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Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
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Eldridge Hawkins, Jr.
Life Member - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) ®
Life Member - United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF) TM
Vice President of United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF) TM
2022 Inductee to the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame - National Ju-Jitsu & Kobudo Sensei
North East Regional Representative of USJJF & USMAF
For over a decade Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. served in a variety of governmental public safety positions including time as Acting Police & Fire Director, Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator under Homeland Security and Police Officer for multiple jurisdictions. He also served as the Mayor of Orange, NJ from 2008 to 2012. He holds an MBA from Seton Hall University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Presently, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., is the CEO/Owner of Black Belt Security & Investigations, LLC, a duly qualified Detective Agency licensed by the New Jersey State Police and authorized by multiple State authorities to operate an armed and unarmed guard security business. Hawkins has been recognized as a security expert by a variety of media outlets and has applied this real-world experience to a lifelong journey in the martial arts. As a well-rounded martial arts practitioner, he has not only competed in Free Fighting (MMA) & Weapons Tournaments, but taught in traditional dojo settings, while simultaneously becoming a respected pioneer in the online martial arts training environment.
Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. began his training in Chinese Kenpo-Kung Fu at the young age of 7 years old and received his first Black Belt in June of 2001 under now Professor Harry Baker, 10th Dan. Professor Baker awarded Master Hawkins the title of Shihan in April of 2019. It is under Professors Baker & Ibrahim Sharif that Hawkins obtained Black Belt rank in Chinese Kenpo-Kung Fu and Fusion Kenpo. Here, Hawkins’ martial arts lineage includes direct lines (through Baker and Sharif) to Grand Masters Ed Parker & Kalaii Kano Griffin, as well as Professors Moses Powell & Ronald Duncan. Although Hawkins still trains with Baker and teaches under the Baker’s Red Iron Dragon school banner, Hawkins too has had several teachers. Over time Hawkins also obtained recognized rank in Kenpo-Jujitsu and United States Ju-Jitsu under the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) where he has been inducted to the 2022 USJJF Hall of Fame as a National Jujitsu Sensei.
Having a thirst for knowledge and a mandate from his first teacher to take what he was taught and grow, Hawkins expanded upon his Kenpo and Ju-Jitsu foundation to specialize in weapons. On that journey he mastered the tournament system American Style Nunchaku (ASN) founded by Grandmaster Michael Burke and is Burke’s most senior Black Belt in the United States. Moreover, Hawkins is the senior international rank instructor in charge of training for the American Style Nunchaku Federation (ASNF) and is a recognized Black Belt with the United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF). The North American Nunchaku Association has also certified Hawkins as a Nunchaku Expert. Given his general knowledge, nunchaku specialization, tournament successes, unique training platforms for his students, and lifelong contributions to the martial arts, Hawkins was also inducted into the 2022 USMAF Hall of Fame as a National Kobudo Sensei.
In the furtherance of spreading the art of nunchaku, Hawkins developed the Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu system for the traditional dojo setting with various online learning components. As a complete self-defense system, Ken-Fu primarily fuses elements of Nunchaku Jutsu originally taught in Ed Parker’s Kenpo, combined with Ju-Jitsu, American Style Nunchaku and Hawkins’ original techniques based in part on his training and experience in the street as a former law enforcement officer.
Under Hawkins’ leadership, Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu is taught at Baker’s Red Iron Dragon and has been recognized as an official martial arts style by the ASNF, USMAF and more. The weapons training platform, www.VirtualNunchaku.com boasts an energetic and robust online experience with weekly prerecorded lesson videos, combined with personalized feedback on student performance from certified instructors. The online platform is designed for martial arts schools or individuals and is paced for both beginners and advanced practitioners interested in Nunchaku.
General Background
Life Long Karate-Ka – Over 35 Years In The Martial Arts
Senior Instructor – Baker’s Red Iron Dragon
Associate/Visiting Instructor – AJW Martial Arts Academy
Senior Rank Examiner – American Style Nunchaku Federation
Vice President – United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF)
Senior Masters Caucus Member – United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF)
Senior Masters Caucus Member – United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF)
Certified Nunchaku Expert – North American Nunchaku Association
United States Representative/Advisor – Hong Kong Nunchaku Association
National/International Advisor – Institute of Traditional Martial Arts (ITMA)
Founder – Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu
Retired Municipal Police Officer – NJ
CEO/Owner – Black Belt Security & Investigations, LLC
Special Awards & Recognitions
2022 USA Karate Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee – Kobudo (USMAF) & Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
1st Place Champion – Adult Division, Black Belt Weapons; Upland Martial Arts (Open Tournament).
