NK History & Traditions

About National Karate

National Karate has a reputation for being family friendly while producing quality martial artists and confident people and has been voted “Best Martial Arts School” in the Chicago Suburbs for 14 years in a row!   There are 5 full time schools in the western suburbs, located in Aurora, Bartlett, Naperville, Roselle and South Elgin.  National Karate teaches a combination of martial arts that include Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kickboxing and Krav Maga Self-Defense along with many varieties of self-defense and safety seminars.

NK has a very rich history that can trace it roots all the way back to Korea and Japan with influences from Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris and Jhoon Rhee.  Please take a moment to read about our rich history and traditions below…

Korea

In 1945, Chung Do Kwan, Korea’s first post war dojan (school) is opened by Master Won Kook Lee. Jhoon Rhee would later become a student and then instructor at the Chung Do Kwan.

Then in 1955, Korean Martial Arts leaders unify several kwans (schools) and adopt the term “Tae Kwon Do” as created and submitted by General Choi Hong Hi, the President of the Korean Tae Kwon Do Association.

The Father of American Tae Kwon Do

In 1956, Jhoon Rhee moves to the United States and attends San Marcos Southwest Texas State College and opens a “Karate Club” at the college.

Jhoon Rhee is now known as the “Father of American Tae Kwon Do” because he is the first person to bring Tae Kwon Do from Korea to the United States.As Mr. Rhee’s students become Black Belts, the little known sport of martial arts begins to grow.

“Tex Kwon Do”

Because of this growth under Master Rhee’s tutelage, Texas becomes one of the most important and prolific martial arts areas in the country. The American style of Tae Kwon Do practiced there soon became nationally recognized for its bruising style of fighting and was often referred to as “Tex Kwon Do” reflecting its Texas roots.

It was in this hard-hitting environment that John Worley, Larry Carnahan, movie star Chuck Norris and many others of that era earned their stripes and would eventually spread martial arts across the country.

In 1959, some of Mr. Rhee’s first Black Belts, J. Pat Burleson and Allen Steen open the first commercial martial arts school in Texas which was also one of the original martial arts schools founded in America.  History records Mr. Burleson as America’s first karate pioneer and “Father of All Karate Champions” because he won the first U.S. Karate Championships in 1964, held in Chicago, IL.  He also has the distinction of holding the highest American Tae Kwon Do ranking under Master Jhoon Rhee’s extensive martial arts family tree.  In addition to teaching the martial arts, Mr. Burleson later became a movie and stunt actor with regular appearances on the television show “Walker, Texas Ranger” staring Chuck Norris. He currently travels the world as a speaker and trainer.

Bruce Lee

It was at the 1964 Long Beach Karate Championships where Bruce Lee first met taekwondo master Jhoon Rhee. The two developed a friendship — a relationship from which they both benefited as martial artists.

Jhoon Rhee taught Lee the side kick in detail, and Lee taught Rhee the “non-telegraphic” punch.  John Worley, the founder of the National Karate Schools would later perform Karate demonstrations with Bruce Lee in the 1970’s.

Washington D. C.

In 1960 Jhoon Rhee departs Texas and moves to Washington D. C. and opens the professional chain of martial arts schools known as the Jhoon Rhee Institute.

He asks John Worley to join him to manage and instruct at one of his schools and later that year Larry Carnahan joins them. They soon become the Institutes top instructors. Master Rhee becomes a very successful businessman and in addition to his prosperous chain of martial arts schools, he invents the first line of martial arts protective gear.  Before this invention, martial arts students would punch each other in the face with bare knuckles.  Mr. Worley, Mr. Carnahan and the other Institute instructors got the proud distinction of beta testing the first prototypes of martial arts gloves and footpads made of foam rubber and duct tape.  Master Rhee finally perfects the sparring equipment design, which is very similar to the equipment that we still use today.

Grand Master Rhee is one of the few true 10th Degree Black Belts in the United States (the highest possible rank in the martial arts). He now spends his time training U.S. Senators and Congressmen and other famous students.

Our Founders

Both Mr. Worley and Mr. Carnahan have a very storied history in shaping martial arts in America. Here are some highlights:

Grand Master John Worley:

Grand Master Larry Carnahan:

• He was one of the early pioneers of professional Kickboxing were the fighters fought their first bouts using hand pads not boxing gloves. Eventually they adopted boxing gloves.
• He was ranked among the top ten professional Kickboxers in the world from 1976-1982.
• He was honored as one of the “Top Ten Black Belts” in the Nation in 1975 by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
• He is the current President of NASKA (North American Sport Karate Association) the world’s largest sport karate sanctioning body. (1990-current.)
• He is the co-founder and co-promoter of the Diamond Nationals – the largest and most prestigious sport karate tournament in North America.
• He is the co-founder and co-President of the National Karate Schools.
• In April of 2014, he was promoted to the martial arts highest rank of 10^th Degree Black Belt by martial arts legend, Grand Master J. Pat Burleson.  The promotion was conducted on their knees to demonstrate humility and respect.

To Minnesota:

In 1973, Mr. Worley and Mr. Carnahan decided that Middle America was ready for the martial arts. With Master Rhee’s blessing they and some associates moved to Minnesota and opened Mid-America Karate, what eventually became known as The National Karate Schools. (Even though National Karate teaches Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Kickboxing and other blends of martial arts, the name “Karate” was chosen because it was the most recognized label for martial arts in the 1970’s.)

