Grandmaster Crudup began his formal training 40 years ago in Shotokan Karate at the American Youth Academy Karate Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under the direction of Sensei Ernest Paramore and earned his Black Belt at the age of 14.He was also promoted to Black Belt in Moo Duk Kwan Tae Kwon Do by Master Oscar Young Sul in 1975.Additionally, he earned Black Belts in Chang Moo Kwan Tae Kwon Do under Grand Master Ozzie Wright, Jr. in 1979 and Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do under Grand Master James L. Mitchell in 1979.
He was a top-rated tournament fighter from the mid-70s to early-80s in the Tri-State Area (Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware) well-known for his tremendous kicking ability.He won numerous championships during this period to include the World Bi-Centennial Karate Games in 1976 and the Peter Urban American Cup in 1977.Some of his classic match ups were against east coast tournaments greats such as Marty Manuel, Rodney Nobles and Henry Grant.He also enjoyed a brief kickboxing career fighting in the Professional Karate Association (PKA) before entering the United States Air Force in March 1983.
He spent over 15 years in assignments throughout the Pacific theater to include tours in Guam, Korea, Japan and Okinawa before returning to the United States in 2001.Grandmaster Crudup made a special tournament appearance in 2005 and captured the Black Belt Sparring Grand Championship at the Kombat Classic in Waldorf, Maryland.
Some of Grandmaster Crudup’s other accomplishments include a 7th degree Black Belt in Kyo-Jutsu Karate under Professor Sayfullaah Al-Amriykiy and Soke Nat Abdullaah McBride, direct disciples of the legendary Great Grandmaster Dr. Moses Powell.He is a certified 9th degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and member of the Mighty Simba Dojang under Grandmaster Furman Marshall, student of Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim and Master Soo Won Lee. He was the first American to receive 9th Dan recognition by both the Global Taekwon-do Federation-International and the Malaysian Global Taekwon-do Federation from Founder and President, Professor Dr. Dato’ Sabree Salleh, direct student of Grandmaster Choi Hong Hi and Grandmaster Park Jung Tae.Grandmaster Crudup was also appointed by Dr. Salleh as an International Director of the Global Taekwon-do Federation.Additionally he received an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy Degree and Professorship in Martial Arts Science from the World Academy of Martial Arts Philosophy and Science.
Grandmaster Crudup has been inducted into more than 50 martial arts halls of fame to include Great Grand Master Aaron Banks’ World Professional Martial Arts Organization Hall of Fame, Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame, American Federation of Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Budo International Hall of Fame, Cosmopolitan Florida Hall of Fame, Go Sei Ryu Goju Hall of Fame, Gary Alexander’s International Association of Martial Arts Hall of Fame, International Jujitsu Hall of Fame, Kuroshi-Do Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Latin-American Martial Arts Hall of Fame, London International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, North American Federation of Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Southeastern Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame, United Fellowship of Martial Arts Hall of Fame, United States Head of Family Martial Arts Association Hall of Honor, United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame, United States Martial Artist Association Hall of Fame, Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Universal Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame, USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, World Head of Family Sokeship Council Hall of Fame, World Karate Union Hall of Fame, World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and the World Martial Arts League International Elite Black Belt Hall of Fame.
He serves as a Senior Executive Advisory Board member for the United States Head of Family Martial Arts Association; Vice President of the International Supreme Elite Warriors Council; President of the World Organizer of Martial Arts (WOMA USA) New Jersey Chapter, and President of the Philadelphia Historical Martial Arts Society.He is also the founder and President of the Universal Song Do Kwan Alliance, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The goal of the Alliance is to build a cadre of martial arts instructors and develop programs throughout the city in churches and community centers to offer training and mentorship opportunities to inner-city youth at affordable costs.
Grandmaster Crudup retired from the Air Force in the grade of Chief Master Sergeant in August 2009 and now works as a Federal Wage and Hour Investigator with the United States Department of Labor.He was presented the “Men Making a Difference Award for 2007” by Congressman Chaka Fattah.He holds two associate degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, a Bachelors Degree in Business and Management from the University of Maryland and a Masters Degree in Human Resources Management from Chapman University.