2nd Place Winner – Free Fighting Division, Black Belt Men Over 200 Lbs.; Challenge of Champions XII (Open Tournament).
NJ Senate & Assembly Resolution Recipient – New Jersey State Legislature Resolutions of Recognition.
Distinguished Service Award Recipient – Essex County Police Benevolent Association (PBA).
Youth Role Model Award– National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.
Association Memberships
Life Member – American Style Nunchaku Federation (ASNF)
Life Member – United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF)
Life Member – United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF)
Life Member – Independent Karate Schools of America (IKSA)
Life Member – North American Nunchaku Association (NANA)
Life Member – New Jersey Police Honor Legion
Member – American Karate Association (AKA)
Member – World Nunchaku Association (WNA)
Member – Jiu Jitsu Global Federation (JJGF)
Black Belt Rank Attainment
7th Degree – American Style Nunchaku (ASNF, IKSA)
6th Dan - Combat Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
5th Dan – Fusion Kenpo (AKA, IKSA)
5th Dan – Kenpo Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
5th Dan – United States Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
4th Dan – Chinese Kenpo Kung-Fu (USMAF)
Shihan Hawkins Has Earned Black Belt Rank From The Following Martial Arts Professionals:
Professor Harry Baker
Professor Ibrahim Sharif
Sifu Rodney Armstrong
Sifu Sabu Rashidi
Grand Master Michael Burke
Grand Master Earnest McPeek
Hanshi Bruce Bethers
Shihan Hawkins can be reached via the following websites: www.BBSILLC.com or www.VirtualNunchaku.com or emailed at [email protected]
Life Member - United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) ®
Life Member - United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF) TM
Vice President of United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF) TM
2022 Inductee to the USA Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame - National Ju-Jitsu & Kobudo Sensei
North East Regional Representative of USJJF & USMAF
For over a decade Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. served in a variety of governmental public safety positions including time as Acting Police & Fire Director, Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator under Homeland Security and Police Officer for multiple jurisdictions. He also served as the Mayor of Orange, NJ from 2008 to 2012. He holds an MBA from Seton Hall University and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Presently, Eldridge Hawkins, Jr., is the CEO/Owner of Black Belt Security & Investigations, LLC, a duly qualified Detective Agency licensed by the New Jersey State Police and authorized by multiple State authorities to operate an armed and unarmed guard security business. Hawkins has been recognized as a security expert by a variety of media outlets and has applied this real-world experience to a lifelong journey in the martial arts. As a well-rounded martial arts practitioner, he has not only competed in Free Fighting (MMA) & Weapons Tournaments, but taught in traditional dojo settings, while simultaneously becoming a respected pioneer in the online martial arts training environment.
Eldridge Hawkins, Jr. began his training in Chinese Kenpo-Kung Fu at the young age of 7 years old and received his first Black Belt in June of 2001 under now Professor Harry Baker, 10th Dan. Professor Baker awarded Master Hawkins the title of Shihan in April of 2019. It is under Professors Baker & Ibrahim Sharif that Hawkins obtained Black Belt rank in Chinese Kenpo-Kung Fu and Fusion Kenpo. Here, Hawkins’ martial arts lineage includes direct lines (through Baker and Sharif) to Grand Masters Ed Parker & Kalaii Kano Griffin, as well as Professors Moses Powell & Ronald Duncan. Although Hawkins still trains with Baker and teaches under the Baker’s Red Iron Dragon school banner, Hawkins too has had several teachers. Over time Hawkins also obtained recognized rank in Kenpo-Jujitsu and United States Ju-Jitsu under the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF) where he has been inducted to the 2022 USJJF Hall of Fame as a National Jujitsu Sensei.
