Many persons have worked tirelessly for the martial arts and they are fully recognized by the Federation as vital to its development. Of that dedicated group, there are select individuals who have demonstrated outstanding personal abilities and accomplishments, showing sincerity, sensitivity, dedication, and devotion to the princple of making our nation better have been selected to stand with the elite group of the Hall of Fame.

The USA Karate Federation Hall of Fame began with the efforts of the AAU Karate Committee (which was to become the USAKF) to identify those special people who made outstanding contributions to the progress of karate in the United States. Those selected were given an annual award. At that time the awards were called -- Man/Woman of the Year (Outstanding Service Award) and the Athlete of the Year (the Centurian Award).

From 1976 to 1997, the National Hall of Fame had no formally location. However, the roster of the recipients and nature of their highly coveted earned honors was studiously maintained.

In 1996 the USAKF declared the National Office in Akron, Ohio a Karate Museum and the Official Location of the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Famers were no longer just talked about, there was now a place where their memorabilia and trophies of great significance could be kept. Additionally, a world wide web site was devised to memorialize the individual members of the Hall and to make their accomplishments known, a site where everyone could come to view and study the rich heritage of our arts created by us in this country.

In 1997 other significant national martial arts federations decided to have their Hall of Fame inductees honored along with those of the USAKF. Honorees of the US Ju-Jitsu Federation, the USKA Law Enforcement Division (PSDI), the US Kobudo Federation, Global Martial Arts Federation, and the Central Taekwondo Association are now included in the Hall.

It is not easy to get into the Hall of Fame. Having money, having many students, having good PR --- and all those things do not influence our Hall of Fame selection committee.

Outstanding achievements and dedicated work of an extraordinary level must be seen. Dedication, perseverance, sincerity, excellence and achievement are the keywords.

Our mission is to honor and preserve karate's rich heritage and chronicle the achievements of those who excelled and provide an educational experience for our national martial arts.

We, legitimate united national martial arts federations of the United States of America, are devoting our combined abilities to maximize awareness of our history and current presence and to pursue our sacred mission, the development of the character and body of our arts in the United States of America.