Doug Noxom
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Doug Noxon
Doug Noxon was born in 1929, and served in the U.S. Army
during the Korean war. After discharge, he took up
competitive weight-lifting and managed to attain several
state records for his weight class in Illinois.
Subsequently, he took up the study of Judo, then Kempo, in
the Chicago area, earning a Brown Belt in both arts.
Upon meeting Sensei James Chapman, a student of Master
Don Nagle, he began his studies in Isshinryu. After obtaining
his dan grade, he moved to Detroit and combined forces
with Sensei Ken Pittaway around 1963. Together they
founded the first Isshinryu dojo in Michigan, the Academy of
Martial Arts. Shortly thereafter, they opened a second
dojo in Inkster, Michigan, about 10 miles west of Detroit.
The Inkster site became Sensei Noxon's home dojo. His top
student was Master Willie Adams.
Sensei Noxon's most memorial fight was with Jim Harrison.
He was known as the "meanest guy in karate". Jim scored
with a wicked side kick to the body. Sensei Noxon came back
by with a back fist to the face and pulled it within 1 inch
without contact. Jim didn't hear the referee yell stop and
threw a reverse punch to the ribs that rocked Sensei
Noxon. Sensei Noxon looked to the referee, wondering
why his back fist wasn't scored. He then looked at Sensei
Adams who was watching from the side & gave him the
"look" by squinting his eyes. Sensei Noxon clapped his hands
(that meant the fight was on) & took his guard. Jim Harrison
attacked with a vicious front kick that was blocked and
quickly countered with a shuto straight down the center
that struck Jim on the nose. The nose shattered with the
bones sticking out both sides and blood flying everywhere.
Jim Harrison ran over to the judges stand, took a pencil,
stuck it up his nose and worked the bones back into place.
Jim turned to the judges and said, "don't disqualify this man.
Let the fight continue". The judges would not let them go
on saying that someone was going to die if they continued.
On the way back home he turned to Sensei Adams and said,
"Very interesting tournament!"
Sensei Noxon's life ended tragically in an auto accident on
April 27, 1971. Sensei Noxon was married and left four
children, one of whom, Terry Noxon-Tutor, has followed in
her father's footsteps and holds a Black Belt in Isshinryu.
Doug Noxon was born in 1929, and served in the U.S. Army
during the Korean war. After discharge, he took up
competitive weight-lifting and managed to attain several
state records for his weight class in Illinois.
Subsequently, he took up the study of Judo, then Kempo, in
the Chicago area, earning a Brown Belt in both arts.
Upon meeting Sensei James Chapman, a student of Master
Don Nagle, he began his studies in Isshinryu. After obtaining
his dan grade, he moved to Detroit and combined forces
with Sensei Ken Pittaway around 1963. Together they
founded the first Isshinryu dojo in Michigan, the Academy of
Martial Arts. Shortly thereafter, they opened a second
dojo in Inkster, Michigan, about 10 miles west of Detroit.
The Inkster site became Sensei Noxon's home dojo. His top
student was Master Willie Adams.
Sensei Noxon's most memorial fight was with Jim Harrison.
He was known as the "meanest guy in karate". Jim scored
with a wicked side kick to the body. Sensei Noxon came back
by with a back fist to the face and pulled it within 1 inch
without contact. Jim didn't hear the referee yell stop and
threw a reverse punch to the ribs that rocked Sensei
Noxon. Sensei Noxon looked to the referee, wondering
why his back fist wasn't scored. He then looked at Sensei
Adams who was watching from the side & gave him the
"look" by squinting his eyes. Sensei Noxon clapped his hands
(that meant the fight was on) & took his guard. Jim Harrison
attacked with a vicious front kick that was blocked and
quickly countered with a shuto straight down the center
that struck Jim on the nose. The nose shattered with the
bones sticking out both sides and blood flying everywhere.
Jim Harrison ran over to the judges stand, took a pencil,
stuck it up his nose and worked the bones back into place.
Jim turned to the judges and said, "don't disqualify this man.
Let the fight continue". The judges would not let them go
on saying that someone was going to die if they continued.
On the way back home he turned to Sensei Adams and said,
"Very interesting tournament!"
Sensei Noxon's life ended tragically in an auto accident on
April 27, 1971. Sensei Noxon was married and left four
children, one of whom, Terry Noxon-Tutor, has followed in
her father's footsteps and holds a Black Belt in Isshinryu.
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