Having a thirst for knowledge and a mandate from his first teacher to take what he was taught and grow, Hawkins expanded upon his Kenpo and Ju-Jitsu foundation to specialize in weapons. On that journey he mastered the tournament system American Style Nunchaku (ASN) founded by Grandmaster Michael Burke and is Burke’s most senior Black Belt in the United States. Moreover, Hawkins is the senior international rank instructor in charge of training for the American Style Nunchaku Federation (ASNF) and is a recognized Black Belt with the United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF). The North American Nunchaku Association has also certified Hawkins as a Nunchaku Expert. Given his general knowledge, nunchaku specialization, tournament successes, unique training platforms for his students, and lifelong contributions to the martial arts, Hawkins was also inducted into the 2022 USMAF Hall of Fame as a National Kobudo Sensei.
In the furtherance of spreading the art of nunchaku, Hawkins developed the Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu system for the traditional dojo setting with various online learning components. As a complete self-defense system, Ken-Fu primarily fuses elements of Nunchaku Jutsu originally taught in Ed Parker’s Kenpo, combined with Ju-Jitsu, American Style Nunchaku and Hawkins’ original techniques based in part on his training and experience in the street as a former law enforcement officer.
Under Hawkins’ leadership, Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu is taught at Baker’s Red Iron Dragon and has been recognized as an official martial arts style by the ASNF, USMAF and more. The weapons training platform, www.VirtualNunchaku.com boasts an energetic and robust online experience with weekly prerecorded lesson videos, combined with personalized feedback on student performance from certified instructors. The online platform is designed for martial arts schools or individuals and is paced for both beginners and advanced practitioners interested in Nunchaku.
General Background
Life Long Karate-Ka – Over 35 Years In The Martial Arts
Senior Instructor – Baker’s Red Iron Dragon
Associate/Visiting Instructor – AJW Martial Arts Academy
Senior Rank Examiner – American Style Nunchaku Federation
Vice President – United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF)
Senior Masters Caucus Member – United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF)
Senior Masters Caucus Member – United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF)
Certified Nunchaku Expert – North American Nunchaku Association
United States Representative/Advisor – Hong Kong Nunchaku Association
National/International Advisor – Institute of Traditional Martial Arts (ITMA)
Founder – Ken-Fu Nunchaku Jutsu
Retired Municipal Police Officer – NJ
CEO/Owner – Black Belt Security & Investigations, LLC
Special Awards & Recognitions
2022 USA Karate Unified Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee – Kobudo (USMAF) & Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
1st Place Champion – Adult Division, Black Belt Weapons; Upland Martial Arts (Open Tournament).
2nd Place Winner – Free Fighting Division, Black Belt Men Over 200 Lbs.; Challenge of Champions XII (Open Tournament).
NJ Senate & Assembly Resolution Recipient – New Jersey State Legislature Resolutions of Recognition.
Distinguished Service Award Recipient – Essex County Police Benevolent Association (PBA).
Youth Role Model Award– National Association of Negro Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc.
Association Memberships
Life Member – American Style Nunchaku Federation (ASNF)
Life Member – United States Ju-Jitsu Federation (USJJF)
Life Member – United States Martial Arts Federation (USMAF)
Life Member – Independent Karate Schools of America (IKSA)
Life Member – North American Nunchaku Association (NANA)
Life Member – New Jersey Police Honor Legion
Member – American Karate Association (AKA)
Member – World Nunchaku Association (WNA)
Member – Jiu Jitsu Global Federation (JJGF)
Black Belt Rank Attainment
7th Degree – American Style Nunchaku (ASNF, IKSA)
6th Dan - Combat Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
5th Dan – Fusion Kenpo (AKA, IKSA)
5th Dan – Kenpo Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
5th Dan – United States Ju-Jitsu (USJJF)
4th Dan – Chinese Kenpo Kung-Fu (USMAF)
Shihan Hawkins Has Earned Black Belt Rank From The Following Martial Arts Professionals:
Professor Harry Baker
Professor Ibrahim Sharif
Sifu Rodney Armstrong
Sifu Sabu Rashidi
Grand Master Michael Burke
Grand Master Earnest McPeek
Hanshi Bruce Bethers
Shihan Hawkins can be reached via the following websites: www.BBSILLC.com or www.VirtualNunchaku.com or emailed at [email protected]
