Louis Edward Davis, U.S. Army

Louis Edward Davis was born on October 11^th, 1970, in the city of Chicago Illinois. In August of 1977 his family migrated to Minneapolis Minnesota, by late 1985 he began training in martial arts at the age of 15 and by the summer of 1986 he began competing in local point Karate tournaments some of which were hosted by Pat Worley.

During the 1993 USTU National Championships which were held in St Paul Minnesota, Louis came into contact with the All-Army Taekwondo team and after searching the venue he learned that there existed a team representing each branch of the US Armed Forces. After vowing (to himself) to one day become a member of one of these teams, he enlisted the following year.

In 1995 while at his first duty station Fort Hood Texas he was approached by Sergeant Michael Bennett, whom was a member of the All-Army Taekwondo team competing in the heavyweight division. Under Sergeant Bennett and Sergeant Todd Angel’s guidance Louis went from an awkward novice to one of three team captains of the Fort Hood Taekwondo team.

In late April 1997, Louis along with fellow Fort Hood Taekwondo teammates John Swan, Nicolau Andrade, Ryan Lundy, Howard Clayton and of course Sergeant Bennett and Sergeant Angel, attended the 1997 All Army and Armed Forces Taekwondo trial and selection camp held at Fort Indiantown Pennsylvania. On April 27^th Louis took the silver medal in the welterweight division during the Armed Forces Championships, securing a place on the 1997 Army team.

December of 1997 Louis relocated from Fort Hood Texas to Harvey Barracks in Kitzingen Germany. By October of 1998 Louis began to establish himself as a competitor throughout the Bavarian (Bayern) area, winning the Bavarian championships later that same year, holding said title until the year 2000. During this time Louis received guidance by phone from coach Rafael Medina on how to maximize his training and to improve his skillset.

During one of these many phone conversations led him to Georg Streif, the head coach of the German Armed Forces, and German national team. Georg had invited him to attend one of his training camps which led to a major improvement in Louis’ growing abilities.

In 1999, Louis returned to Fort Indiantown Gap and securing a place on the team after defeating Daryll Woods in the finals and defeating London Arevalo of the Air Force Taekwondo team during the Armed Forces Championships.

In 2000 Louis began visiting Pickens South Carolina and entered a mentorship with former All-Army and national champion Reginald Perry. It was here that Louis began to research the history of the All-Army team.

The following year Louis returned to “The Gap” securing a position as a one of two middleweights on the Army team and by January of 2003 relocated from Germany to South Korea, joining All-Army teammates Kevin Williams and Johnny Birch as a member of the 2^nd Infantry Division’s taekwondo team.

During this four year tenure in Korea as a member of the 2^nd Infantry Division’s taekwondo team, Louis quickly established himself as a talented competitor winning any competition held by camp Casey or Camp Hovey respectively, winning both the 2003 and 2005 Friendship cup (AKA the Commander’s Cup)

The 2003-2005 Area 1 Championship, and the 8^th Army championship. In 2005 Louis took Gold in the USA Taekwondo National Championships in San Jose California and taking his second national medal (silver) in Austin Texas in 2009. In early to mid-2007 Louis was asked by Rafael Medina to attend the inaugural Taekwondo Hall of Fame banquet in Teaneck New Jersey as a representative of the US Armed Forces later becoming a technical advisor. Louis Himself received recognition from the Hall Of Fame for his efforts as a competitor. Louis continued to work as a technical advisor representing the US Armed Forces until 2015.

After retiring from both the Army and taekwondo competition, Louis returned to Minneapolis Minnesota where he volunteers his knowledge and experience as a coach in support a collective of Taekwondo School owners within the twin cities metro area, his former All Army coaches and former teammates who operate taekwondo schools themselves and is currently a D- Level referee, D level coach under USA Taekwondo and a Coach under the Amateur Athletic Union.

In addition to coaching, Louis is currently researching the History of the All Army and Armed Forces Taekwondo program by locating many of its pioneers, former champions and team members.

Bio and Medals

1996 – 1997 Fort Hood Taekwondo Team, one of three team captains

1996 Fort Hood Championships – Bronze

1997 Armed Forces Championships – Silver

1997 Fort Hood Championships – Gold

1998 Bavarian Regional Championships – Gold

1998 Bavarian Championships – Gold

1998 Italian Open – Gold

1999 All Army Championships – Gold

1999 Bavarian Regional Championships – Gold

1999 Bavarian Championships – Gold

2000 Bavarian Regional Championships – silver

2000 Bavarian Championships – Gold

2001 All Army Championships – Silver

2002 South Carolina State Championships – Gold

2003 South Carolina State Championships – Gold

2003 Commander’s Cup Korea – Gold

2003 Area 1 Championships Korea – Gold

2003 8^th Army Championships Korea – Gold

2003 Mid Atlantic Championships – Gold / Grand Champion

2003 World Taekwondo Hwarang Festival, Jincheon Gun – Bronze

2004 Jeju Island Invitational – Bronze

2004 Area 1 Championships Korea – Gold

2004 8^th Army Championships Korea – Gold

2005 Commander’s Cup Korea – Gold

2005 Area 1 Championships Korea – Gold

2005 8^th Army Championships Korea – Gold

2005 USA Taekwondo National Championships – Gold

2007 USA Taekwondo National Qualifier – Silver

2009 USA Taekwondo National Qualifier – Bronze

2009 USA Taekwondo National Championships – Silver

2011 Armed Forces Championships – Bronze

2012 Armed Forces Championships – Gold

2013 Armed Forces Championships – Bronze