By Ted Gambordella
Legendary
The most published martial artist!
At 77 years old, I, Grand Master Ted Gambordella, have written 371 books and devoted more than 5,000 hours to honoring great martial artists across America and around the world. This dedication is just part of a career that spans over five decades, including work with students from every corner of the globe.
Through the years, I have trained with remarkable martial artists and have experienced the joy of instructing thousands of students. On this page, you can discover more about my journey in the martial arts and learn about some of the groundbreaking firsts I have achieved throughout my career.
A Few Accomplishments
Ted Gambordella
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✔Author of 371 books and 42 DVD’s
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✔1st Jiu Jitsu Black Belt in Texas
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✔1st Weapons Black Belt in Texas, and Louisiana
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✔1st Okinawan Karate Black Belt in Louisiana
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✔1st to promote students to black belt in weapons and jiu jistu in Texas, Louisiana
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✔1st jiu jitsu team in Louisiana and Texas
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✔1st Jiu Jitsu Black Belt at Louisiana State University
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✔Started first Jiu Jitsu club at LSU
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✔Produced 1st Karate Collegiate Championship tournament 1971
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✔1st author of book on Hard KI (chi)
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✔1st person to bend knife on neck in demonstration
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✔Wrote the 1st Complete Martial Arts Weapons manual in 1976, best selling martial arts manual in history, still in print after 35 years
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✔Wrote 1st book on using martial arts techniques in sports to prevent
✔injuries, improve performance and develop a winning attitude. Which was used and endorsed by University of Texas, OU, LSU, Oral Roberts, Louisiana College, Purdue, Rice University, Houston Rockets, New Orleans Jazz, dozens of high schools
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✔1st Martial Arts black belt with a weekly TV show in America, 2 years on channel 11 DFW
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✔Voted “The Most Perfect Body in America 1980”
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✔Appeared on National TV 8 times with martial arts programs. Including Real People, Entertainment Tonight, Playboy Channel, Fox TV, Inside Edition, and dozens of local TV stations across Texas, and Louisiana
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✔1st Martial Arts Master to work with US Olympic committee training US Olympic athletes using martial arts techniques
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✔1st Jiu Jitsu demonstration at the Karate Olympics, US Karate Championship, Mardi Grais Nationals, Texas Karate Championships, Big D, (5 years in a roll..no one had ever done more than 3 before), and dozens of other tournaments.
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✔Featured in Black Belt Magazine, Inside Kung Fu, Martial Arts Business cover story
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✔1st American martial arts author of book on KI
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✔1st American author of karate weapons manual
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✔1st author to produce martial art book digitally in 1990
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✔1st martial arts master author with iPhone application
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✔1st martial arts master with Video’s and DVD’s
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✔1st web site for martial arts books and videos 1990
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✔1st martial arts author to sell digital books on Ebay
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✔Inventor with Patented products, Logo Glove and Vpower glove
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✔Started the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame 1992
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✔Started the first Martial Arts MLM “winners club” in 1982
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✔Invented the “Gambretta” the ultimate legal carry self defence weapon
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✔TV Pilot Live2B100 in 2008
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✔Started the first golf Network Marketing Company..Winner’s Club
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✔The most successful night club promoter in the South
Being a martial artist and entrepreneur also meant I had to learn marketing and promotion. One of the ways I was able to promote what I was doing was working with the media and TV. On the right is an appearance I made with my son on the show “How the States got their shapes.

Here is an early TV appearance on the great Dinah Shore show. One of many TV appearances over the decades.
Years of local media coverage in newspapers
In my early years I also worked as a celebrety bodyguard.
When it was safe to do so, friends would catch me in a photo with the celebrety and I was happy to be there.
I had real martial arts skills to help, and I tried to always look professional to put the client and public at ease.
It was a great way to help others and suplement your income in those days. The 70’s was a time in my life when I had so many wonderful opportunities.

It was however my passion for teaching and training that truly motivated me
In my End of Injury training series and book. I focused on helping professional atheletes and some of college’s best to learn the priciples of martial arts techniques and the use of Ki to control and prevent injury when training or playing.
In the news clipping on the right you can see a photo of me working with the New Orleans Jazz and legendary player Pistol Pete Maravich.


Martial Arts Demonstrations
I also traveled for many years doing demonstrations to promote the Martial Arts and encourage others to pursue training and fitness throug martial arts education.
On the right are two videos related to a demonstration that I performed many times showing the power of Ki. These demonstrations were fun to do and enabled me to meet many other great martial artists and schools.
Published Books
Training VIdeos
Students
Friends in Martial Arts

One of my greatest honors has been to get to know and spend time with legends of Martial Arts like Chuck Norris.
Chuck does so much to give back to the Martial Arts community in Texas and around the Globe.




It has been an immense honor throughout my career to train with and learn from so many remarkable martial arts legends. Living in Dallas, Texas, has placed me close to many of the field’s top names, and I feel fortunate to call many of these extraordinary individuals my friends. There are far too many people to recognize in one place, but I will remain forever grateful for their friendship and guidance.