Anyone here remember the PKA?

[fullonshred]

Many of you guys may not be old enough to remember the Professional Karate Association (PKA). It came on ESPN back in the early days of that network. Pretty much just kicks and punching, all above the waist. Still, they had some great fighters and I would dearly love for some network to do Re-runs of those bouts.

My favorite was Jean Yves Theriault,

ProfileJean-YvesTheriault

Jean-Yves Theriault - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Therien Jiu-Jitsu & Kickboxing

a French Canadian MW who was simply devastating. It would have been interesting to see him against some of the current MMA guys. I absolutely think he would more than have held his own and would have been a champion in this time as well.

Some other top guys were Bad Brad Hefton, Bob Thunder Thurman, Benny The Jet Urquidez, Rick Roufus, Bill Superfoot Wallace, Joe Lewis, Jeff Smith and many more.

Do any of you guys remember the PKA? If so who were your favorites? I am sure I have forgotten many of their names.

This may have been covered before, but a search of PKA did not get any hits in this forum.

[AikaImmortal]

PKA Kickboxing



Was the PKA precursor to the ISKA?

[fullonshred]

Aika, Youda Man! I am pretty sure it was. I am giving away my age to tell you I was watching these events on ESPN as they were fought. 1970's and on. I'm getting a bit older than I thought I would.

Jean Yves Therialut held the MW Belt for FIFTEEN YEARS!!!

He was just a beast in the ring, and cool as ice, hence his nickname "The Iceman". Yep, way before Chuck Liddell.

[AikaImmortal]

I know of Rufus and Benny the Jet of course and Superfoot but none of the other guys.. sounds like some history I would really enjoy though

[marnold]

Jean-Yves Theriault was money waaaay before Swingers showed us the way. His last fight with Reed is a classic.
YouTube - Jean-Yves Theriault vs. Marcus Reed (ISKA Kickboxing)

[fullonshred]

Thank you for the link Marnold. Jean-Yves was THE MAN! Remember, these guys fought 10-12 rounds! It's hard to say a guy who held the MW Belt for 15 years was "held back" by the rules, but in Jean-Yves case this was true. He was a Jiu-Jitsu Blackbelt back when that wasn't nearly as common as today. He commented numerous times how he wished the ground game was allowed in his fights. Jean-Yves made better use of the spinning backfist than any fighter I have seen before or since. His timing with it was impeccable. I should find and buy all of his fights. His 2 bouts with Bob "Thunder" Thurman didn't go all that long, but they were WARS!

[PINOYPRIDE]

Dang he held the MW belt for 15 years.