Darnell Garcia

Last updated
Darnell Garcia
Born
New York, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationFormer law enforcement officer
Known forMartial arts tournament winner

Darnell Garcia is a former martial arts champion, author, actor and former DEA agent. At one stage in his martial arts career he was rated 7th in the United States. He had roles in the martial arts films Enter the Dragon , Black Belt Jones , Blind Rage and Enforcer from Death Row . In the 1990s, Garcia became embroiled in a drug and corruption scandal.

Contents

Background

Garcia was born in New York and grew up in California, [1] and is of Puerto Rican heritage. His high school years were spent in California. While in Los Angeles, he wasn't the most popular with his neighbors due to his car racing. Garcia was thrown out of Manual Arts High School, but what possibly saved him was his gymnastic skills. The Washington High coach got Garcia on the team and he managed to keep out of trouble until he was able to graduate and get his high school diploma. He worked in a steel plant and then for an aircraft company. He was drafted into the army in 1966. [2]

According to an article in the Los Angeles Sentinel dated January 21, 2016, Bridal Path Films were in negotiation with major studios to make a movie based on his life. [3]

Martial artist

Garcia began training in American Tang Soo Do in 1968 when he enrolled at a Chuck Norris Karate Studio in El Segundo, California. [4] In 1972, Garcia earned his black belt from Chuck Norris under the tutelage of fellow Norris black belt Gheral Taylor. Garcia would then compete as a member of Norris' competition team. At the Grand National Championships, Garcia was fighting in his fifth tournament as a black belt. Garcia fought against Fred Wren and won 7-5. [5] In December that year, and after only holding his black belt for a year, he competed in the 1972 International Karate Championships in Long Beach, California. Before a crowd of 8000, he won against champion Joe Lewis, taking the Grand Championship title. [6] Garcia appeared on the cover of the February 1973 issue of Black Belt magazine and featured in a 7 page article. [7]

Garcia appeared in the Elvis Presley financed documentary, The New Gladiators , released in 2002. The documentary which was begun in 1974 was deemed missing for many years then finally found and restored. [8]

Garcia was also the advertising director for Inside Kung Fu magazine. [9]

Film work

Actor

By the age of 28, he had appeared in Black Belt Jones and Enter the Dragon . [10] In Enter the Dragon, along with Mike Bissell and fellow Tang Soo Do instructor, Pat Johnson, he was one of the three hoods who come up to harass John Saxon on the golf course. [11] [12] He also appeared in Blind Rage and Enforcer from Death Row . [13] The Efren C. Piñon directed Blind Rage, which was filmed in various locations including Manila was a tale about five blind men robbing a bank. Garcia was billed as one of the main actors. The film also starred D'Urville Martin, Leo Fong, Tony Ferrer, and Rick Adair and Fred Williamson. [14] [15] Garcia worked with Fong and Piñon again in Enforcer from Death Row. [16] [17] Later he appeared in Death Force , a 1978 film directed by Cirio H. Santiago which starred James Iglehart, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Jayne Kennedy and Carmen Argenziano. [18]

Other film work

In addition to acting, Garcia worked for Fred Williamson with Williamson's company Po' Boy Productions. Garcia's work with Williamson was mainly behind the camera. He had moved into stunt work as well. [19]

Law enforcement career

Having been drafted into the army in 1966, Garcia eventually became a military policeman. He took exams during basic training and was only two points away from Officer Candidate School. That was enough to encourage himself to think deeper about where he could head to. He turned down offers to enroll in Warrant Officer Flight School and became a military policeman. After graduating from Leadership Training School in Georgia, he was sent to Anchorage, Alaska. While there he served as a stockade guard, the personal bodyguard to a very senior medical officer and also managed to talk a prisoner out of killing himself. Garcia had seven letters of commendation by the time he finished his military service in 1968. He then returned to Los Angeles. [20]

Prior to his becoming a DEA agent, he was with the LAPD. [21] In 1985 Garcia was fired by the DEA because he refused a transfer to Detroit. A case was made on the basis of national origin discrimination and it went to court. In 1986 he won his right to be reinstated in a decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. [22]

In the early 1990s, Garcia and fellow agents, John Jackson and Wayne Countryman appeared in court for stealing drugs and money laundering. In 1991, Countryman was sentenced to 5 years. [23] In 1997, Garcia was sentenced to 80 years imprisonment for his part in drug trafficking and money laundering. [24] Garcia was eventually released from federal prison in November 2011, having served 21 years. [19]

