the beginning
years of
kinney karate

Michael Kinney receives his 1st Degree Black Belt at the age of 18 on February 27, 1969 from instructor Dale Tompkins (center).

Dick Kerns (left) was Mr. Kinney's first Aikido instructor.

Mr. Kinney was the first Black Belt promoted within the new Tang Soo Do/Karate Association formed by Mr. Tompkins.

Mr. Kinney has since promoted over 1,000 Black Belts within the Kinney Karate System

In 1976, Mr. Kinney is presented his 3rd Degree Black Belt by long time friend, Martial Arts World Champion Bill "Superfoot" Wallace.

Mr. Kinney was an influential competitor during early years of tournament Karate.

Michael Kinney and Film/TV Star Chuck Norris. Mr. Norris and Mr. Kinney were students of Legendary Tang Soo Do instructor Ki Whang Kim. Both were competitors during the early years of tournament Karate.	World Renowned Founder of Modern Arnis, Remy Presas and Michael Kinney. Kinney and Presas are personal friends and have performed together in seminars and demonstrations.

George Dillman, known for his pressure point seminars, and Michael Kinney.
They were early in the founding years of Martial Arts tournamentts on the East Coast. They have performed together in the tournaments, seminars and demonstrations since the late 1960's.

World Champion Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and Michael Kinney have been friends for over
three decades. They have performed in seminars, demonstrations and officiated
together in world class events.

Legendary Founder of "Small Circle Ju-Jitsu" Wally Jay and Michael Kinney. They have performed together in Seminars and Mr Jay's system has greatly influenced Mr. Kinney's skills and development of Kinney Karate. Mr. Kinney's Ju-Jitsu videos are in Mr. Jay's personal collection and vice versa.

World renowned "Weapon and Kala" Champion, Michael Berdardo and Michael Kinney clown at a seminar where they performed together. Film star Bernardo and Kinney met at "The US Open," in Orlando, Florida in '93, where, Mr. Kinney officiated Mr. Bernardo's event. Bernardo appeared in segment of "Kinney Karate World" on Group W television. They have been friends ever since.

World Champions Jeff Smith and Joe Lewis playfully pull Michael Kinney to the ground. Mr. Smith and Mr. Kinney were friends and both had schools based in the Washington D.C./Maryland suburbs where Smith and Kinney often competed together in "Breaking" demonstrations. Joe Lewis often visited the area and along with Bill Wallace, were influential in Mr. Kinney's early training. Mr. Kinney and many memebers of "Kim Studio" and "TKA" were top competitors and fought in the original "PKA" events through the 1970's along with Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith and others.