The American Academy of Self Defense

Black Belts of the Faith International

President: Fred Murphy

Who are we?
Above all, we are Christians who have a heart for lost souls. Black Belts of the Faith International (BBFI) is an interdenominational organization of Christian martial artists open to practitioners of all styles. We are non-traditional and service oriented. The only Master we ask you to serve is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. BBFI draws on a network of committed Christian martial artists to inspire, encourage and equip each of us to not only become better martial artists and instructors, but to also become bolder and more effective witnesses for the faith.

What are we?
We are a full-service organization that serves Christian practitioners, instructors, and school owners who share a heart for the lost and a love for the arts. We believe that martial arts can serve as a ministry tool that can be effective in spreading the Gospel of Christ. We are an organization that knows how to address and manage the unique challenges that can arise from congregational pessimism of this ministry, legal issues that can threaten the financial stability of an organization, and the difficulty in growing the enrollment of the classes you teach. We provide consultation services to each of our active members.

We are also obedient believers. In the Great Commission, Jesus told us to go into all the world and preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15). As you know, not all of us can preach, and sometimes we do not feel like effective witnesses. But we can place our faith on display through the use of martial arts material. To assist you in becoming a more effective witness for the faith, we produce materials such as patches, apparel, and rank certificates.

BBFI Presidential Profile
Like many of its members, the President of BBFI, Mr. Fred Murphy started his own school as a ministry of his local church. It was in this ministry that many families practiced together; some families joined the school without prior affiliation with any church. His school was truly an outreach to the lost who may not have ever heard the Gospel otherwise. Mr. Murphy counts his experience in this worthwhile ministry as wonderful and rewarding.

After teaching at a church for several years, Mr. Murphy opened a school with a storefront. Potential students who would never step foot in a church would not think twice about attending a school that appeared to be “normal”. His sensitivity to ministry remained evident as he carried the same moral values and spiritual focus into this commercial school. The most celebrated achievement of this school was the successful witness to lost souls who accepted Christ's love and asked for forgiveness of their sins.

Our goal is to help equip you to answer God's calling for your life. We can help you establish a new organized class, grow your existing school, or promote and certify you, your assistants, and/or your students.

When were we established?
BBFI was founded by Mr. Rod Crowder in 1985. He wanted to facilitate the networking of, and serve as a resource to, Christian martial artists. His effort resulted in establishing what we know today as Black Belts of the Faith International. Members are able to interact and grow while benefiting from the experiences of each other. Mr. Crowder’s sincere desire to help other martial artists as God led him was truly a fulfillment of God’s calling. In December of 1995, the martial arts community suffered a great loss when Mr. Crowder went home to be with our Father in Heaven.

Where are we?
The Founder, Mr. Crowder, opened his office in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Since that time, the office has been relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan. BBFI schools are spread across the United States and all around the world.

Many international members are serving in ministry, military, others have a permanent residence in other countries. We welcome members from all countries, who desire fellowship and partnership in the martial arts community with the unity as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Why do we exist?
We are here to serve the spiritual, technical, practical, professional, and personal needs of our members. Our members have at their disposal the experience of the BBFI staff who (collectively) have the following:

Bachelor's degree in Theology, Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, and an Associate's Degree in Accounting
Combined marital arts experience totaling more than 45 years
Combined ministry experience of more than 50 years
7th and 3rd Dan Rankings in Tae Kwon Do, 7th and 1st Dan Rankings in Tang Soo Do, additional training in Jeet Kune Do, Wu-Shu, and Kung-fu
School owner/operator of over 25 years
Hosts of more than 10 tournaments and seminars
Personal commitments to partner with each member to help make their school as successful as possible.

Our Mission

Our mission is to equip Christian Martial Artists
to become more effective witnesses for the faith through martial arts.

We strive to provide services that are useful
to our clients and to represent them professionally through our certification process.

Company Profile
BBFI is an inter-denominational organization of Christian martial artists open to practitioners of all styles. We are non-traditional and service-oriented. Those who identify with BBFI are individuals of faith. Without such people, our vision for a Christian martial arts organization would be an impossible dream. If you are such a person, BBFI is for you!

The only Master we ask you to serve is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. BBFI draws on a network of committed Christian martial artists to inspire, encourage and equip each of us to not only become better martial artists and instructors, but to also become bolder and more effective witnesses for the faith. If there is anything that our staff can do to assist you in your ministry, martial arts school, or personal development, please feel free to call anytime. May the Lord empower you to become a more effective witness by your association with martial arts.

We are a service organization specifically designed to meet the needs of Christians who practice, and/or teach Martial Arts. Our primary services include Memberships, School Charters, Custom Certificate and ID Card printing, Rank Advancement, Instructor Certification, and quarterly distribution of our Newsletter.

BBFI provides a network of fellow Christians who practice the arts to encourage, challenge, and serve each other. Please take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about our organization and consider joining us today.

Contact Information
Regular business hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (Eastern Standard Time). Please feel free to contact us at anytime and leave a message if we are unable to receive the call. We will return your call as soon as possible.

Should you wish to receive an Information Kit, please call or email your request. We will send one to you within 48 hours of your request.

Black Belts of The Faith International

Telephone: 1 (616) 475-0026

FAX: 1 (603) 954-0352

Postal address: P.O. Box 128, Sand Lake, MI 49343

Electronic Mail
Sales & Customer Support:

Acts of Faith Quarterly:

Webmaster:

Main Site: http://www.blackbeltsoffaith.com

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Where are we? The Founder, Mr. Crowder, opened his office in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Since that time, the office has been relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan. BBFI schools are spread across the United States and all around the world.

Why do we exist? We are here to serve the spiritual, technical, practical, professional, and personal needs of our members. Our members have at their disposal the experience of the BBFI staff who (collectively) have the following:

Our Mission

Where are we?
The Founder, Mr. Crowder, opened his office in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Since that time, the office has been relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan. BBFI schools are spread across the United States and all around the world.

Why do we exist?
We are here to serve the spiritual, technical, practical, professional, and personal needs of our members. Our members have at their disposal the experience of the BBFI staff who (collectively) have the following: