Black Belt: If you would never have had the accident that wrecked your right knee and led you to start your career in karate, do you think you'd be called "Superfeet" instead of Superfoot?

Bill "Superfoot" Wallace: I really have no idea. I wouldn't have practiced with the left foot twice as much as everybody else, which helped give the foot a mind of its own. I would have been more orthodox and fought like everyone else instead of from the side stance.

If I had to answer truthfully, I'd say probably not. I would have been a nobody. Someone else would have earned the title — and everything else I accumulated throughout the years.

You had a knee replacement a half dozen years ago. Do you ever wish you'd gotten it fixed sooner?

Absolutely not. Back then, knee surgery was iffy. They told me I would have only a 50/50 chance that it would be okay after surgery. So we didn’t do it until the procedure had been refined and perfected, then had it done. I tell you, it was painful.

All the pain medication in the world would not stop the pain, and it went on for several weeks. I called the doctor and told him, “If you were here right now, I just might have to kill you.”

Of course, I wouldn’t have. I was just mad because I wasn’t prepared for that much discomfort. Even so, I’m glad I did it that way because the knee works great now, and I’m pain-free.

You're a really good boxer. Do you ever have misgivings about not pursuing boxing as a career?

Not at all. Pro boxing is a dog-eat-dog, cutthroat world, but I had my chance at it. As I was making a name for myself, a boxing promoter made me an offer.

He said something like, “I can promise you a world championship bout if you sign with me. I’ll set you up with eight fights, and then you’ll have your shot.”

I asked him why he chose me, and he said, “Because you’re white, you can talk pretty good in front of people, and you’re not punch-drunk.”

I thought to myself, Self, he’s going to give you eight losers that you will defeat easily, then set you up with the champion who’ll beat the living hell out of you. I declined the offer.

You ran two karate schools early in your career. Are you glad you decided to concentrate on the seminar circuit instead of sticking with commercial schools?

I love teaching seminars, traveling, meeting new people, and then reuniting with those who have me back every year or two. I get to teach what and how I like, and even though topics are often the same, every seminar is different.

I never really enjoyed teaching day in and day out at a school and having to do all the paperwork, marketing, banking, and other stuff.

Everybody knows your second love is golf. Do you have any regrets about not giving professional golf a shot?

Looking back, maybe I do. At the time when I could have gone pro, most golfers who weren't near the top didn’t make much money. However, I was doing really great financially then.

It all changed after Tiger Woods came along. Now guys make a killing in golf, and that goes for the senior tour, too. If I’d done that, we wouldn’t be talking — unless you worked for Golf Digest.

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