Who is Albert Mady?
A Windsor teacher whose own championship record is matched by a lifetime of work with his students.
Training Champions since 1974
Albert Mady has spent his life testing his martial arts and passing that experience on. A tenth-degree Isshinryu black belt, he has taught generations of Windsor families and prepared fighters for competition around the world.
His own competitive record includes five consecutive North American and world karate breaking championships. He has also won in kata, kumite, knockdown and weapons competition. The depth of that experience shapes his teaching, from a child’s first lesson to a professional fighter’s preparation.
His work has earned international hall of fame honours and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. He continues to teach in Windsor, where the school he established in 1980 has helped students grow into experienced competitors and instructors.
North American & world breaking champion · 1990–1994
Albert won the North American and world karate breaking championships five years in a row, from 1990 through 1994.
Those titles came from years of conditioning and precise technique. In this film from the school’s archive, you can watch him put that training into a stack of blocks.
Watch Albert’s brick-breaking demonstration.
Born in Windsor in 1958, of Lebanese and Jordanian descent, Albert grew up in a family with deep roots in the city. His grandfather established businesses here, and his father helped newly arrived Arab families find work and a place to live. That connection to the community is part of the school’s story.
Albert began with judo around 1968 before studying Isshinryu at the Okinawan Karate Club of Windsor. His direct instructors included Robert Markovich, Lloyd Russette and Harry Acklin; he later continued his studies under Grand Master Lewis Lizotte. He began teaching in 1974 and founded Mady’s Institute of Isshinryu in 1980.
His teaching has taken him across Canada and to the United States, Germany, Romania and India, with further visits to Denmark, Malaysia and Jordan. Through Isshinryu Karate International, he works with affiliated schools and students across national borders. In 2023, a banquet and martial arts expo in Thunder Bay honoured his 35 years of teaching in Northern and Western Canada.
Five consecutive breaking championships were one chapter. The years that followed brought international recognition for Albert’s teaching and service to the community.
Albert begins training in judo in Windsor. He later studies Isshinryu at the Okinawan Karate Club of Windsor under Robert Markovich, with Lloyd Russette and Harry Acklin among his direct instructors.
Albert starts teaching martial arts. The work grows from local classes into a career preparing competitors and helping students learn to protect themselves.
He establishes the school in Windsor. It becomes the home of Team Mady and the starting point for students who go on to compete in karate, kickboxing and mixed martial arts.
Albert wins the North American and world karate breaking championships in 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1994. The run remains a defining part of his own competitive record.
The American Okinawan Karate Association names Mady’s its Dojo of the Year, recognising the school Albert built and the work being done by its instructors and students.
On July 7, Albert is promoted to ninth-degree Isshinryu black belt and recognised with the title Hanshi. He hosts the AOKA World Isshinryu Championships in Windsor, the event’s first appearance in Canada.
The World Head of Family Sokeship International Hall of Fame recognises Mady’s as Best Martial Arts School in Canada. Albert’s biography also records his Grand Master Don Nagle Legion of Honor Hall of Fame induction.
Albert receives an Appreciation Award at the first International Martial Arts Festival in Kuala Lumpur and a Diplomat Award at the 18th World Peace Congress Convention. The Master Don Bohan Martial Arts Hall of Fame recognises his leadership, accomplishments and contributions to martial arts.
The Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame honours Albert with its Living Legend Award, adding to the international recognition of his work as a martial artist and teacher.
Albert receives the medal for his accomplishments and contributions to the community and Canada. His published biography connects the honour to his community work and his representation of Canada through teaching and competition abroad.
The World Wide Winners Hall of Fame names Albert Grand Master of the Year. The award is presented by Grand Master Riaz Baig.
Albert is recognised by the World Head of Family Sokeship International Martial Arts Hall of Fame as International Grand Master of the Year.
His home region honours his place in its sporting history with induction into the Windsor / Essex County Sports Hall of Fame.
Albert’s honours include Guardian of Isshinryu. In June, he travels to Irbil, Iraq, helping organise and present an MMA demonstration featuring UFC fighters for soldiers at a Coalition military base.
Albert is inducted in Columbus, Ohio, at an event held alongside the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Expo. His school’s biography records him as the first Canadian to receive this induction.
In Columbus, Albert is recognised in the Lifetime Achievement category through the Battle of Columbus Hall of Honor, Legends of Martial Arts and Bruce Lee Hall of Honor.
