Covert Blackledge has been involved in Martial Arts for over 30 years. While serving in the U.S. Marine Corps he was fortunate train directly under Master Kichiro Shimabuku of Isshin Ryu, Okinawa te and after returning from Okinawa Mr. Blackledge spent two years training under and received his Black Belt from Master Gwon Pugil in Taekwon Do, and Chung Do Kwan.

Upon leaving the U.S.M.C. Covert attended college, he taught martial arts and coached the kids swim team in Huntsville, Texas. After a brief stay in Austin, Texas, Covert moved to the Dallas area and began coaching a local children’s swim team and teaching martial arts. Currently Mr. Blackledge teaches at Eagles Wings, a large gymnastics facility in Allen Texas.

As a competitor ranked in Texas with the “old Karate/Kung Fu Illustrated Magazine rating system”, Covert was always known for giving a word of encouragement to the children and he always gave his trophies to the kids that lost their “first match”. He teaches children at various daycare facilities and is building a school at Eagles Wings. Working with children for so long and so closely with AAU sanctioned swimming events and now watching the gymnastic and cheerleading events has helped to solidify Coverts dream of sending our children to college through Martial Arts Scholarships. Covert knew the only way to do this was to form a non-profit corporation, the American Youth Sport Martial Arts Association.

Mr. Blackledge hopes this new approach to “sport martial arts competition” will become the driving factor in awarding college scholarships to our teen boys and girls.