Grandmaster Al Novak
1924-2011
It is with great sadness that we report that Grandmaster Al Novak passed away Saturday, November 26, 2011 after an untimely accident.
Great Al Novak’s martial arts career has spanned well over half a century and he has trained and shared martial knowledge with virtually all of the top masters and grandmasters in the United States.
He was one of the very first Americans to train in the traditional Chinese fighting arts and started when the doors were still closed to those not of Chinese ancestry. He was also one of the very first Americans to open a commercial martial arts school in the United States which he ran with his Sifu and business partner James Yimm Lee.
Grandmaster Novak holds the titles for many other original firsts in the field of American martial arts. Among them include being featured on the cover of some of the first English versions of martial arts books and being featured in one of the first martial arts advertisements that appeared in Popular Mechanics Magazine back in 1958 when the world had little knowledge of these once secretive fighting arts.
Grandmaster Al Novak has perhaps participated at more karate tournaments in the United States than any other martial artist. In the past 40 years he has served as head judge in kata and weapons at over 600 tournaments. Also, serving in the capacity as the “Tournament Doc” at most of these martial arts competitive events.
Master Bill Chun, Jr. and the Kenpo/Kempo Lõ Kahi Association of America wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to GM Novak's family, friends, and students for his passing. He will always be remembered.
