Master Ivan Mendez is a 6th-degree black belt instructor in American Freestyle Karate with more than 40 years of martial arts experience. His career began in the early 80s under impressive names like the late Grandmaster Jae C. Shin (Hwang Kee’s student and Chuck Norris’ primary instructor) and Master Steven Chambliss in Tang Soo Do-Moo Duk Kwan. Thanks to their instruction, he received black belt #22,337. Today, he’s an internationally recognized figure and a pillar of his community – but his career certainly hasn’t been a linear trajectory. In 1986, Master Mendez seemingly took a different direction when he joined the U.S. Army. His leadership qualities while training in the arts led him to become a squad leader and crew chief for a fleet of AH-1S Cobra Helicopters. His decision to enlist never compromised his dedication to his craft in the arts. Stationed in Germany, he studied American Tae Kwon Do under Master Walter E. Ziegler (a scholar of Danny Lane, one of Chuck Norris’ top black belts). He also studied under Chung Do Kwan practitioner Master Phillip Richardson. Finally, in early 1988, Master Mendez received his black belt from Master Ziegler – making him the teacher’s first black belt student.
Additionally, Master Mendez cross-trained in Shotokan Karate and Kickboxing while in Europe. During this time, he also represented the military in competitions across the continent and reached high standings in sports karate as a fighter, kata, and weapons competitor. He achieved this throughout the four-year timespan of his enlistment in the U.S. Army. After an honorable discharge, he returned to New Jersey in 1990. Master Mendez gave his full attention to karate. He joined Team U.S.A.- Elite Fighting Force under the expert direction of American Freestyle Karate Grandmaster Johnnie Q. Wade Jr., a student of Grandmaster Charles Graham. Alongside teaching and practicing American Freestyle Karate, in 1999, Master Mendez took his fighting skills to the next level by becoming a student of the legendary “World Heavyweight Full Contact Karate Champion,” Joe Lewis, the “Father of American Kickboxing.” By mid-2005, Master Mendez had earned his Joe Lewis Fighting System (JLFS) black belt. Plus, he earned his 6th-degree karate black belt from Grandmaster Johnnie Q. Wade, Jr. in late 2015. That same year, Master Mendez and other members of the American Freestyle Karate were also acknowledged in the Tae Kwon Do – Moo Duk Kwan U.S.A. lineage under Grandmaster Eugene Perceval (a student of karate masters Ansei Ueshiro and Chun Chae Kyu). Thanks to these endeavors, Master Mendez has been inducted into the International Arts, World Karate Union, Action Martial Arts Magazine, Budo International, Line-up of Masters, and the Philadelphia Historic Martial Arts Hall of Fames for “Most Dedicated Martial Artist,” “Instructor of the Year,” “Continuance of Excellence in Preservation of the Martial Arts,” “Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts,” “Goodwill Ambassador to the Martial Arts,” and “Dedicated to the Growth of the Martial Arts Way” respectively. He’s also received countless awards and accolades as a professional sports karate competitor. Master Mendez’s accolades go beyond karate and the Army. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and a master’s degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He’s also a highly skilled professional with experience spanning law enforcement and criminal, forensic, and defense investigations. After leaving the Army, he worked for the N.J. Department of Corrections for four years, followed by 17 years in a municipal police department. Over this time, Master Mendez served as a police officer, evidence technician, criminal and crime scene investigator, firearms and ballistic technician, fingerprint/evidence expert, and the department’s only composite sketch artist. Ultimately, he was promoted to supervising investigator in the Criminal Investigation Bureau; and in the last year before his law enforcement retirement, Master Mendez served as patrol operations watch commander.
His career began in the early 80s under impressive names like the late Grandmaster Jae C. Shin (Hwang Kee’s student and Chuck Norris’ primary instructor) and Master Steven Chambliss in Tang Soo Do-Moo Duk Kwan. Thanks to their instruction, he received black belt #22,337. Today, he’s an internationally recognized figure and a pillar of his community – but his career certainly hasn’t been a linear trajectory. In 1986, Master Mendez seemingly took a different direction when he joined the U.S. Army. His leadership qualities while training in the arts led him to become a squad leader and crew chief for a fleet of AH-1S Cobra Helicopters. His decision to enlist never compromised his dedication to his craft in the arts. Stationed in Germany, he studied American Tae Kwon Do under Master Walter E. Ziegler (a scholar of Danny Lane, one of Chuck Norris’ top black belts). He also studied under Chung Do Kwan practitioner Master Phillip Richardson. Finally, in early 1988, Master Mendez received his black belt from Master Ziegler – making him the teacher’s first black belt student.
aster Ivan Mendez is a 6th-degree black belt instructor in American Freestyle Karate with more than 40 years of martial arts experience.
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