Publications

TitleIsbnPublisherYearNotes #
Explosive Instinct and Mind PowerKoinonia Productions1978 [1] [25]
The Fighting Art of Tang Soo Do ISBN   9780865680142 Unique Publications1982 [1] [26]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleDirectorNotes #
1973 Enter the Dragon Hood Robert Clouse
1974 Black Belt Jones UnknownRobert Clouse [10]
1975Bamboo TrapUnknownErnesto Ventura
1976 The Outside Man Unknown Efren C. Piñon
1976Ninja AssassinsUnknownMarshall M. Borden, Efren C. Piñon
1976 Blind Rage Hector LopezEfren C. Piñon [27]
Also Production Coordinator [28]
1977Mr. MeanUnknownFred WilliamsonUncredited role [29]
1978 Death Force Hitman Cirio H. Santiago [27]
1984 Killpoint Karate Fighter Frank Harris [30]
2001WolfenUnknownMichael Wadleigh
John D. Hancock
Rupert Hitzig 		Uncredited role [29]
2002 The New Gladiators HimselfBob Hammer [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Norris</span> American martial artist and actor (born 1940)

Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris is an American martial artist and actor. He is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and judo. After serving in the United States Air Force, Norris won many martial arts championships and later founded his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. Shortly after, in Hollywood, Norris trained celebrities in martial arts. Norris went on to appear in a minor role in the spy film The Wrecking Crew (1969). Friend and fellow martial artist Bruce Lee invited him to play one of the main villains in Way of the Dragon (1972). While Norris continued acting, friend and student Steve McQueen suggested he take it seriously. Norris took the starring role in the action film Breaker! Breaker! (1977), which turned a profit. His second lead, Good Guys Wear Black (1978), became a hit, and he soon became a popular action film star.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shin Jae-chul</span> Korean martial artist

Jae-chul Shin was a Korean martial artist and founder of the World Tang Soo Do Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynthia Rothrock</span> American actress and martial artist

Cynthia Ann Christine Rothrock is an American martial artist and actress in martial arts films. Rothrock holds black belt rankings in seven styles of martial arts and was a high-level competitor in martial arts before becoming an actress. In 2014, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Kelly (martial artist)</span> American athlete, actor, and martial artist

James Milton Kelly was an American athlete, martial artist, and actor. After winning several karate championships, Kelly rose to fame in the early 1970s appearing in various action films within the martial arts and blaxploitation genres. Kelly played opposite Bruce Lee in 1973's Enter the Dragon, and had lead roles in 1974's Black Belt Jones as the title character and Three the Hard Way as Mister Keyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tang Soo Do</span> Korean martial art

Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art based on karate and may include fighting principles from taekkyeon, subak, as well as northern Chinese martial arts. From its beginnings in 1944 to today, Tang Soo Do is used by some Kwans to identify the traditional Korean fusion of martial arts styles. In the mid 1950s, Tang Soo Do became the basis for the martial art Taekwondo when the Korean Nine Kwans united.

Robert Alan Wall was an American actor and martial artist.

Joyce Ann Karlin Fahey is an American lawyer and politician. She served as both a federal prosecutor and a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge. She is known for having sentenced Soon Ja Du, the merchant who killed 15 year old Latasha Harlins with a fatal shot to the back of her head, to only five years' probation and 400 hours of community service, with no jail time. The sentence was widely condemned, including by the LA County District Attorney and black community leaders in Los Angeles, and has been cited by some as a catalyst for the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Howard E. Jackson was a former World Kickboxing Champion (W.K.A), a World Muay Thai Champion (W.K.B.A), a world rated Karate point fighter, and a world rated boxing contender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Norton (actor)</span> Australian martial artist, actor, stuntman (b. 1950)

Richard Norton is an Australian martial artist, actor, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, security consultant, and fight choreographer. He holds a 5th dan black belt in Gōjū-ryū karate, a 5th dan black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an 8th dan black belt in Chun Kuk Do, and a level 6 ranking in American kickboxing. After high school, Norton worked as a bodyguard in the entertainment business before pursuing an acting career.

<i>Good Guys Wear Black</i> 1978 film by Ted Post

Good Guys Wear Black is a 1978 American martial arts action film starring Chuck Norris and directed by Ted Post. This was the second film to feature Norris as the star, following Breaker! Breaker! (1977). However, this is the one that Norris considers his "breakthrough".

Leo Fong was a Chinese-American martial artist, actor, boxer, and Methodist minister who had been making films, acting, and directing since the early 1970s. Fong was still acting in action films right up until his early 90s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat E. Johnson</span> American martial artist

Pat E. Johnson is an American martial artist. He is a 9th degree black belt in American Tang Soo Do and is the president of the National Tang Soo Do Congress, which was originally created by Chuck Norris in 1973.

<i>Blind Rage</i> (film) 1978 film

Blind Rage is a 1978 blaxploitation martial arts film directed by Efren C. Piñon and starring Fred Williamson, Tony Ferrer, Leo Fong, and D'Urville Martin. Although he receives top billing, Fred Williamson's part in the film is only a cameo appearance, reprising his Jesse Crowder role from the 1976 films Death Journey and No Way Back. The plot is about five blind martial artists pulling off a bank robbery in the Philippines.

Joe Corley is an American karate and kickboxing competitor, instructor, broadcaster and promoter who helped achieve the success of the Professional Karate Association and the early establishment of professional kickboxing in the United States. Joe Corley is CEO of PKA Worldwide.

