Ron Turchi, formerly of Pine Bluff, was recently inducted into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame at Houston.
A seven-time black belt grand champion, Master Turchi has trained with many grand masters and masters, according to a news release.
He has also been inducted into the Southern Martial Arts Hall of Fame and Taiho Ryu Karate Hall of Fame.
Turchi, currently of Hot Springs, teaches PRE-GED and GED for the Arkansas Correctional School at the Ouachita River Correctional Unit in Malvern.
Turchi began training in 1966 at the age of 17 and received his first black belt in 1974. He is associated with several organizations including United World Taekwondo Association, Taiho Ryu Karate Association, American Taekwondo Association, World Taekwondo Association, Chung Sil Taekwondo Association, Ju Jitsu Black Belt Federation and the United States Grand Masters Society.