Shihan Craig Hamm was born and raised in his
hometown of Selmer, Tennessee. He currently lives there with his wife Angela and
3-year-old son Lucas Drake Hamm. Shihan Hamm is a born again Christian and
believes in a living God Jesus Christ. God gives us the strength and abilities
to bring us through whatever he brings us to. God has a path for each of us to
travel on we just have to trust him to lead us on that path.
Shihan Hamm believes that teaching the Martial
Arts is the way to bring God’s Word to the Youth in the World. Shihan Hamm is
a attends Lakeview Baptist Church in Selmer, Tenn. Shihan Hamm has been in the
Martial Arts for 23 years. He started in 1980 learning Shotokan Karate because
he wanted to learn the arts that he grew up watching on TV as a young child.
Shihan Hamm is the owner and instructor at Hamm’s Martial Arts Academy in
Selmer, TN. He has been teaching since 1990.
The school is open 3 nights a week with
students from ages 5 and up. Shihan Hamm teaches Shinsei Hapkido, Shotokan
Karate, Taekwondo, Grappling and Kobudo Weaponary. Like every good instructor
one needs a good instructor teaching them also. Shihan Hamm now trains with Do
Ju Nim Joseph Lumpkin, the President of Karate For Christ International and
Founder of the Shinsei Hapkido System. Shihan Hamm holds the rank of 7th Dan in
Shinsei Hapkido along with the Head Instructor of the Shinsei Hapkido System,
Dr. Daryl R. Covington, 7th Dan.
Shihan Hamm Also trains with Renshi Tony
Chester of Clarksville, Tennessee, in the Art of Budoshin-Kai Karate (Pre 1900
Martial Arts); who is the Founder of the United Budoshin-Kai Culture “Pre 1900
Arts”. Shihan Hamm hold the rank of 5th Dan in Budoshin-Kai Karate / Shotokan
Karate. Shihan Hamm also spent 8 years training under the instruction of Master
Kang Rhee in Pasaryu Taekwondo. Shihan Hamm was the 1996 and 2000 Alabama State
Karate Champion in Kata and Weapons.
In Nov. 2002 he won the Adult Male Overall
Mississippi State Grand Championship. In Jan. 2003 Shihan Hamm completed a goal
that he had always seen and wanted to accomplish and that was to become a World
Karate Champion. On Jan. 25, 2003 Shihan Hamm won the World Cup Championships in
the Masters Weapons (Flying Kamas) and Self-Defense Divisions and Silver Medal
in Masters Kata Division while competing in Cancun, Mexico.