This digital story recording was created in conjunction with the Smithsonian's Museum on Main Street program and its Stories from Main Street student documentary initiative, called "Stories: Yes." The project encourages students and their mentors to research and record stories about small-towns and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, as well as thoughts about American democracy. These documentaries are then shared on Smithsonian websites and social media.
Students from the Anderson County School District worked with the Belton Area Museum Association in South Carolina to produce oral history interviews related to the Smithsonian traveling exhibition "Hometown Teams: How Sports Shape America," which toured South Carolina in 2016 and was on view in Belton.
Speaker 1 (00:18): Marty Knight, an international karate king, was born in Belton, South Carolina. He played all the traditional sports until he was introduced to his lifelong passion, karate.
Marty Knight (00:29): Then we went to see a movie called Billy Jack. And we're sitting there watching a movie and the karate in Billy Jack is very basic karate, but at the time nobody knew what karate was. He needed a simple little low kick and kicks this guy in my head and I'm going like, wow. And I sit up in my chair and I watch the rest of the movie. That got me interested in karate.
Speaker 1 (00:49): After graduating from Belton-Honea Path High School, Marty enrolled in a local karate class.
Marty Knight (00:55): From the time I graduated high school to the time I went into college, I was looking for a way to stay in shape besides running around the block. So, I got into karate. The Anderson College actually offered me a little scholarship to come down teach karate in the P.E. Program, as I got my degree. So, I went Anderson and the rest was history.
Speaker 2 (01:15): He opened his first martial arts school two days after graduating from college.
Marty Knight (01:19): My mom and dad were totally against me doing karate because back then nobody knew what karate was. And even people I went to college with they go like, "What are you going to do for a job?" "I'm going to teach karate." "Yeah, but what are you going to do for a job?" They thought karate [inaudible 00:01:34] was kind of like a lifeguard during the summer. You know? Well, what are you going to do for a real job? My dad never thought much of it because he didn't understand what it was. And my mom to the day she died really didn't understand what I did in karate. She knew I ran a karate studio, but when I got married, she was going, "Oh, that's so good. Cause Bonnie's got insurance." You know, she worried so much about me, not realizing I was making a good living at doing karate. She kind of always worried about me because I think she think I was going out breaking boards with my head and jumping over buildings and stuff like that. So, I really had no support from them.
Speaker 3 (02:08): Marty pursued a competitive karate career and went on to win or place in every national tournament. During his professional fighting career, he achieved three national championships and two world idols.
Marty Knight (02:19): I won between 800 to 900 of these. And I'm not lying to you. The coolest thing about winning a trophy was walking through the airport. In 1985, they rated the top 20 fighters in the nation. No heavyweight, lightweight, nothing, just the top 20 fighters. And I made it in at number 20 and it was like winning the lottery for me.
Speaker 4 (02:38): Because of his national recognition, Marty was asked to join the Chuck Norris karate team and compete in Russia.
Asset ID: 2022.23.04
Find a complete transcription at www.museumonmainstreet.org
