Remembering Raymond McCallum — A True Legend of Texas Karate

Black Belt Magazine would like to extend its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Raymond McCallum a beloved friend and one of the most feared competitors on the national circuit.

McCallum stood out as one of the premier fighters of the early 1980s. He emerged making an explosive impact with his highly skilled fighting tactics and an arsenal of kicking techniques that would still impress by today's standards. A gutsy and supremely talented Texan.

In a memorable grand championship bout captured by Fighting Stars magazine in 1984, McCallum famously delivered a head kick against the legendary "Nasty" Anderson. Beyond point fighting, McCallum also competed in full-contact events, facing world-class opponents such as Bill Wallace and Branko Cikatić, among others.

Raymond McCallum was widely regarded as the most spectacular fighter on the circuit. Martial arts star Keith Vitali once remarked, "Raymond was the most spectacular fighter on our circuit; much more exciting to watch than any of the rest of us. All of the top fighters would stand by his ring every chance we got just to watch him execute some incredible move that would have all of us, his own peers, literally going wild over. He was incredibly electric in the ring and I was one of his greatest fans.

We say farewell to our friend—a man who inspired all of us and helped shape Texas karate into the powerhouse it is today.