Isshin-Ryu Hall of Fame





Pete Mills

Inducted in 2002

Pete Mills was born July 17, 1944 in Knoxville, TN.   He began his Isshin-Ryu training under Master Harold Long on July 17, 1965.  While training under Master Long, he had the opportunity to learn his empty hand katas from Grandmaster Shimabuku while he was a house guest of Master Long in October of 1966.  In addition to Mr. Long, Mr. Mills trained with Master Steve Armstrong for a period of five years.

  For the last 40 years Mr. mills has been an exceptional Isshinryu competitor, instructor and promoter. He was the Southeastern Black Belt Champion 1970.  He has operated Karate Sports Academy/Pete Mills School of Karate from 1967 to present and has trained several hundred students to the level of Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate.

Sensei Mills has appeared in television spots; news segments; and for the past 3 years has conducted a weekly local TV show featuring Isshinryu Karate, flexibility, self-defense, the Gracie grappling system and Free Sparring.  In August 1998 Mr. Mills was featured in Karate International Magazine doing a self-defense routine with the Okinawan/Isshinryu Tonfa.

For the past three years Sensei Mills has been associated with Chuck Norris in the "Kick Drugs out of the America" Campaign.  He is a staff member of the Martial Arts University (A three week martial arts instruction at Radford University, VA) and serves as the Senior Advisor for Isshin-Ryu Karate at this University. He serves as a master instructor with other notable martial artists such as: Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Royce Gracie, Willie "Bam Bam" Johnson, Kathy Long Mark Coleman and many others.

Through the years, Mr. Mills has been associated with several martial arts organizations: United States Karate Association (Emeritus); American Okinawan Karate Association (Emeritus); International Isshinryu Karate Association V.P. Emeritus, I. I. K. A. Hall of Fame, Emeritus (First person to ever hold the Office of Vice Chairman); Tennessee Karate Circuit, Vice-President; American Independent Karate Instructors Association.

Sensei Mills holds a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.B.A. in Business Administration from Century University, Los Angeles, CA. He is active in the community and church activities. He is married to Dot Mills and the father of Todd Mills, a San-Dan in Isshinryu. Karate and a freshman at Tennessee Technical University.

Sensei Mills is a Vietnam Veteran. He received five campaign stars as a decorated soldier and received the Army Commendation Medal for his service. While in Vietnam he trained with the Korean Ranger Division.

Mr. Mills was awarded the rank of Ku-Dan on August 26, 1994 by a panel of five Master Isshinryu Instructors all of the rank of Roku Dan and higher and the United Martial Arts Association. This rank has been recognized by the I.I.K.A.

Master Mills has over forty years in Isshinryu. and is authoring a book entitled "Isshinryu and Jujitsu" By Master Pete Mills. It is expected to be published in November 2002.

Mr. Mills is the head of the Universal Isshinryu. Family and has already certified over 27 black belts to teach Isshinryu Jujitsu techniques this year alone.

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Revised: July 06, 2008.

 

Contact Information

Postal address:
PO Box 6206
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Tel : 865.386.7843
Fax: 865.684.4798
Send E-mail to tmcghee@ihof.us with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1997 Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame, Inc.
Last modified: May 13, 2008

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