Ray Rice

Ray Rice kickboxing and Martial Arts career has taken him all over the world while earning him many

accolades, but Rice still has deep roots in Rutherford County.

Rice is a 1973 graduate of CHASE High School but began pursing karate in 1971. He opened the Ray Rice Martial Arts Center in 1976, which has operated in several locations in Rutherford County through the years but is currently located on West Main Street in Forest City. During the past 46 years, he has trained and inspired thousands of students.

While teaching, Rice became active on the competition circuit in 1982, traveling to 18 different states and four countries, Russia, Canada, France and Italy, during his career. By the time he retired from competition in 1997, Rice had an overall record of 130-9, earning him a #1 World Ranking for Kickboxing in the Super Middleweight division (164-171 lbs.) in 1992. Of those nine losses, Rice rebounded to beat seven of those opponents in rematches. Rice also owns three kickboxing world titles and holds an overall eighth degree Black Belt and individual Black Belts in Japanese Shotokan, Korean Tae Kwon Do and Aikido.

Along with Kickboxing, Rice has earned distinction in other competitions, as well. He has hundreds of wins in both Kurnite (weapons) and empty hands form. As a result of these accomplishments, along with several accolades in Self-Defense, Rice earned the National Competitor of the Year five consecutive

times.

The biggest indicator of Rice's success, however, is the number of students who have earned Black Belts under his tutelage. It takes a minimum of four years to earn this distinction and Rice says his students are, "Capable of contributing to society in a positive way".

In addition to training others, Rice himself has trained with martial arts legends Chuck Norris (Walker Texas Ranger) and Jason David Frank from the original Power Rangers TV series. Rice has also been involved with Norris' Kick Drugs Out of America program, now known as KickStart Kids.

Despite all his accomplishments, Rice says his most important achievement is lifting people up and helping them achieve their goals. Rice adds that, "The years teach much that the days never knew", and "You can't teach what you don't know. You can't lead where you have never been."