Mr James Zimmermann

Mr. Zimmermann was born November 30, 1930 in Hohenwald, TN. He began his training during June 1966 in Nashville under the instruction of Mr. CT Patterson, Mr. Charlie Parrish, and Mr. Rikuo Takizawa. Soon after Mr. Zimmermann opened his first school in Hohenwald where Mr. Parrish came to teach. On occasion, Mr. Patterson would also visit and teach. After receiving his black belt in 1976 he began instructing. Mr. Zimmermann and his wife Mrs. Zimmermann expanded opening schools in Savannah, Decaturville, Linden, and Centerville. Several black belts were given permission to open schools under Mr. Zimmermann’s control. These included Lexington, Selmer, Kentucky and Michigan. The Zimmermann’s hosted the Hohenwald Open Karate Tournament from 1981 to 2006. In 1992 he received the Grandmaster Otsuka award presented by Mr. Cecil Patterson. Mr. Zimmermann was inducted into the USEWF Hall of Fame in 2006. He was the director/owner for Zimmermann Karate Schools until his death on April 21, 2015. He held a 7th degree black belt and served on the USEWF Board of Directors.