Aaron Banks (martial artist)

Personal life

Aaron Banks was born in 1928 in the Bronx, New York, a year before the Great Depression. His mother was a nurse who gambled; his father was a sports editor for the failed New York newspaper Morning Journal. Banks married twice: first to a secretary who left him after his drug use and a hospital stay for pneumonia, then to a show girl whose $1,000 weekly salary far exceeded his $40. He died on May 2, 2013. His dream of becoming an actor was not fulfilled to his liking.

Early career

At age 19, Banks pursued acting, landing a gangster role in the movie Greenwich Village Story and a part in the Broadway play Two by Saroyan. After failing to achieve star roles, he studied singing under Alan Greene alongside Harry Belafonte, then moved into directing plays. He held auditions for his first studio, once dismissing a singer as terrible who turned out to be Barbra Streisand. He worked various small jobs before becoming a salesman at a Colony record shop. There, a trivial argument escalated into a fight; though smaller, Banks fought ferociously until six policemen pulled him away. He then studied karate under John Slocum, and after ten lessons his drug and alcohol use ceased. Within four years, he earned his black belt in Goju Ryu.

Filmography

Banks launched the Oriental World of Self Defense in 1966, a television show that brought martial arts to public attention. The show toured worldwide, playing to packed houses; at its peak it sold out twice in one day at Madison Square Garden's 20,000-seat arena. In 1972, Banks met with a Madison Square Garden vice president and signed a bond guaranteeing a certain amount of money. Starting at the Felt Forum, he moved to the main arena within two years. Many martial artists gained exposure through his shows, including Chuck Norris and Lou Neglia. At age 82, Banks continued to present scaled-down versions of his show at a local New York theater.

Notable events

Banks earned a black belt in 1962, studying Shotokan under John Slocum, Moo Duk Kwan under Richard Chun, Goju-ryu under Peter Urban and Gonnohye Yamamoto, Southern Praying Mantis kung fu, and tai chi. In 1963 he organized a karate demonstration at the 41st Street Theater, the start of many presentations. He launched the Oriental World of Self-Defense in 1966 at Town Hall in New York City, featuring jujitsu, aikido, kung fu, taekwondo, and other arts.

In 1967 he organized the East Coast vs. West Coast Team Competition at Manhattan Center; 3,800 spectators watched the West Coast team win. The first Professional Karate Championship in 1968 saw Joe Lewis defeat Vic Moore, Mike Stone beat Bob Taiani, Chuck Norris defeat Louis Delgado, and Skipper Mullis beat Kazuyoshi Tanaka; Americans won four of six fights against Asian fighters. In 1969 he began a tournament-a-month competition at Sunnyside Gardens Arena in Queens, running for three years.

In 1973 he toured 25 US states and then Europe, appearing at Royal Albert Hall before the Queen of the United Kingdom. By 1974 the Oriental World attracted 19,000 spectators at Madison Square Garden. In 1982 on the Mike Douglas Show, he shattered 58 boards in 60 seconds.