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Key Keith Vitali Martial Arts Accomplishments - Highlights
- Number one national point fighter in America - Three-consecutive years – (78, 79, 80)
- Rated number one in the world – Middle Weight Title (semi-contact)
- Black Belt Hall of Fame, Competitor of the Year, 1981
- Legion of Honor -1982
- Diamond Nationals Hall of Fame - 2003
- Blue Grass National Hall of Fame – 1990
- Centurion Award – 2000
- Fighter Magazine’s Hall of Fame
- Top 50 Fighters of the Decade - Fighter Magazine’s
- US Number 1 Point Fighter (3 years) – Karate Illustrated 1978-1980
- Rated Number-Five in the world light weight full contact fighter - 1978
- PKA expert commentator for ESPN & USA Networks
- Author of 4 martial arts instructional books (3 with Contemporary Books, 1 with Unique Publications)
- Author of a kid’s illustrated book, “Victor Stops the School Bully.”
- Wrote and produced a national kid’s safety video, “Self-Defense for Kids”
- Appeared on the Oprah Show with kid’s video
- Appeared on the front page of USA Today with kid’s video
- Started the Keith Vitali KIDS Foundation (Kids Individual Development and Safety)
- Starred in Martial Arts films:
- Wheels on Meals (Jackie Chan)
- Revenge of the Ninja
- American Kickboxer 1
- No Retreat, No Surrender 3
- Superfights
- The Cut Off
- Appeared in two TV shows for Nash Bridges
- Appeared in a Time-Life Books TV commercial
- Produced two major motion arts films (Superfights & Bloodmoon)
- Co-Founder of Action-Film Academy with Keith Strandberg and Michael DePasquale Jr. (11 years)
- Wrote a monthly column for “Karate International Magazine” (10 years)
- Consultant for NAMPA – Developing a Kids curriculum
 The book "Jackie Chan," by Wade Major, in the section East
Versus West-Though Jackie has never shied away from touting what he
regards as the superior skills of Hong Kong fighters and stuntmen, a
handful of famous Western martial artist have managed to work their way
into his prestigious inner circle, some of them on more than one occasion.
Jackie writes, "Wheels On Meals (1984): While it's Benny "The Jet"
Urquidez who gets to fight Jackie in the pulsating Wheels on Meals finale,
former World Karate Champion Keith Vitali also gets a share of the
limelight. A three-time U.S. National Karate Point champion, Vitali was
named one of the ten best fighters of all time by Black Belt
Magazine.
1981 - Competitor of the Year – Black Belt Hall of Fame
Vitali was always a clean fighter and a technician. The affable Georgian retired from point competition in early 1981. Now involved in several promotions related to karate, including teaching and acting, the Atlanta-based Vitali will long be looked upon as one of sport karate’s all-time great competitors and true gentlemen.
Black Belt Yearbook ‘81
Official Karate’s “Legion of Honor” 1982
Keith Vitali is arguably the best point-fighting black belt who ever donned a gi. Before retiring from active competition in 1981, Vitali was the number-one competitor in the United States three years in a row, and displayed such technique, intelligence, and enthusiasm for the sport of karate that further enhance his reputation.- both on and off the floor. Included in his string of Grand Championships are the Battle of Atlanta (78 & 79) and Mid-America Diamond Nationals in 1978, PKA Nationals in 1979, and AKS Grand National and National Karate Circuit Finals in 1980. Known primarily for his side kick and backfist, Keith’s most effective weapon was probably his incredible footwork, which he developed into a science few other competitors have even come close to mastering.
Official Karate Magazine
“Keith Vitali – How the legendary Vitali “vitality” created a tournament superstar… a film star… and the author of a major contribution to the art of tournament fighting.”
From 1978 to 1981 he was on the top of the heap of tournament fighters, accepting his place of pride with an easy, humorous and breeze style. This is the man who once claimed he followed the “worst diet in the world,” who championed spaghetti as his favored training food, and who described his style of kicking as spaghetti kicks.” He was light, easy, possessing a sense of humor – and in the words of John Corcoran, the former editor of Kick Illustrated, “ a damn good tournament fighter” when it came down to brass tacks in the competitive ring. And Vitali was always the odds on favorite to pick up all the tacks-and the Grand Championship trophy.
Inside Karate Magazine
Keith Vitali, perhaps the greatest tournament fighter karate has ever seen, retired from active competition in 1981.
