Grand Master Riley Hawkins is a Martial Artist that was born and raised in Baltimore City, Maryland. He’s a quiet, modest, calm and humble gentleman that would rather talk about the accomplishments of his students than him self. He’s known for bringing Martial Arts to Baltimore’s inner city community in a different manner, he’s also known for being a fierce, hard, fast, continuous, fair and respectable competitor. His energy is always high when he speaks about Martial Arts; that same energy increases much more when he speaks about his students. His martial arts career began during the mid 1950’s with him boxing in the Boys Police Club along with one of his older brothers. He later mastered Jujitsu and Judo taught to him by Mr. Robert (Bob) McPherson and Shorin-ryu Karate as taught to him by Mr. Herbert Hines. Grand Master Hawkins competitive spirit combined with his Shorin-ryu based Martial Arts training allowed him to be recognized as a very successful point competitor along the eastern coast of The United States between 1966 and 1978. His friend-ships with elite Martial Artist such as Edmund (Ed) Parker, Daniel Pai, Francisco E. Conde’, David Rix, George Dillman, Chuck Norris and many others gave his students the chance to meet, talk and eat with many top rated Martial Artist of the USA. His love for the Arts, his fighting abilities, his teaching, his dedication and commitment to the youth of Baltimore aided in helping him produce students just as successful in Martial Arts and Life in general. Students of GM Hawkins have competed and won in several areas of the Martial Arts such as Point fighting, Boxing, Kick boxing and Grappling in and out of the United States since 1966. Several students both female and male have went to college, in-to the military and even began their own business while others earned high level positions on the job to include a city Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland and other political positions in the area. Some students moved on to start their own Karate Clubs and programs, some joined other clubs, some strayed away from the Martial Arts while others chose to stay, learn, grow and proudly volunteer to teach representing GM Hawkins. Students are today teaching in areas such as AtlantaGeorgia, Harvey-Louisiana and of course BaltimoreMaryland. Riley Hawkins is the founder and CEO of The Riley Hawkins Avengers Foundation Incorporated and he’s The Father of The Avengers Karate Club of Baltimore, Maryland. The foundation consisting of many advance Avengers and close friends of GM Riley Hawkins; was donated a building. With a few cosmetic changes the building has become the new home of the Avengers Karate Club and the headquarters of the Foundation. The headquarters houses several programs guided toward helping with the academic and social education of the students. All programs in the building are free to children to include meals.
Classes are run today similar to the way they were run in the sixties with small modifications, such as mats and safety gear. The classes are free, on going and challenging to the students in and out of the Dojo. The classes consist of conditioning, fighting techniques, plenty of practical application, self defense and Kata. Martial Arts classes are used as a tool by attracting children and helping to keep them off the streets and out of trouble. Promotions are earned and not held often, they are not spoken about until the test and ceremony are over. Students are expected to perform at home and in school; as if they were in the Dojo. GM Hawkins by way of the Foundation, The Avengers and his advanced students have been allowed to give more back to the community in lager quantities while maintaining quality as a main focus. The Martial Arts has been used and is still being used by the Foundation as a tool to provide students with the education of choices, and opportunities, that many inner city children have only heard about, read about or seen on television. Using Martial Arts, students today are helped in enhancing their character; learn individual and team ethics, patience, dedication, commitment, loyalty and many other positive traits. The Avengers organization is still treated as an extension to the family and they make working with the house hold also important. The advanced students are able to assist the parents at home by being the big brother or big sister to the student. The new home houses an office, Dojo, kitchen, dinning room, computer lab and an Arts and Craft room. There is the chance to walk down memory lane as you view pictures of Avengers history in the Gallery and on the walls as you travel through the building. GM Hawkins is pleased to see his vision not only come true but also to see that many of the advanced students seeing and understanding the vision are happy to be able to share it with him. New students are taught by old students under the ever watchful eyes of the Grand Master with an occasional reminder to the Instructors to slow down, teach the basics for a strong foundation. Strength and speed comes with good technique. The proceeding words and many more are passed on and instilled in the new and younger students by the advance and older students. GM Hawkins has five generations of his Black Belts under him at this time that eagerly volunteer to teach and prepare future teachers and leaders of the Martial Arts and our world. The students range from one year to above seventy years of age and as history of the Avengers show there will be no Black Belts below the age of sixteen years. The door will always be open to friends and students of Riley Hawkins and the Avengers Karate Club. Come on in for a visit at 156 South Calverton Road in Baltimore, Maryland 21223.