Texas is full of “colorful characters”.  There are the old heroes, men like Judge Roy Bean and David Crockett and the modern ones like Audie Murphy the most decorated soldier of World War Two and of course Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys.  In Texas Karate we have D.P. Hill aka the Four Fingers of Death and D.P. is definitely one of the best-known and best-loved men involved in Texas Martial Arts.

     My first memories of Texas Karate are full of Demitrius Havanas , Roy Kurban and Skipper Mullins. I also remember Mr. Hill stepping in the ring with Havanas and both of the Cox brothers and the other Texas Black Belts that competed in Mr. Hill’s weight division.  D.P. was a little different though he made the “grab and punch” his specialty and many Black Belts felt his four fingers of death.  D.P. lost his first finger in an accident and back in the days of “bare knuckle” karate that was an advantage.  He did not have a finger to help absorb shock.  When he punched you with that fist with the nub, it was pure hard bone on bone.  I saw many Black Belts sink to their knees after a “Four Fingers of Death” punch from Mr. Hill.

   Mr. Hill started training in the mid 60’s and was the first black man to receive his Black Belt from Allen Steen. Making his way through the belt ranks during the 60’s was no easy thing.  Mr. Hill definitely “paid his dues” as he trained.  Paid for them in genuine blood, sweat and tears.  His early years in competition were a little rough, D.P. has never been known for his kicking skills.  This fact drove him to develop a keen sense of timing, distance and strategy.  He is a skilled instructor as Mr. Hill developed many state and national champions over the years.  To this day his Black Belts continue to win in Texas competition using the strategies that Mr. Hill perfected in competition.

     As Mr. Hill advanced in years he still competed and through the 80’s D.P. handed many a young Black Belt sound defeats as he out thought and out fought them.  His style of grabbing an opponent and pulling them off balance as he punched and front kicked them was amazing.  I watched many Black Belts win their first match with their strong kicks and speed.  Then they would bow into Mr. Hill with a smug look of confidence as they saw “old D.P.” enter the ring.  D.P. would have that old gray uniform top on, the black pants sometimes mismatched safety gear. The center judge would say begin and the look of confidence would be shattered, as Mr. Hill would introduce them to a lesson in “old style fighting”.  D.P. would control the distance with minimal footwork, avoiding or slipping then when the time was right he would reach out, grab and start to pummel the opponent with that fist to the body and that front kick to the groin.  Many of the “hot young national fighters” would attend Roy Kurgan’s “ Fort Worth Pro-Am”. (One of the premier events through the late 70’s until it final year in 1986.)  Around ’82 or ’83 D.P. handed a particular East Coast Black Belt that was ranked nationally from Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated Magazine an embarrassing defeat.  Shortly into the match this guy new he wasn’t going to be able to handle Mr. Hill’s “un-orthodox style” of sparring.  Through the match and after he complained loudly.  The local Texas Black Belts made jokes about how this guy was lucky; D.P. Hill had “safety gear” on.

     True, Mr. Hill was not a “kata man”.  I don’t ever remember him competing in Black Belt Kata.  He didn’t need to.  His specialty was sparring.  At most tournament you could see D.P. giving “pointers” to under-belts and Black Belts alike.  His ability to win with such simple techniques made people sit up and take notice and of course ask for advice.  He was a popular sparring judge and sparring competitor.  When your center referee was D.P. Hill in a sparring match you knew he would see “everything” that went on and ensure a correct call.

     Over the years Mr. Hill produced a tournament in the Dallas area.  This event was always special to children as D.P. was the first and the only producer to offer bicycles and portable stereo systems to the first place winners in the all the children sparring divisions.  I know as the years progressed I always took students to his event.  It was well run and those awards for kids made him very popular with children and adults.

     His event was also a hot bed for Black Belt sparring.  Since Mr. Hill was one of the best fighters in Texas he drew the best fighters.  The list of regular competitors was a roll call for the best Texas Black Belt fighters.  Men like Al Garza, Billy Kelly, Arnold White, Tim Kirby and Larry Lockhart were just a few that were “always” there.  As always World Champion Linda Denley was a regular, helping to support Mr. Hill’s event and taking first place in the women Black Belt sparring division.

(Over the years I took first or second at some of the “largest” tournaments in Texas but I am the most proud of taking first in heavy weight Black Belt sparring at his event back in ’86.)

     D.P. Hills laugh, I must mention that.  His laugh is full of life and good will.  In 1980 I remember D.P. as center referee for sparring at Jim Butins event in Oklahoma City, he and I were running the teen boys division for Brown Belts and many of the competitors were trying to “call their point”.  D.P. would let out that laugh and say “that’s not a point, keep fighting”.  The parents of the competitors were talking about that character from Texas with that laugh.  Another time in ‘85 I had a young student that lost his little toe to an escalator at the local Mall.  A few months later at a tournament in Austin I saw Mr. Hill across the floor judging.  I sent my student (approximately 6 years of age) over to D.P. with instructions.  He did as I told him and walked up to Mr. Hill and said I hear you are the Four Fingers of Death, I watched as my student lifted his foot and said I am the Four Toes of Death.  Mr. Hill’s laugh filled the auditorium with laughter as he looked at the child’s foot.  Later he came to me and commented that he “loved that” and started to laugh again.

     D.P. doesn’t put on an event any more.  It seems Mr. Hill is battling a lung disease.  His laugh is still there just not as loud.  It is still filled with life and good will though.  Texas needs to find a way to honor this man that has always been an excellent example of a human being and a Black Belt.  There was a small dinner to honor him back in 2002.  I believe Mr. Hill needs to have his friends come together to share their memories and love for D.P.

Mr. Hill’s health is serious and I urge everyone reading this article to include Mr. Hill in your prayers.  I have been to a few tournaments lately and not having him there is strange. I look around for D.P. Hill and catch myself trying to hear that laugh.

 

^{Covert Blackledge}

^{7th Degree Black Belt, Golden Greek Award Recipient 1983,’85,’86}

^{President, American Youth Sport Martial Arts Association}