Bart Vale

The Official Bart Vale Channel, World champion Shootfighter Bart Vale, author of Shootfighting:The Ultimate Fighting System, is one of the true pioneers of mixed martial arts. Vale began his training in Kenpo karate in Miami in 1970 with the Al Tracy organization, eventually attaining a 10th degree black belt in Kenpo. Admittedly having begun his martial arts career to improve his street fighting skills and give him an edge in the neighborhood brawls, Vale discovered the value of discipline and respect through his traditional karate background. He eventually became an instructor in his own right, Still fighting as a professional kick boxer, handling security for some of Miami's tougher nightclubs. Progressing rapidly through the sport thanks to his size and athleticism during his football days Vale could bench-press more than 500 pounds and run a 4.6 40-yard dash Vale won the Shootfighting world championship in 1992, defeating one of his instructors, Yoshiaki Fujiwara.