Name:  Kim Blake

Do you have a nickname, name you prefer to be known by? The Quiet Storm

Affiliation, Gym / Organization you represent:  Carlos Machado BJJ (RCJ Machado), Apollo’s Martial Arts, Girls in Gis

I began training Martial arts at the age of 42 (I am currently 57). My interest in Martial Arts began at the age of 13 when an after school martial arts class was offered at my Jr. High School. Unfortunately my father wouldn’t give his consent because he said “girls did not participate in combative sports”. This was a very hard for me to accept, but at least I still had my love for Bruce Lee and Martial Arts films.

It wasn’t until I was 41 when I was posed with the question by my friend and Mentor Dr. Brenda Lloyd-Jone, “What is stopping you from achieving this dream now?” With the realization of having nothing to stop me I enrolled in Karate class at Apollo’s Martial Arts right after my 42nd birthday.  I am now working on a 5th Degree Black Belt in Karate, Kickboxing, and Japanese Jiu Jitsu under multi World Champion Dale “Apollo” Cook. I am also a Black Belt in Ketsugo (under the linage of Herald Brosious). I am also a Black Belt in BJJ under RCJ Machado (Carlos Machado BJJ).

I am the first Female in the state of Oklahoma to receive her black belt in BJJ.  I was awarder Tulsa Most Impactful Woman of Color in 2018.I am a 2018 BJJ World Master Champion. I am a 2017 USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee. I was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Whirlwind Classic Tournament in Tulsa Oklahoma (2016). At age 44 I began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to round out my self-defense training. However it wasn’t until age 46 when I attended a seminar given by Master Carlos Machado where I could say finally that I understood ground fighting. It was there that I learned techniques that activated muscle (brain) memory allowing my brain and body to work together I am also a Board Member for the Oklahoma Karate Association. I am a Girls in Gis Ambassador. I have won 19 State championships in Sport Karate and I have over 30 Grand championship Titles in Sport Karate. I also have a reginal and national titles in sport karate.

Wisdom Inch by inch we will get there from here