF) and the IAKF, engineered having karate recognized as a medal sport in the Pan American Games, and represented karate to the USOC for many years. In 1990, Grandmaster Anderson formed the United States Jujitsu Federation (USJJF), the current NGO for US jujitsu with the Olympics movement. Most recently, he worked with members of the current NGO for karate (USANKF) to create the Senior Masters Caucus to provide mature and fledgling martial arts organizations the insight and experience of long time practitioners.

Hanshi Anderson was the author of more than 50 technical manuals, instruction guides, organizational constitutions and by-laws, books and standards templates. He was the holder of multiple advance ranks and certifications from the most prestigious martial arts organizations in the world and was in constant demand as a speaker and teacher. His favorite times were spent on the dojo floor and in the classroom, teaching students directly, whether high ranking black belts and law enforcement officers studying advanced techniques, or beginning students at the University of Akron, where Hanshi Anderson was an Auxiliary Professor.

The Shihan Board of the Kwanmukan International Society and all its members extend their deepest sympathy to Grandmaster Anderson's family.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, August 23, 2009, at Riverside Alliance Church, 2433 S. Main St., Akron, Ohio 44319 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Please RSVP to brian30@uakron.edu.

Per the family's wishes, memorial donations can be sent to:

Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Medina County In memory of George E. Anderson 321 West Exchange Akron, OH 44302