Dr. Charles Patrick Ward "The MMA Professor"

40 of Mesa, Arizona, passed away on December 9, 2010. Master & Professor, Charlie Ward was a highly respected martial artist, master instructor, fighter, and coach. He studied martial arts for 35 years, and is ranked, with teaching certifications, in multiple art forms. including Muay Thai, the Tai'kor Method of Close Quarters Combat, and of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and others. In 2009 and 2010, Charlie was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame as the Muay Thai Master, Mixed Martial Arts Professor, and the Soke (Master & Founder) of the Most Original Combative Style of the Year. Known as the MMA Professor, a tough, but fair, master instructor and educator, Master Ward founded, developed, and implemented the Sun Devil Combat Sports Program for Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus. This program includes both recreational and academic classes in Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts, Martial Arts History & Philosophy, and Advanced Human Performance Training - as well as maintaining a professional and amateur competitive fight team with physical fitness, combative skills, and academic performance standards. Master Ward retired from professional competition after 12 years as an NHB world champion 8 years, with over 150 fights, and more than 100 knockouts. He then fully devoted his time to teaching his art & science to his students, coaching fighters and combat athletes, writing books and articles, and providing seminars & workshops. Charles had written and published books and several articles about martial arts, combat training, and various areas of athletic and strength training. He was published in Fight News Unlimited, Alive Practical Fighting Concepts, and Muay Thaimes. Honors & Awards: Inducted into the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame as the Most Original Martial Arts Educator of the Year 2010. Inducted into the US Martial Arts Hall of Fame as the Muay Thai Master & MMA Professor of the Year for 2009. Inducted into the Cambridge Who's Who Hall of Fame for Martial Arts Professional Educators in 2008. USMTA (United States Muay Thai Association) Arizona State Director, 2007-Present. Sigma Alpha Lamda member: National Fraternity for Academic Excellence. USMTA (United States Muay Thai Association) Midwest Regional Director, 1996-1998. USMTA (United States Muay Thai Association) North Dakota State Director, 1996-1998.History & Highlights: Fought professionally in Bare-Knuckle Freestyle NHB (No Holds Barred) events - 1988 to 2000. Retired from professional competition as the IFCQCS Muay Chou Cherk NHB world champion with a record of 153 - 5, 113 KO's. Has been featured in Fight News Unlimited, Full Contact, Sweat, and Get Out magazines, The L.A. Times, USA Today, The State Press, and The Minot Daily News. Created, founded, and developed the close quarters combat martial art method and philosophy of Zendao Tai'kor in 1990. Development and refinement continues to present day. Founded Ward's Living Weapon Fight Science Institute, in 1992. Achieved accreditation for Ward's Living Weapon Fight Science Institute as a post-secondary educational facility from the National Board of Education, and the National P.O.S.T. (Police Officer Secondary Training) Law Enforcement Agency, in 1994. Founded, developed, and implemented the Sun Devil Combat Sports Program for Arizona State University's Polytechnic Campus. This program includes both recreational and academic classes in Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts, Tai'kor, Martial Arts History & Philosophy, and Advanced Human Performance Training - as well as maintaining a professional and amateur competitive fight team with physical fitness, combative skills, and academic performance standards. Charles is preceded in death by his grandparents Harold and Esther Ward and Wesley and Eleanor Brenno and his uncle PFC Craig Brenno. He is survived by his loving parents Pat and Diane Ward; brother Scott Ward; sister-in-law Rebecca Ward and nieces Rachel and Nicole Ward as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 612 S. Ellsworth Rd, Mesa, AZ. Arrangements entrusted to Mariposa Gardens (480) 830-4422