Bart Vale, for many this 6' 4" 240lbs fighter is synonymous with Shootfighting, the mixed martial art sport he helped to pioneer. Shootfighitng combines the stand up striking of kickboxing and catch as catch can wrestling (submission grappling). Years before there would be a UFC, Bart Vale was learning, training and fighting in Japan. Honing his new style with the best in the world such as Karl Gotch and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. Eventually, Bart Vale brought his new hybrid martial art, Shootfighting, back to the US. Promoting matches and traveling the country teaching Shootfighting to karate schools.
But this is only part of Bart Vale's history. His martial arts legacy starts in 1970 in Miami at the Tiger and Dragon school of self defense where began his training in Tracy's Kenpo karate with Tom Dunne. Bart Vale eventually became Tom Dunne's highest ranking student. Mr. Vale's thirst for knowledge lead him to seek out other Kenpo masters. Bart Vale has recieved rank from William Chow (1st degree black), Ed Parker (4th degree black) and Al Tracy (9th degree black). Making Bart Vale one of the few, if not the only person to recieve rank from these 3 masters. Bart Vale is considered an authority in Kenpo Karate in the US and around the world.
These years of knowledge and training are now the benefit of the Tiger & Dragon Boca. Teaching both Shootfighting and Chinese Kenpo Karate EXACTLY as it was taught to Bart Vale and passed down to Douglas Tate, the head instructor of the Tiger & Dragon Boca.
