During 1972 and 1973, American Kickboxing or Full Contact Karate was dead in North America. A few people tried to teach the sport but to small numbers of students. One of the most successful during this period in a time was Joe Lewis student by the name of Gary Dranow. Dranow ”The Golden Haired Executioner", played strong role in the sport during the resurgence that was to come in 1974. The sport was quiet in North America, several American had made names for themselves while serving in the military and stationed in the Orient during the Vietnam War.
