Iconic Martial Arts Event Was a Family Affair — and One for the Record Books!
This year marked the 50 iteration of the Battle of Atlanta karate tournament. From its first winner — superstar and Black Belt Hall of Famer Joe Lewis — to its present-day champions, the BoA has showcased a who’s who of karate competitors and hosted a treasure trove of historical fights and kata performances. This year’s tournament was bigger and better than ever — and decidedly family focused.
The 50 BoA took place June 14-16, 2018, at the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel and Cobb Galleria Centre in Georgia. The turnout confirmed that it’s still the go-to event for karateka from across the United States and abroad.
RECALLING THE HISTORY
Although the 2018 BoA catered to kids of all ages, it also honored the elders — specifically by inducting a few martial artists into the select group of people who have received the Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Award. However, the event’s tag line was “Where Legends Are Made,” and to that end, plenty of current stars were on hand to display their talents to the amazement of onlookers.
To fully understand the homecoming that was the 50 Battle, you need to know how it started and how it became the tournament that everyone who was anyone had to attend. To do that, we must look at Joe Corley.
Five decades ago, in a scene like something from an old
