Charles Burris

Grandmaster Charles Burris is one of the most respected and quietly influential figures in Carolina martial arts — and in this episode, he opens up about the journey that began on February 6, 1967, when he walked into a building on Highway 74 thinking he’d signed up for a dance class to surprise his new wife. Instead, he found himself face to face with Master David Adams and a brutal Goju-Ryu Japanese system: knuckle pushups on hard floors, no shoes, no shortcuts. He never looked back.

Charles traces his path from those early days under Master Adams through his transition to Tang Soo Do Jidokwan under the legendary Master Young Kim — the teacher whose calm presence and one repeated word, patience, would shape Charles’s life and the lives of thousands of students who followed. He talks about growing up one of nineteen brothers and sisters in Kings Mountain, his move to Gastonia in 1972, and how that household trained him in the very patience he’d later become known for across the region.

The conversation moves through his competitive years, the friends and rivals who shaped him, his role as a tournament promoter (over 40 events of his own, picking up the torch from Larry Hodges in the Dojo organization), and the nearly 100 black belts he’s promoted over six decades — including Grandmaster Donald McCluney, Belvin Eaves, William McIntyre, and many more. He shares the story of his special needs students, including young Matthew, whose weekly farewell — “I’ll see you next Monday. If not, I’ll see you in heaven” — keeps Charles’s heart full.

Throughout, what comes through is a portrait of a man who teaches by presence rather than preaching. His school motto says it all: Let me strive for perfection. Let me be patient and brave in the attempt. He credits everything — the longevity, the calm, the influence — to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, his wife, and the dedication that has kept him on the mat for 58 years and counting.

A rare and moving episode with a true gentleman of the art.