Martial Arts Legend and Pioneer Hanshi Andy Horne Has Passed Away

Today, the martial arts community morns a great leader an MA pioneer. It pains me to say that Hanshi Andy Horne has passed away early this morning. Andy was on his way to work when he was hit by a truck, he died on the scene.

Rest in peace Hanshi Andy Horne you were a great man of wisdom and taught the MA community a lot of life lessons and how to better ourselves as human beings. You made a huge impact as a Beloved Husband and Father, Karate Pioneer, World Champion and Icon. You are already missed dearly. Aj, you and mom and your family are in our prayers. May God Bless the Horne family in this time of need.—Hanshi Andrew S. Linick and the Editors of OfficialKarateMag.com

Hanshi Horne holds rank in several other styles as well. He has trained numerous State, National and World Champion students throughout the years. In Jan. 2011, Hanshi Horne was Inducted into and made an official member of the “first generation group” of Grandmaster Andrew Linick’s prestigious Karate Masters Hall of Fame? (Circa 1972) and was appointed to the 11 Board of Advisors.

He is instrumental in helping run one of the largest martial arts event in the world, the prestigious U.S. Open as Under Black Belt Assistant Director with Director Murray Lamb in Orlando Florida.

In 2011 he began Co-promoting the Gator Nationals Sport Kenjutsu (sport weaponry) Tournament with Charlie Lane in beautiful Daytona Beach Florida, and hopes to be able to spread this sport around the State of Florida at other events. Mr. Horne is the Director of the World Martial Arts & Kobudo Association. This association is a non-political and non-style specific association and is designed to unify the martial arts around the globe. Mr. Horne is a coach and competitor for Team Americas National Karate Team and was named “2002 Coach of the Year”.

He is also a member of the elite Trias International Society, the American Budokai Society and the International Shuri-Ryu Association. Mr. Horne is a retired southeastern United States Kickboxing Champion and World contender (30-0, 24 ko’s). He is a 5-time National and World Empty-Hand Forms and Weapons Champion. In 1992, Mr. Horne was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio. In 1997 Mr. Horne was inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame and the year 2001 received the Gold Life Time Achievement. Then in 2009 was inducted in the category of Stunt Coordinator of the Year.

Mr. Horne is an active member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) as a stuntman, actor, fight choreographer and 2nd Unit Director. He has appeared in numerous movies, commercials and live action stunt shows throughout a 34+year stunt career. He appeared in the movie Virtual Weapon with Terrence Hill (Boot Hill, They Call Me Trinity) and Marvelous Marvin Hagler (Middle Weight Boxing Champion), Plato’s Run with Gary Busey (Lethal Weapon), Roy Scheider (Jaws) and Jeff Speakman (Perfect Weapon), Bad Boys 2 with Will Smith (Bad Boys) and Martin Lawrence (Big Mama) and Transporter 2 with Jason Statham (Crank) to name just a few. Mr. Horne has also worked with Burt Reynolds, Bud Spencer, Neil Patrick Harris, Elizabeth Ashley, Luke Halpin and many, many others too numerous to mention.

Mr. Horne has traveled extensively as a personal bodyguard to Billy Joel, Ozzy Osbourne, Expose’, Jimmy Cliff, Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Michael Bolton, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and many others, when asked Mr. Horne states his resume’ reads like the alphabet from “A-Z, ABBA to ZZ Top”. Mr. Horne is a graduate of The Broward County Criminal Justice Institute and is a Florida Department of Law Enforcement State Certified Police Officer with the Town of Trenton FL.

He is also a NRA Appointed Training Counselor and Certified Firearms Instructor and is in constant demand for demonstrations, charity functions and seminars around the world. He also volunteers for the Bell High School Criminal Justice Program where he teaches Defensive Tactics, Firearms, Handcuffing and Traffic Stops.

Mr. Horne also works with the Varsity Basketball, JV Basketball and the Middle School Baseball Teams as their flexibility coach, in addition to being a substitute teacher for the Gilchrist County School Board.

One thing he is extremely proud of is, in 2010 he instituted a Karate Team for the Bell Middle/High School 21st Century Program which is an after school program, this karate team has been approved by the Gilchrist County School Board. This in itself is a great advancement for the martial arts in the public school system.