John Dowdy

UFC vet who competed at UFC 5. Much like Ron Van Clief, John Dowdy is one of the most decorated and most underperforming martial artists in UFC history. He started his training in 1969, learning Kook Sul Wan Hapkido while stationed in Korea in the Air Force. He would go on to collect black belts (or their equivalent) in American Jujitsu, Kempo Karate, Judo, Tae-Kwon Do, White Crane Kung Fu, White Tiger Kung Fu, Kuk Sul Won Hapkido, Hak Dari Shon Hapkido, and his own style Tiger Shark Hapkido. Hapkido includes a number of joint locks and throwing techniques, but much like Tae-Kwon Do is mostly focused on pressure point strikes and kicking attacks. It was a transport of traditional Japanese Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu after World War 2 and adapted to include elements of traditional Korean Martial arts. Dowdy made two appearances in MMA competition. The first at UFC 5, losing by TKO to Guy Mezger, and the second in 2007, losing to Coy Ocain by Armbar. He currently owns and operates Tiger Shark Hapkido in Burlington, North Carolina.