In those days, the effectiveness of the martial arts was not yet well known, and it wasn’t uncommon for “tough guys” to walk into karate schools and ask the instructor to “prove” that karate worked.  Let’s just say the instructors were more than able to back up the effectiveness of the martial arts.  Over the years karate became more popular and mainstream and has become one of the fastest growing sports in the world.  We owe a special thank you and much respect to the martial arts pioneers who have paved the way for us.  Without their dedication and passion none of us would be doing martial arts in America today.  Master’s Worley and Carnahan eventually grew their organization to be the market leader in their region. As of this writing the Minnesota National Karate Schools have 24 full time locations.

Diamond Nationals

In 1978 the first Diamond National Karate Championships is promoted in St. Paul, Minnesota. Approximately 550 competitors enter the event—which received great reviews due to the high level of competition and organization. It will become North America’s largest and most prestigious martial arts tournament.

It is named the Diamond Nationals because the Black Belt grand champions win a diamond ring. It is an “Open” tournament which means all schools and all styles are invited to compete. It has been voted the #1 tournament in the United States for the last 19 years, and recently the #1 Tournament in the World!

National Karate Quality

Over the years, the NK schools have produced some of the finest martial artists in the country. They have produced World Champions in nearly every arena of competition including professional Kickboxing and Sport Karate tournaments (in both Forms and Sparring). It is often said that a student could walk into any major martial arts tournament in the United States and the competitors and promoters will know about the National Karate Schools. No other single martial arts school in America has produced as many world rated competitors as the National Karate Schools.

That tradition of top fighters and form competitors continues today with dozens of NK Black Belts holding top World Rankings and Championships. Although most students do not desire to be world-class competitors, it is nice to know that the training they are receiving is of world-class quality.

To Illinois!

In 1995, the National Karate Schools expanded to the Chicago suburbs under the direction of Master Cristian Nelson, where there are now 5 full time schools and many satellite locations including park districts and schools.  A good benchmark of student quality is competition, and the Illinois schools have followed in the great National Karate tradition of producing martial arts champions.  The Chicago area National Karate Schools have produced many world and nationally ranked champions. The Illinois schools have also been named the “Best Martial Arts Schools” by local media for 13 years in a row!

About Master Nelson

Cristian Nelson began his martial arts journey in 1983, training with National Karate under the expert guidance of Grand Master John Worley—one of America’s most prominent martial artists. He also studied with some of the top professional fighters of his time, including National Karate instructors and kickboxing champions Scott Masterton, John Longstreet, and Terry Norblom.

Mr. Nelson began teaching martial arts in 1987 and quickly distinguished himself as a leader. By 1990, he earned his first School of the Year award. While building his teaching career, he also pursued higher education at the University of Minnesota, studying Business and Communications. His competitive success included a strong sport karate career, and in 1994 he was honored with the Top Competitor Award for sparring by the North Central Karate Association (N.C.K.A.).

In 1995, Mr. Nelson relocated to the Chicago suburbs to launch National Karate in a new market. What began as a single school has since grown into five thriving National Karate & Martial Arts locations, now serving nearly one thousand families across the area.

Over the years, Mr. Nelson has earned numerous accolades. He is a six-time winner of the School of Champions award (1991–1996), an eight-time recipient of the School of the Year award, and has been recognized as Instructor of the Year. In 2005, he received the prestigious John Worley Leadership Award for Organizational Excellence. In January 2020, he was promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt—currently the only 8th Degree in the National Karate organization.

His leadership has not only produced outstanding martial artists but has also built a strong reputation in the community. In 2023, his team was named runner-up Business of the Year by the Village of South Elgin. In 2025, his schools were voted Best Martial Arts Studio in the Chicago Suburbs for the 14th consecutive year by Daily Herald readers. That same year, the National Karate Schools of Illinois were recognized nationally as one of the Top 100 Small Businesses in America by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Today, Mr. Nelson oversees the training of more than 1,000 students and provides advanced instruction for a staff of 30 instructors. His schools have promoted 1,968 students to the rank of First-Degree Black Belt, and he has had the privilege of teaching internationally on mission trips to Singapore, Romania, and Austria. He credits all success to God’s grace and to the dedication of his exceptional team of directors and instructors.

Mr. Nelson and his wife Kelly, a 3rd Degree Black Belt, live in the western suburbs of Chicago and are the proud parents of four children.

See More Pictures of Mr. Nelson

Wisconsin

National Karate expands into the suburbs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in May of 2008. Mr. Kishon Soni (6th Degree Black Belt) is the owner operator of Wisconsin NK.

Colorado

Mr. Dave Kuntz (4th Degree Black Belt) expands National Karate into Colorado Springs, Colorado in August of 2015.

Florida

Mr. Barry Maxwell (4th Degree Black Belt) expands National Karate to Ft. Meyers, Florida in 2022.

Summary

In sum, the National Karate Schools is blessed to have one of the richest histories in the martial arts. Every NK Black Belt can be proud to be part of an organization that has such a strong lineage of Masters, and reputation for quality. When you follow this lineage from its roots in Korea, to the Karate Club in Texas, to Washington D.C., to Minnesota, to Illinois, to Wisconsin, to Colorado, and to Florida, you can see the quality and see why National Karate has become not only the largest martial arts organization in the Midwest, but one of the strongest and most recognized martial arts organizations in America.