Marshall is a D.C. native who founded the martial arts school Simba DoJang in the 1965, five years after he started his professional fighting career. Marshall traveled all over the world competing in tournaments and has met celebrities like Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali. Marshall, 75, studied under Grandmasters Ki Whang Kim and Soo Wong Lee and still teaches today. He stopped competing at the age of 60.
How did you get into martial arts?
I used to box before I went into the Marine Corps … When I came back, I became a black belt and was fighting up and down the East Coast. It took about 2 and a half years to do [become a black belt] and we trained four days a week. In that class I’d come home and train at night, early in the morning, running everywhere. We had to stay in shape because we’d be fighting every weekend.
You’ve met a lot of the greats, but who do you respect the most?
My instructors — they’re the ones who started with me. Ki Whang Kim and Soo Wong Lee, they’re like fathers. Soo Wong Lee passed away and I still miss him. And I’m like a father to all these other kids [I teach].
Why do you still teach after all these years?
I enjoy the art; I enjoy helping people. That’s what it’s about — helping people. We’ve got kids [at Simba DoJang] I had when they were young and now they’re grown up. They’re like 30, 40, 50 years old now and they have [their own martial arts] schools all over the country.
Any retirement plans?
I just want to keep on doing it because a lot of young people need help. They’re out here doing all kinds of stuff. When times are tough, they’re doing outrageous things to make money. They’ll do anything to make money.
— Liz Farmer