<i>That Man Bolt</i> 1973 film by David Lowell Rich, Henry Levin

That Man Bolt is a 1973 American action film directed by David Lowell Rich and Henry Levin. It stars Fred Williamson in the title role of a courier and Byron Webster. The film combined several genres: blaxploitation, the martial arts film, and James Bond superspy films. It was filmed in Hong Kong, Macau and the United States and featured several martial arts experts in action: Mike Stone, World Professional Light Heavyweight Karate Champion, Kenji Kazama Japan Kickboxing Champion, Emil Farkas, European Black Belt Karate Champion, and David Chow, Former California State Judo Champion. It was titled Operation Hong Kong outside the United States. Peter Crowcroft wrote the novelization of the screenplay.

American Tang Soo Do is a hybrid martial art formed in 1966 by Chuck Norris who combined the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do with Japanese styles of Judo, Shito-ryu Karate and Shotokan Karate. Over the years it has been further developed by former black belts of his and their students.

<i>Death Journey</i> 1976 film by Fred Williamson

Death Journey is a 1976 action crime film written by Abel Joney and directed by Fred Williamson, who also stars as Jesse Crowder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karate in the United States</span> Overview of American Karate in U.S.

Karate was first introduced to American service men after World War II by Japanese and Okinawan karate masters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronald M. Taganashi</span> American martial arts science philosopher and teacher

Ronald M. Taganashi was an American martial arts science philosopher and teacher. Taganashi was the founder of the American-Te Goju-Ryu martial arts system. He also founded the North American Heaven and Earth Society, which encourages students to learn about themselves, their spiritual beliefs, and their art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Tang Soo Do Association</span>

The World Tang Soo Do Association is an international Tang Soo Do association headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina. As of 1996, the organization claimed to have over 160,000 members.

References

  1. 1 2 3 In.com - Darnell Garcia Bio
  2. ↑ Black Belt , February 1973 - "It's only a game of tag"
  3. ↑ Los Angeles Sentinel , January 21, 2016 - Redemption: Ex-DEA Agent Darnell Garcia tells the truth and nothing but the truth By Brandon I. Brooks, Managing Editor
  4. ↑ Garcia, Darnell (1982). The Fighting Art of Tang Soo Do. Unique Publications Inc. ISBN   0-86568-014-0.
  5. ↑ Black Belt, August 1972 - Pages 4p, 50 World Wide Tourneys
  6. ↑ Black Belt, December 1972 - Page 52 World Wide Tourneys, Garcia for Real-Dethrones Joe Lewis at Internationals
  7. ↑ Black Belt, February 1973 - Page 9 Contents
  8. ↑ MA Entertainment - The New Gladiators (1974-2002)
  9. ↑ Black Belt, May 1976 - Page 50 My husband's a black belt - Arranged by Stuart Sobel
  10. 1 2 Black Belt, January 1976 - Page 26 Man on the Street
  11. ↑ America's Film Legacy: The Authoritative Guide to the Landmark Movies in the National Registry, By Daniel Eagan - Page 694 Enter the Dragon
  12. ↑ Black Belt, December 1973 - Page 45 BUDO BREEZE by Robert F. Beard
  13. ↑ Los Angeles Times , December 18, 1988 - 3 Ex-Agents Under Fire : A Look at Their Reputations--and Their Roots - WILLIAM OVEREND
  14. ↑ Wrong Side of the Art! - Blind Rage (1978, Philippines)
  15. ↑ Grindhouse Database - Blind Rage Main Details
  16. ↑ Rotten Tomatoes - ENFORCER (1978)
  17. ↑ Fist of B-List, 3.17.2011 - Enforcer from Death Row (1978)
  18. ↑ American Film Institute - Death Force, Cast:
  19. 1 2 Los Angeles Sentinel, January 21, 2016 - Redemption: Ex-DEA Agent Darnell Garcia tells the truth and nothing but the truth By Brandon I. Brooks, Managing Editor
  20. ↑ "It's only a game of tag". Black Belt Magazine. February 1973. p. 15.
  21. ↑ Thin White Lines, By John P. Sutton - Page 326
  22. ↑ Los Angeles Times - October 06, 1989 - Ex-DEA Agent Hopes to Block His Extradition - Ronald L. Soble
  23. ↑ "Former Agent Gets 5 Years For Selling Drugs He Seized" . The New York Times. September 11, 1991 – via Reuters.
  24. ↑ Soble, Ronald L. (July 23, 1991). "Ex-DEA Agent Garcia Sentenced to 80 Years". Los Angeles Times.
  25. ↑ Google Books - Title Karate: Explosive Instincts and Mind Power
  26. ↑ Tang Su Do, Roberto Daniel Villalba - Page 158
  27. 1 2 DVD Details - Darnell Garcia Archived 2017-08-21 at the Wayback Machine
  28. ↑ Hollywood.com - Darnell Garcia
  29. 1 2 Darnellgarcia.com - Filmography
  30. ↑ BFI - Darnell Garcia, Filmography
  31. ↑ Black Belt, December 2002 - Page 71 Elvis and Ed Parker on Tape
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.