Murrieta Karate Instructor Named to Masters Hall of Fame

Long-time Murrieta Community Services Department karate instructor Darryl Vidal received a prestigious honor last weekend when he was inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame.

Vidal was accompanied by his family for the induction Saturday at the Orange County Hilton that was held as part of the Martial Arts Organization's 14th annual awards banquet.

The association recognizes exceptional Martial Arts Leaders and Legends through induction into the Masters Hall of Fame, according to a news release. This year the event honored Women in the Martial Arts and featured Full-Contact Muay Thai Champion Lisa King, aka “The Black Widow,” as guest speaker.

Vidal, married and the father of four, has more than 30 years of experience teaching and training Kenpo Karate and currently teaches classes through the city's recreation department. He also teaches and trains students in Wing Chun and Filipino Stick Fighting, and said he feels fortunate to be able to work in a program that can provide affordable training to families in the region.

“It is a great experience of challenge and discipline for families to train together,” Vidal said. “And it is rewarding for the teacher as well as the students.”

Vidal spent his teenage years in Chino, when at 12 years old he gravitated toward the martial arts. By 18, he earned a black belt.

He went on to appear in the original 1984 "Karate Kid" movie, in which he portrayed not only the tournament semi-finalist but was a stunt double for Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi.

"One of only three actual black belts who performed in the movie, Vidal was asked by fight coordinator Pat Johnson to create what became known as the crane kick' technique," the Masters Hall of Fame wrote in the news release.

In November 2012, Vidal reached the rank of grandmaster in Kenpo Karate—meaning he is a 10th-degree black belt in the Chinese martial art.