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Grand Master Chuck Loven

Texas Karate Legend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grand Master Chuck Loven 
10th Degree Black Belt 

Top ranked nationally in professional competition (1969-1973) Some of the major competitive titles won include: U.S. Heavyweight Champion, Dallas, Texas (1969), U.S. All Martial Arts Champion, Memphis, Tennessee (1970). Texas Champion (1971), Karate Olympics Champion, Houston, Texas (1971). Kansas State Champion (1971). Top Ten National Champion, St. Louis Missouri (1972). He also competed in Professional Team Matches in Los Angeles, California, Dallas, Texas and Washington, D.C.

Established outstanding reputation as promoter and director of following successful tournaments Texas State Championships (1970-1972). All American Karate Championships (1970-1974). Las Vegas Open Karate Championships (1976). Las Vegas Black Belt Full Contact Karate Matches, (1977). 

Repeatedly selected head referee in national amateur and professional karate matches (1969-1977). 

Subject of numerous articles in Karate Illustrated, Black Belt Magazine, Official Karate (1969-present). Rated as Top 10 Fighter in Black Belt Yearbook (1970 and 1971) Featured in Inside Kung fu in 1977. 

Appeared on numerous sports and public affairs broadcasts in Fort Worth, Texas and Las Vegas Nevada, discussing self-defense, rape prevention and aspects of amateur and professional karate competition. Was the subject of and technical advisor for a TV special, Karate: Fact and Fantasy, produced in Las Vegas for the local ABC affiliate 


Mr. Loven was one of Grandmaster Pat Burleson's first black belts. He was a well known and respected tournament fighter back in the beginning of American karate in what is refereed to the as the "blood & guts" days. Mr. Loven was nationally rated competitor by Black Belt Magazine in 1970 and 1971.

Mr. Loven ran one of Mr. Burleson's many karate schools in the Fort. Worth area in the sixties and trained many well know martial artist that include Grandmasters John and Pat Worley, Mr. Gary Hestilow, Mr. Larry Carnahan, Mr. Jim Butin and Mr. Ritchie. If you or your sensei trained under any of the masters listed then Mr. Loven is part of your Martial Arts lineage. 
 

Lesson Learned

 

I will tell the story of how I met GM Loven..

 

I had Been training for about 3 years with one of His Las Vegas Black Belts Mstr. William H. Lind.  AKA " The Outlaw". 

 

Chuck came into our workshop after having a meeting on the other side of the building to meet me. I had been Ranked Via remote Video Shipped back and forth to Vegas but had never met Him.

 

After Introductions and a 1/2 hour conversation we were all ready to get back to work  when Master Lind " Tricky Billy" convinced me I should ask Chuck to show me the dead arm punch. Which I did ( I was 20-ish,Duh). I can still hear Billy laughing in the background in my head when i think of it.

 

He proceded to explain the technique and said it would be "better" if I let all my air out lest I may explode some internal organs. I did so and He completed the technique.

 

My first memory is the realization that I hadn't considered i was going to land on concrete and that it was a bad choice. My second thought was it would be nice to breath again soon.

 

I jumped up and thanked him for taking the time to instruct me and held a weak smile as he went cheerfully about his business.

 

I asked Billy in his mind" How many ribs had to be broken before I would need to go to the hospital"? He asked "How many are Broken"? "Three I said". He told me to get in the truck.

 

I remember thinking  on the way that I'm glad that Master Loven likes me because I would hate to see what he does to people he's mad at..

 

I still owe Bill . I haven't forgotten. 

 

Grand Master Loven will be missed

 

Master Stout

 

 

 

 

 

1983 @ Mstr Ritchies' Tournament, Reno NV

Representing Master Loven from our two Lake Tahoe Schools

( I was Disqualified for contact,...whoops )

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