This is sad news for the martial arts community. Master Banks was a very popular figure in the NYC martial arts scene during the seventies. He helped to pioneer the dissemination of the martial arts by helping to promote the “Oriental World of Self-defense” shows that packed Madison Square Garden during that time. I remember meeting Aaron Banks back in 1973 as my father was signing me up for my first martial arts class. This must have been only a few weeks after Bruce Lee’s “Enter the Dragon” premiered in the US. I don’t know about the rest of the country, but in NYC, that movie had kids dragging their fathers to any establishment that offered instruction in the martial arts. Unfortunately for my father, he was no different.
Aaron Banks was sitting at the front desk as my father and I walked in to observe a class. Ironically he was just helping out the head instructor for a few minutes as he stepped away to the restroom. As we waited for the owner of the school to return, he talked to my father and I for a good while about the different fighting styles and the benefit of studying martial arts. He was very kind and gracious to us as he entertained every annoying question that was posed to him by my eight year old self. It was only much later did I find out how famous he had become.
The seventies in NYC was an amazing time to meet and train with people that were legends in their respective fields. It would be nearly impossible to train with martial artists of this calibre today. At least without going broke or having to travel all over the world. I count myself lucky to have been exposed to the teachers I have met and studied under.
RIP Master Banks.