Benny “The Jet” Urquidez

Benny “The Jet” was born in 1952 in Los Angeles. He was the second youngest in a family of nine. His father was a professional boxer and his mother a professional wrestler and the rest of his tale is left for the history books to tell. Sixty three world titles and fighting in five weight divisions, Benny has accomplished everything a fighter could ever dream of and more. Starting his martial arts study at the age of eight, receiving his black belt at fourteen, and voted in 1978 by Black Belt Magazine as the Best Fighter that year and placed in the magazine’s Hall of Fame. In 2004, “The Jet” is as strong, fast, and inspiring as ever.

Benny Urquidez radiates a rare energy which is the force behind his unique " fighting style", with his legendary "Jump Spinning Back Kick", nicknamed "The Jet" by his peers after witnessing the speed and accuracy of his lethal kick.

Benny Urquidez was reared in a natural athletic environment, passed on through generations of his Black Foot Indian and Spanish ancestry. His Mother was a Professional Wrestler, his Father was a Professional Boxer; and his siblings are all Black Belts. At the tender age of five he was competing in "Pee Wee Boxing" events at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Since then he has earned Black Belts in nine (9) different styles of Martial Arts, and trained in many other styles. "The Jet" trained with his mentor and brother Arnold Urquidez, Bill Ruiyisaki, Ed Parker and many legendary Martial Art Masters.

He was encouraged to test for his Black Belt at the young age of 14. Indeed an accomplishment rarely awarded and recognized by well-respected Martial Art Masters. Immediately he competed and was undefeated in the Adult Black Belt division. His unique style has won him every major international tournament, a dream for the most accomplished of fighters. At that time he chose to pioneer Full Contact Karate, instead of becoming a pro boxer, and the rest is history. In 1974 Benny "The Jet", introduced to the US what is known as Full Contact Karate or American Kickboxing.

Benny The Jet's professional fighting record stands at 200 plus wins and Zero (0) losses, his accomplished World Title Defense Record Stands at 63 wins and zero (0) losses, with "57 knockouts". Unprecedented in ring history, Benny "The Jet" is the only fighter to have retained Six World Championships in five weight divisions for 24 consecutive years. Coming out of retirement in 1993 at the age of 42, he again demonstrated his unique fighting style, defeating Yoshihisa Tagami the 25-year-old Japanese World Welterweight Champion to win the World Light Middle Weight Championship. "The Jet" is the longest reigning World Champion of all Professional Sports in history.

"The Jet" is retired from the ring; and has devoted time to his acting, and movie career. His specialty is training actors for fight scenes; taking into consideration camera angles, fighting technique, weapons, stunts, etc..

He is currently the most sought after fight coordinator in Hollywood and has coordinated stunts and fights scenes for television and feature films including, the soon to be released Fox TVs "Ali".

He also trained and coordinated the opening fight scene with Cuba Gooding Jr. for Jerry Bruckheimers movie "Pearl Harbor" which was released in 2000. He has also worked on "Natural Born Killers," "Batman Returns", "Roadhouse, "Street fighter " The Crow: City of Angels" "Con Air," Grosse Pointe Blank", "Soldier", also co-starred with action legends Jackie Chan and Sylvester Stallone. Los Angeles Magazine recently named him "Los Angeles Best Personal Trainer". "The Jet" has trained Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, Nicolas Cage, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jimmy Smits, Chuck Norris, Kurt Russell, Mark Wahberg, Louis Gossett Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Juliette Lewis, Michael Keaton, Woody Harrelson, Rene Russo, and Patrick Swayze. David Lee Roth, who trained with "The Jet" for years, has dedicated the Van Halen hit "Jump" to his relentless teacher.

Benny Urquidez has written four instructional books and has released eight instructional videos. He is also the hero in a series of Japanese comic books entitled Benny "The Jet".

Benny "The Jet" is the founder of UKIDOKAN KARATE which is recognized as a true Modern Martial Art Discipline by the Okinawan Masters of Japan. "UKIDOKAN" translated means "A Way of Life", internal training, based on how you deal with emotions under pressure. Through "proven theory" he discards the inferior techniques and applies only what works to The UKIDOKAN System. The North Hollywood based "Jets Gym" is the top kickboxing gym in California.
The Marital Arts continues in "The Jets" personal life. His wife Sara teaches kickboxing and spiritual awareness classes at "The Jets Gym". His lovely daughter Monique is also a talented kickboxer as well as a professional model.

Benny "The Jet" Urquidez, "Not by chance but meant to be".