Pat E. Johnson was a ninth-degree black belt martial artist, actor, and fight choreographer for several films, most famously for “The Karate Kid” movie series.
- Died: November 5, 2023 (Who else died on November 5?)
- Details of death: Died in Los Angeles of natural causes at the age of 84.
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Pat E. Johnson’s legacy
Born in Niagara Falls, New York, Johnson took up martial arts while serving in the U.S. Army. In 1963, he was stationed in South Korea and began studying the Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan tradition under Kang Lo Hee. He earned his black belt just 13 months later. Upon returning to the U.S., he formed a school with Chuck Norris.
From 1968 to 1973, the school’s black belt competition team captained by Johnson went undefeated, winning 33 consecutive titles. In 1971, he was National Tang Soo Do Champion, and he earned the Golden Fist Award for best karate referee two years in a row. Johnson also played a prominent role in two other Norris ventures, the National Tang Soo Do Congress (NTC), and the United Fighting Arts Federation (UFAF).
In 1984, Johnson was hired as the stunt coordinator for “The Karate Kid.” He also had a role as a referee in the film. This led to more Hollywood work, including serving as stunt coordinator for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and “Mortal Kombat.” In 1996, he was inducted into the Black Belt magazine Black Belt Hall of Fame. He is also in the North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA) Hall of Fame.
Tributes to Pat E. Johnson
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
