Billy was one of 13 children of a poor family that lived in Erie PA. Doctors told Billy that he would never be able to play football or other sports because he had hip problems and couldn’t do it.
Billy wanted to learn karate but being a child in a large poor family his parents told him, he couldn’t do it because they couldn’t afford it.
Billy decided that he would get a job and pay for it himself. Billy was only 13. He found a job. A local garbage company hired him to work on the back of the truck and load garbage into the truck. Billy started taking karate and started to do pretty well. His karate instructor encouraged him to compete and Billy started winning many Local, National and even World titles. Billy also went to the Pan American games and competed with the USA team. No American had ever won a gold and it wasn’t to be Billy’s day either. He only won a Silver, however his team mate one the Gold. A 1 – 2 finish for the USA. Billy started to be recognized in the Karate world for his tremendous fitness workouts and was featured in Black Belt Magazine not only for his karate achievements but also for his awesome physically conditioning.
The recognition of his training and fitness regimen gave way to a new avenue in his life. Teaching fitness. Billy become so famous for his awesome workouts that he started teaching in Hollywood and training all the famous people who needed to stay in shape for acting and people who just wanted to look good. Along the way someone suggested that Billy start making tapes and selling them on TV. That was the beginning of the Tae Bo craze.
Billy is Billy Blanks, who is now known by every karate and fitness trainer in the country and by every mother who ever did a Tae bo work out in there basement.
Billy couldn’t do karate, the doctor said so! He couldn’t do karate because his parents couldn’t afford it! He could never do what he did! But he did!
Congrats Billy, I have many many of your tapes and DVDs.
Some people just won’t be denied! Hmmmm? Wonder what we can take from this?
Written by Perry Culver 6th dan Shotokan Karate
Culver Karate Club
Connellsville, Pa 15425
Ph: 724-626-5425
