"Kata" is the encyclopedia of the martial arts systems. If you are doing the original, compulsory form, then you are training in the original traditional movements. I like forms because it has improved my physical abilities. It has given me strength, endurance, coordination, balance, timing, flexibility, focus and much more because it helps your cardiovascular system. I think it's beautiful."

    Thus spoke Eric Lee, who reigned as " The King of Kata " from 1970 to 1974. During this time, he amassed over 100 world titles in Kata competition. Of Eric Lee, Black Belt Magazine is quoted as saying … "Without a doubt, the most influential forms performer of his time … "The Original Martial Arts Encyclopedia states, "Before the advent of form ratings, Lee was unofficially the number one form champion in the U.S."

    Born in Chung Shan Village, Canton Province, China Eric reminisces, "I was influenced to take up martial arts by my dad in China. After dinner, they would hit the gong (the signal that the evening workout was about to begin). My dad was one of the students at the time. He studied Choi Li Fut. "Everybody wanted to know Kung Fu in China", says Eric. It's culture. The Sifu's are much more respected in China. In America, when you are 18, they expect you to take care of yourself; when you are 65 you are expected to go into a convalescent home … but in China the martial arts are so ingrained into the culture that when the Sifu's grow old, they are greatly respected. In martial arts, we carry on a legacy, we pass on our system to our children.

    As a youth, Eric remembers, "My family owned two herb shops in Hong Kong and we lived in the back of one of them. In Hong Kong, the herb shop and the family doctor/drug store were in the same location. We would cook the herbs for the patients according to the doctors instructions." While in Hong Kong, when he had time on his hands, Eric went to the movies. "I was impressed with the beauty and the incredible power and strength of the martial arts. The Kung Fu movies in Hong Kong were in Black and White. I used to watch the legendary WON DUCK HING. I got a lot of inspiration from watching these old movies. As a young teenager, Eric was sent to school in Nicaragua and stayed with some friends of his grandparents. "I didn't know anybody there," says Eric. "That was before Nicaragua became communist. Everyone spoke Spanish and English. I had lived in Hong Kong and learned a little English there but not enough to communicate with the local people."

     By the time he reached his mid-teen years, Eric remembers, "My dad, grandparents, and everybody resided in California where they had moved the family business to Oakland." In spite of his rich heritage on the periphery of martial arts in China, it was in California, at about age 15 or 16, that Eric Lee started his formal martial arts training. Eric tells his story, "I was in Oakland, in Junior High School, and the biggest guy in the school said, "Eric, look at the bird," I looked up and he hit me with a chop in the throat. I was choking for a long time. The next day, I sought out a martial arts instructor so that I could learn how to defend myself. I went to two or three schools at the same time when I first started studying Southern Hunang Ga system and also some Wing Chun."   

    "I studied with AL DACASCOS intensively from 1968 to 1973." Says Eric. "His style was unorthodox." The style was Wun Hop Kuen Do Kung Fu (way of the combined fists). Eric states of Dacascos, "We have a similar kind of mind you have to be open to accept new and original things. Al lives in Oregon now. We still stay in touch. I learned a lot from Mr. Dacascos and from all my instructors. They will always be my instructors."

    "From 1968 to 1972, I had my own club. It was an open mat situation that anybody was welcome to share. We had Tai Chi, Aikido, Tae Kyan Do, Praying Mantis, Choi Li Fut, and many others came and went. We were all martial artists and attending the same college. We would spar, have outsiders come, share, and learn together. Some of the people that were there were : Alex Feng (Judo), Luther Secrease (Tae Kwon Do. Patrick (Praying Mantis), and Harry ( a Japanese man who taught Aikido). Those days, I was mainly interested in learning.: Eric continues, "Bruce Lee had his school in Oakland and he had a major influence in my life. I met him but never studied with him. He was never around."

    In addition to his diverse open hand karate training, Eric was fascinated with weaponry. "I have mainly studied in Chinese weaponry.: he says. Indeed he has over the years become proficient in over 35 different weapons. Eric states, 'There basically four categories of weaponry: Long Weapons (Kwan Do, like spear, stick,, etc). Flexible Weapons (whip chain, three section staff, nunchaku), throwing weapons (throwing stars, darts, knife), and Swords (hook swards, tiger hook swords, broads swords, double edged straight swords). Once a person masters the four categories, then it's just a matter of adapting to the nuances of the individual weapons. For me, "say's Eric. "it just came naturally. I had the patience for it and just adapted to it." In Kata competition, Eric mostly used the Chinese single or double swords. "They were easy to control," he says.

    A consummate competitor, Eric remembers, "I always tried to compete in three divisions: Kata, Weapons Kata and sparring. As a Black Belt, I was undefeated in kata and weapons kata. I competed in tournament point fighting. I actually took a few Grand Championships and I also lost some … I competed against Benny Urquidez.

    Eric had a huge impact in tournament kata competition. "I started using music along with my demonstration katas in about 1970. At the beginning, they (the judges) would not accept it. I met a lot of resistance when I tried to use the music. Sometimes I would have to change a movement in a kata to adapt to the music. The traditional teachers felt that I bastardized the traditional value of theforms."