During the late 70's and early 80's
John competed on the open karate circuit where he consistently
was ranked in the top 10 by Karate Illustrated magazine.
In the mid 80's John decided he wanted to try kickboxing.
He hooked up with world rated fighter Mike Hollobaugh along with
world class trainer Bill Slinker. He loved the challenge
of kickboxing. He spent the next 10 years competing and
training others to kickbox. During that time he trained
with the sports best such as World champions Richard Hill, Jerry
"The Sting" Clarke, and Jim Graden. He did exhibition
bouts with Bill "Superfoot" Wallace and Jerry Clarke. John won
the Florida State Light Middle Weight Title and later the Middle
Weight State Title and was picked to be a member of the U.S.
Kickboxing team to compete in Germany.
In 1998 John was inducted into the
Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame. John feels his greatest
accomplishments are that of his students. His students
have won countless NASKA and AAU National Championships.
His daughter Sheri Angwin was a 2 time AAU National champion and
a member of the AAU U.S. team which traveled to Scotland for the
World Championships where she won a bronze medal.
His wife of 30 years, Cindy was named
NASKA Rookie of the year in 1989 after winning the U.S. Open and
Diamond Nationals and taking 2nd in the Battle of Atlanta in
woman's Black Belt Kumite all in the same year. She has
won countless championships before her retirement win in 1997 at
the Isshinryu World Karate Championships in New York where she
won the masters division in Kata (male and female mixed).
John is currently the President of
the United Isshinryu Karate Association. He was chosen for
the Harold Mitchum Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 which was
a very proud moment in his life. John and his wife Cindy
are still teaching karate at their dojo which is now owned by
their daughter Sheri. John is active working out and
training the Ingram's competition team as well as assisting
Master Harold Mitchum in seminars around the country.
The Ingram dojo competes regularly
out of mainstream Isshin-Ryu in AAU tournaments. They have
taken their students to Japan to compete. In 2003,
Isshin-Ryu students won gold medals in Kata, Weapons, and Kumite
with traditional Isshin-Ryu forms and training in competition
that is dominated by Shotokan and Shito-Ryu styles.
Master Harold Mitchum considers him
to be a terrific all around Isshin-Ryu karate-ka, and an
outstanding teacher and ambassador for Isshin-Ryu. John
orchestrated the video tape and DVD presentations of Isshin-Ryu
Kata performed by Master Mitchum (the time, organization of the
project, preparation of his students, and the historical value
of the filming)
·
In the 1980's - 2 time Florida State Kickboxing
Champion. (ISKA - internationally accredited)
· Early 1980's one of Florida’s top
point fighters. Rated by Karate Illustrated Magazine.
· Member of the U.S. Kickboxing team
that traveled to Germany in 1986.
· Did 2 exhibition fights with Bill
Super Foot Wallace at the US Open night of champions.
· Florida Director for the I.S.K.A.
After retiring from competition.
· Promoter of the Florida Open
Karate Championships for the past 17 years.
· Inducted into the Florida Hall of
Fame in 1998.
· President of the United Isshinryu
Karate Association.
· Most honored accomplishment is
Sensei Mitchum telling him that he is his #1 student!
· Master Ingram was
inducted into the Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame in
July 2007.
(Isshin-Ryu Hall Of Fame in
July 2007)
