An Inside Appreciation of Martial Arts Master Jim Kelly
Reflections of Jim Kelly within a Black Belt Prism Circa `74
by Kweli Pitt-Bey
In the summer of 1974, I moved to Los Angeles from Roanoke, Virginia with my mother Judith and my little sister Lori. At age 11, I was quite upset that I’d be missing my close friends and family. One thing that helped me to cope was that I’d be moving to the fabled Golden State: sunny Southern California with its legendary swimming pools, palm trees and movie stars. Deeper still, my mother promised she would look into getting me into Jim Kelly’s renowned and respected Black Belt Jones Karate Studio on Crenshaw Blvd. That was something I could really sink my hope’s teeth into.
