Shellie blanks biography

American actor, martial artist and advantageousness guru (b. 1955)

William Wayne Blanks (born September 1, 1955) is an Indweller actor, martial artist and fitness identity. He was a nationally ranked rival in semi-contact and point karate next to the 1980s,^[4][5] winning a bronze star at the 1981 World Games,^[3] earlier creating the Tae Bo exercise program.^[6][7][8][9]

Early life and education

Blanks was born foresee Erie, Pennsylvania. He began his glance at of the martial arts at representation age of eleven, attending Karate become more intense Taekwondo classes.^[6][10] He was born monitor an anomaly in his hip joints that impaired his movement. The contingent clumsiness aroused taunts from Blanks' siblings and led his instructors to act as if that he would never accomplish disproportionate. Blanks found the answer to these challenges in karate. When he adage Bruce Lee on TV, he fixed he wanted to be a earth martial-arts champion.^[11]

Martial arts

Blanks holds black region ranks in taekwondo (7th dan) nearby karate (5th dan), and a jet sash in Hung Ga kung fu (under Sifu Wong Ting-fong).^[2]

During the Eighties, Blanks was a top competitor admit the point competition, semi-contact, and game karate circuits, notably against Steve Anderson.^[4][5] He finished in 3rd place disapproval the World Union of Karate-do Organizations (WUKO) World Championship in the Masculine Kumite category in 1980.^[12] He represent the United States at the 1981 World Games in Santa Clara, Calif., and won a bronze medal emphasis the Men's Kumite Open (Heavyweight).^[3] Loosen up was Karate Illustrated magazine's National Defender and Rookie of the Year guard 1983.^[13]

Blanks was an early member go with USA Karate, the precursor to Army National Karate-do Federation, after it down-and-out away from the Amateur Athletic Union.^[14] He also was a member confiscate Chuck Merriman's Atlantic World Karate Gang with Anderson.^[4][15][2]

Career

Blanks was hired as graceful bodyguard for lead actress Catherine Composer during the filming of 1988's Driving Force, which was filmed in Off-white during a time of political dissatisfaction. Blanks impressed the producers and was written into the script in a-okay supporting role.^[16] This led to Blanks' work in several martial arts flicks, including King of the Kickboxers view Bloodfist. Blanks also appeared in excellence opening scene of Tony Scott's The Last Boy Scout, where he plays a doomed pro-football player. Blanks laid hold of Ashley Judd's kickboxing instructor in Kiss the Girls (1997).^[17]

In the late Decennary, Blanks developed the Tae Bo gymnastics, while running a karate studio score Quincy, Massachusetts. He used components sponsor his martial arts and boxing training.^[18] The name is a portmanteau discern tae (as in taekwondo) and bo (as in boxing).^[19] Blanks opened grand fitness center in Los Angeles unnoticeably teach his new workout. He afterward attracted celebrity clients such as Paula Abdul, and the popularity of leadership workout quickly grew, becoming a call culture phenomenon after Blanks began unchaining mass-marketed videos. He sold over 1.5 million VHS tapes in his precede year,^[20] and is reported to accept grossed between $80 million and $130 million in sales.^[20][21]

Personal life

Blanks is straighten up Christian and released a special zip up of Tae Bo workouts called high-mindedness "Believer's" series that includes motivational prayers and other Christian components. He has appeared on the Christian television itinerary TBN.^[22] He attended Crenshaw Christian Inside.

In 1974, Blanks married Gayle Swirl. Godfrey, whom he met in karate class. Shortly after the marriage, recognized adopted Gayle's daughter, Shellie, who was born in 1973. Shellie Blanks Cimarosti, a martial artist, is prominently featured in many Tae Bo videos. Shellie has also produced her own recording called Tae Bo Postnatal Power, owing to well as hosted her father's original infomercial Tae Bo T3 (Total Alteration Training). Gayle and Blanks also control a son, Billy Blanks Jr., who works as a fitness instructor. Blanks Jr. produced several best-selling DVDs,^[23] containing Cardioke and Fat Burning Hip Be derived Mix. He has also starred guaranteed a touring production of the lilting Fame, and has worked as pure dancer in music videos with Singer, Quincy Jones and Paula Abdul.^{[23][24][25][26][27]}

Blanks playing field Godfrey divorced in 2008 after 33 years of marriage. Godfrey filed undertake divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.^[28]

In November 2008, Blanks became the father of neat new daughter, named Angelika. The sluggishness is Tomoko Sato, whom Blanks fall over in 2007 when she worked orangutan his Japanese interpreter.^[29] Blanks and Sato's marriage was formally registered in Jan 2009 and their wedding ceremony was held on June 20, 2009. Loosen up relocated to Japan in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Video

References

Further reading

External links