Emil Farkas is an American martial arts instructor, author and fight coordinator. He started his martial arts career while still a youngster in Hungary where he was born. Before he was 20, he had earned his Black Belt in both Judo and Karate. Today Emil Farkas is one of America’s most respected senseis and he is internationally recognized as one of the top authorities on the martial arts. He holds a 7th degree Black Belt in Karate, 4th degree Black Belt in Judo and a 4th degree Black Belt in Ju-Jitsu. Farkas worked as a bodyguard for numerous celebrities for many years and he is a noted expert in realistic street combat. He is also recognized as one of America’s foremost historians on martial arts. He is the historian for this website, USAdojo.com.
Emil Farkas has been involved in the martial arts for over 40 years. He came to the United States in 1965 and was one of the first martial artists to use his expertise to choreograph realistic fight sequences for films and television. When he isn’t busy in film work, he teaches at his dojo, the Beverly Hills Karate Academy, which has been in the same location since 1970. Farkas has been dubbed as the “Sensei to the Stars” as he has worked with a large number of celebrities over the years. He currently specializes in teaching private lessons at his school or at private residences and among his students are some of the leading doctors, lawyers, bankers and motion picture executives in Los Angeles.
Emil Farkas has been writing articles since 1970 for every major martial arts publication worldwide and has authored a number of books, including “The Complete Martial Arts Catalogue” (Simon & Schuster), “Fight Back: A Woman’s Guide to Self-Defense” (Holt), “The Overlook Martial Arts Dictionary” (Viking), “Training & Fighting Skills with World Champion Benny Urquidez” (Unique Publications). He also co-wrote the most authoritative book on martial arts ever written “The Martial Arts Encyclopedia” (W.H. Smith). The most recent book by Emil Farkas is “An Illustrated History of Martial Arts in America 1900 to Present” (Pro-Action Publishing). The book contains almost 2,000 historical photos, many of which have never been in print before.
Emil Farkas co-wrote the original screenplay for the movie Force 5 and wrote and co-produced the feature film Vendetta. He has produced a set of six instructional tapes on Combat Shotokan and a set of five tapes on Combat Ju-Jitsu. Farkas has also released a video on Cane Fighting and one on Realistic Street Combat. He is now working on his newest video, Simple Self-Defense for Children.
Emil Farkas and Benny “The Jet” Urquidez founded the Los Angeles Film Fighting Institute in 2000. It was one of the first schools of its type in the United States to teach martial artists the intricacies of stunt work. Farkas has been featured on the covers of over a dozen martial arts magazines in the United States and abroad and he has had dozens of articles written about him and his system of “Combat Shotokan.”
Emil Farkas is working on a major reference book, The Martial Arts Book of Knowledge and has finished a novel with Lynn Shippley with a martial arts theme, the book is called Going For Silver.
In 1995 Farkas founded his own federation, The United International Martial Arts Federation, whose goal is to promote traditional martial arts worldwide.
Emil Farkas sits on the Board of Advisors for USADOJO.COM and he is very highly regarded as History Advisor.
In addition to his martial arts skills, Farkas is also an accomplished magician and is a member of the world- famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Overview
- Began martial arts at age eight
- Received a Black Belt in Judo at 17, in Karate at 18 and Ju-Jitsu at age 20
- Currently holds Black Belts in Judo (4th degree), Karate (7th degree), and Ju-Jitsu (4th degree)
- Hand-to-Hand combat instructor – Canadian Army
- Women’s self-defense instructor – UCLA
Chief Instructor; Beverly Hills Karate Academy
Chief Instructor; United International Martial Arts Federation - Has been on the cover of all major martial arts magazines including Black Belt Magazine, Karate Illustrated, World Karate, Inside Kung Fu, Combat, Fighters, Official Karate, Combat Karate and Budo.
- Has appeared on dozens of national talk shows, including the Tonight Show, demonstrating martial arts.
- In 1975, was chosen to the Who’s Who in the Martial Arts
- In 2000, was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame
Author
- The Complete Martial Arts Catalogue, Simon & Schuster
- Fight Back. A Woman’s Guide to Self-Defense, Holt, Reinhart, Winston
- The Overlook Martial Arts Dictionary, Viking
- Training and Fighting Skills, Unique Publications
- The Martial Arts Encyclopedia, W. H. Smith
- An Illustrated History of Martial Arts in America, Pro-Action Publishing
- Western Wrap-Up: monthly column for Official Karate Magazine
- Book reviewer, Inside Kung-Fu Magazine
Farkas has written articles for every major martial arts magazine internationally since 1970
Screenplays
- Force Five
- Vendetta
- The Golden Ninjas
- Terror In Chinatown
- Revenge for an Angel
- Street Justice
- The Magnificent 10
Has starred in five video tapes on Combat Shotokan, five video tapes on Combat Jujitsu, a street-fighting video tape and a video tape on cane fighting
Business
- Beverly Hills Karate Academy – Owner
- Trans-Euro Film Trust – Executive Director
- National Self-Defense Institute – President
- Los Angeles Film Fighting Institute – Co-founder
- United International Martial Arts Federation – Founder
- Ninja Magic Enterprises – Founder
Emil Farkas can be reached at:
9085 Santa Monica Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90069
Telephone: 310-275-2661
Email: bhkarate@aol.com