Official Karate Magazine
Keith Vitali – America’s Sultan of Semi-Contact Karate
Not only is he the top-ranked tournament fighter in his sport, and the Star System’s “National Grand Champion of 1980,” the truth is, Atlanta’s Keith Vitali played an instrumental role in rejuvenating semi-contact karate’s sagging scenario of the later 1970’s. When point-fighting was floundering at an all-time low, his presence and performance gave it new vitality. And it was his rivalry with Texan Ray McCallum that since 1979 infused new life into a sport sorely needing it. Keith Vitali’s recent retirement from competition marks the end of an era in the annals of sport karaka. As a champion, he joins the elite list of America’s great tournament fighters: Mike Stone, Chuck Norris, Joe Lewis, Bill Wallace and Howard Jackson. Vitali and Bill Wallace are the only point fighters in U.S. history to have been voted number one for three consecutive years.
Kick Illustrated Magazine
Keith Vitali - In karate tournaments competition, where we often have a situation in which A can beat B, B can beat C, but C can beat A, it is often quite impossible to establish with anything like finality who is the best tournament fighter in any given region. If there is one exception to this complex principle of combat, it is probably the case of Keith Vitali, who, though he has been beaten on occasion, consistently dominates competition around the Southeast. Appearing on this month’s cover, Keith not only captured the Star Wars Grand Championship at this year’s Battle of Atlanta, but his string of ’78 victories was such that only during one month of the year was he bumped from his number-one person in KI’s Regional Ratings.
Karate Illustrated Magazine
Keith Vitali – Many experts feel 1980 was Keith’s best year. At 27, the Atlanta-based instructor still has the quick backfist and the unnerving side-kick that brought him to national prominence three years ago. Whatever his plans are for 1981, Vitali will long be considered one of the sport karate’s all-time greats.
Karate Illustrated, 80 Yearbook
Vitali Revitalized At AKA Grand Nationals
In the end, it was top rated Keith Vitali of Georgia showing why he is considered the man to beat in tournament sparring. In his first appearance of the evening, Keith Vitali stepped up to test Dan Anderson. Wearing his powder blue double knit uniform, Vitali looks more like a model for “Gentleman’s Quarterly” magazine than the nation’s top karate fighter. Looks are often deceptive and Vitali quicken his way past Anderson on an overtime backfist. Against Steve Fisher in the Grand Championship, Vitali’s timing would have made a Swiss watch envious as he slammed in a second, and then a third backfist to take a commanding 5 to 2 victory over a frustrated Steve Fisher.
Sport Karate Magazine
Hall of Fame & Top 50 Point Fighters of the Decade
Known for his side kick and backfist combinations, Keith Vitali won or placed in every major karate tournament in which he entered in the United States from 1978 to 1981. Vitali was known for being a gentleman in and out of competition as he was for his ability and skill as a martial artist. He was recognized for bringing respect to the martial arts as well as for the different training methods American’s used. Vitali won the Battle of Atlanta in 1978 and 1979 and was rated the No. 1 point-karate fighter for three years prior from competition. He was inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1981, as Competitor of the Year.
Fighter Magazine
Stars of the Martial Arts
Vitali is arguably one of the best tournament fighters who ever set foot in the kumite ring; he may someday be spoken about in the same reverent tones of legends like Norris, Stone, Lewis and Wallace. For the past two years, he has held onto the title of Number-One Black Fighter in the Nation, and shows few if any signs of relinquishing his title this year or next, for that matter. We’ve no doubt you’ll continue to hear about the exploits of this super fighter.
Official Karate Yearbook Magazine
Snap, Crackle and Pop
As fellow karateka have learned, when Keith Vitali walks out, tightens his belt and makes ready, an opponent is well advised to be prepared for a hailstorm of human feet.
Karate Illustrated Magazine
Keith Vitali: He’s Still No. 1
Few people possess the consulate mastery of their skill that Keith Vitali does: his kicks are flawlessly executed and perfectly timed: his deft hand techniques allow him to punch with crisp precision. In a field of tournament competitors he has the ability to score on the average opponent at will, as well as the fitness to score on the exceptional opponent when he needs to. He is the ultimate ring general, the tournament fighter Par Excellence.
Official Karate Magazine
Southern Exposure
With the retirement of Vitali, the sport of tournament fighting is losing the most singularly uplifting force in that aspect in the last five years. It was Vitali’s dynamic style and verve that inspired many of the now top fighters in the country to think and fight and excel within their sport. And Vitali was always there as a major power to be dealt with at the major tournaments from coast to coast.
Official Karate Magazine
Keith Vitali’s Favorite Takedowns
Known for his excellent side kick and backfist combinations, the former numero uno often upset his opponents with sweeps and punches.
Vitali infused a troubled sport with a new kind of energy. He played the part he was most comfortable with – that of an all-American, clean-cut athlete. He was polite to his opponents, shy around his admirers, and as patient with his detractors as he was with his imitators. Vitali’s presence encouraged the clean-cut type to become involved in sport karate, attracting the attention of various media experts to the sport.
Karate Illustrated Magazine
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