Martial arts superstar joins fellow fighters at post-Thanksgiving soiree

By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

Keith Vitali, the former #1-ranked Karate champion in the U.S. and star of many well-known martial arts movies, joined several fellow members of the South Carolina Black Belt Hall of Fame and their wives at the home of Tom and Virginia Ann Mullikin for a first-of-the-season Christmas party, Sunday, Dec. 1.

“It was a great way to enjoy the first day of Advent while everyone was still in town following the Thanksgiving holiday,” said Mullikin, who was inducted into the S.C. Black Belt Hall of Fame (SCBBHOF) earlier this year. “These men are not only nationally and internationally recognized tournament fighters all, but what they have done in terms of bringing recognition to South Carolina is immeasurable.”

Mullikin added, “What many may not realize is that some of the best fighters in the world hail from this state, thanks to the martial arts culture that has been created here largely by these men seated around this table and others.”

Seated at front is Mullikin, followed by (rounding the table counter-clockwise) Kershaw County Councilman Jimmy Jones, Keith Vitali and Kathy Vitali, U.S. Marine Col. (Ret.) Steve Vitali and Rhonda Vitali, Virginia Ann Mullikin, Mike Genova and Shelley Genova, Jeanne Brutschy and Bruce Brutschy, and Mara Horton Jones.

Genova serves as president of the SCBBHOF. Both Vitali men, Brutschy and Mullikin are also members. Jones is an accomplished Black Belt fighter.

Since its inception in the 1980’s (officially founded in 2012), the SCBBHOF has become one of the most-revered karate halls of fame in the nation.