Lanterna Rally

Author: Ted Gambordella

Publisher:

Published: 2018-11-07

Total Pages: 267

ISBN-13: 9781731003003

Keith earned his 1st degree Black Belt in just two years under John Roper. He eventually took over the University of South Carolina Karate Club, becoming its first president. That club was one of the first collegiate martial arts programs in the country in 1975. This collegiate karate program became one of the best-of-all-time programs in college history along with team members John Orck, Steve Vitali, Tony Bell, Michael Goldman and Richard Jackson. The University of South Carolina honored Keith with a special Alumni magazine issue featuring Keith on the cover along with an inside article chronicling his successes. After college, Keith moved to Atlanta GA and operated the Joe Corley American Karate Studios as head instructor. Under Joe Corley's tutelage, Keith excelled in competition both on a regional level and then "went national". By the end of Keith's competitive fighting career, he had won every national tournament in the country including Battle of Atlanta, PKA Nationals, US Open, Diamond Nationals, AKA Grand Nationals, Oklahoma Nationals, and the Fort Worth Nationals earning him title of number one rated US National Tournament Champion for 3 consecutive years. (1978-1979-1980). Keith won the middle-weight World-Karate Semi-Contact title at the Oakland Coliseum and was also rated the number 5 best fighter in the world in full contact karate in the light-weight division. According to Official Karate Magazine Hall of Fame writer John Corcoran, "Keith Vitali played an instrumental role in rejuvenating semi-contact karate in the late 70's. When point fighting was at an all-time low, his presence and performance gave it new vitality. As a champion, he joins the elite list of American great tournament fighters, Mike Stone, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith and Howard Jackson." Keith was inducted into the prestigious Black Belt Magazine's Hall of Fame as 'Fighter of the Year' in 1981 and was voted by his peers as one of the 10 Best Fighters of all-time according to Black Belt Magazine. He received many Lifetime Achievement Awards including being inducted into the South Carolina Karate Hall of Fame (and was elected its first president), Masters Hall of Fame, Official Karate's Legion of Honor, the Diamond Nationals Hall of Fame, Blue Grass Nationals Hall of Fame, and a Centurion in Joe Corley's Battle of Atlanta. Keith was also presented one of the first prestigious Joe Lewis Eternal Warrior Awards. Keith Vitali was awarded a Texas Black Belt by Allen Stein and Rudy Smedley in 2017. Keith has appeared on over a dozen covers of national martial arts magazines and is also a published author of 5 instructional karate books. His first book, "Beginning Karate" sold over 30,000 copies and is used as a textbook at the University Of South Carolina. His newest book deals with children bullying issues and is entitled, "Bullyproof Your Child." As a video producer, Keith made national headlines with his video production company, K.V. Video Productions. His kid's safety video 'Self Defense for Kids' made national headlines across the U.S. Keith appeared on the front page of USA Today as well as being featured in every major newspaper in the US. Keith also appeared on Oprah as a guest expert on kid's safety.