Cover Throwback: Eric Lee - Black Belt 1987 Yearbook
- Black Belt Team
- Oct 9
- 1 min read
Eric Lee, captured mid-air with his flying broadsword, faces off against Art Camacho—seen here in a rare photo without his signature sunglasses.
Eric Lee, widely celebrated as the “Little King of Kata,” is a martial arts icon whose mastery of traditional forms and explosive performances helped shape the way the world views kata.
Born in Canton, China and raised in Oakland, California, Lee began training in martial arts as a young man and quickly earned a reputation for his speed, precision, and showmanship.
His innovative performances in open karate tournaments throughout the 1960s and 1970s set new standards for competition kata, earning him championships and the admiration of martial artists around the globe.
Unlike many fighters of his era, Lee combined disciplined technique with dramatic flair, creating routines that were both technically brilliant and captivating to watch.
Beyond the tournament scene, Eric Lee became a cultural ambassador for martial arts. He transitioned into film and television, appearing in martial arts movies and choreographing fight scenes that brought the art of kata to mainstream audiences.
His influence stretched far beyond his personal victories—he inspired a generation of practitioners to value kata not only as a competitive discipline but also as a living expression of tradition and artistry.
Today, Lee is remembered not just as a champion, but as a trailblazer who bridged the gap between martial arts as sport, performance, and philosophy, cementing his place in history as one of the great pioneers of modern martial arts.