A banquet and martial arts expo in Thunder Bay honour Albert’s 35 years of teaching in Northern and Western Canada, recognising the relationships he has built with students and affiliated schools far beyond Windsor.
Albert is a Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame inductee, alongside his international hall of fame recognition.
Albert is inducted into the Masters Hall of Fame, adding to the honours earned over his career as a martial artist and teacher.
Albert’s own competition record includes an American Internationals title in the light-heavyweight knockdown division.
Albert’s own titles are only part of the competitive history at Mady’s. His students have won at events including the World Shidokan, World Sabaki Challenge and Ultimate Test World Kyokushin Championships. The school’s record spans traditional karate tournaments and full-contact competition.
Tomasz Kucharzewski recorded six World Shidokan wins. Chucky Mady became a world super-lightweight champion, and Jan Kaszuba a world middleweight champion. The school also records four WKA Canadian kickboxing titles won by Kim Piedl, Karen Wiedman, Katie Dunn and Basem Balbaki.
That competition experience stays connected to the next generation. Team Mady’s news reports follow young karate competitors bringing home medals and trophies alongside the school’s more experienced fighters.
Meet Team Mady
Albert is a use-of-force/defensive-tactics instructor whose teaching reaches people working in difficult situations. He has taught use of force in St. Clair College’s Corrections and Border Services programs and run classes for Canada Customs and Immigration personnel. His work has also included Canadian, American and Danish law enforcement.
In 2017, he also travelled to Irbil, Iraq, to help present an MMA demonstration for soldiers at a Coalition military base.
In the community, he has shared self-defence training through the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Sexual Assault Centre of Windsor and local schools. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recognised his contributions to the community and Canada.
The Making of Albert Mady Jr.
Albert C. Mady was born in Windsor on September 1, 1958 from Lebanese and Jordanian descent. He is the son of business man and Arabic community leader Albert C. Mady Sr., who was born in the Sudbury, Ontario Area on August 17, 1925, and was married to Nadia {Jumean} Mady in Madaba, Jordan in 1957.
Albert Mady’s grandfather Shahin Abdullah Mady came first to North America. He traveled from Jdeidet Marjayoun Lebanon, to Madaba Jordan, then to Grand Rapids Michigan in the early 1900’s then moved to Sault Ste Marie, then to the Sudbury Ontario area where he established a hotel, bar, and grocery store.
In 1940 he moved to Windsor Ontario, becoming a successful business man. In 1950 he established Mady’s “Big Boy” Restaurants and Mady’s Furniture Store, later passing away in 1955.
Albert Mady Sr. and his brother’s and sister’s continued the work their father started. Albert Mady Sr. through his business and high profile political contacts, helped sponsor many Arab families to come to Canada. He provided many of them with jobs and shelter, some of which are established business leaders today.
Albert Mady Sr. and his wife Nadia also were the founders of the Jordanian club of Windsor. Albert Mady Sr. was sent to Jordan to raise the Canadian flag at the opening of the Canadian Embassy in Amman Jordan. Mr. Mady’s home is full of pictures presenting him with people such as, The Honorable Paul Martin Sr., The Honorable Prime Minister Paul Martin Jr., The Honorable Eugene Whelan, The Honorable Herb Gray, The Honorable Mark MacGuigan and the Honorable Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammad of Jordan, and His Royal Majesty, the late King Hussein of Jordan.
The Rise of Albert Mady
Albert Mady Jr. attended M.S. Hetherington Public School, Riverside Secondary School, Brennan Secondary School, St. Clair College. Albert’s three sisters are Rhonda, Tanya and Sue. Albert is married to Angela; they have two children, Chucky and Nicole, Daughter in law Kelly and Grandsons Matteo and Kayden Business Profile Albert Mady Jr. has been training in the martial arts for 55 plus years and teaching martial arts since 1974.
He established the Mady’s Institute of Isshinryu Karate in 1980. He began his martial arts training in Judo around 1968 and then Isshinryu Karate under Robert Markovich who ran the Okinawan Karate Club of Windsor, his other direct instructors were , Lloyd Russette and Harry Acklin, His instructor today is Grand Master Lewis Lizotte a 10th degree black belt. Albert Mady has training in Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Isshinryu, Kyokushin Kai, Ryu Kyu Kempo, Tuite, Shorinji Ryu, Toyama Ryu Iaido, Wrestling, boxing, kickboxing and Kobudo.
He has also trained with many people in many other styles by attending as many seminars has he could. Albert has traveled not only to teach but also to spread his martial arts knowlege, teaching his affiliate students at there dojos across Canada, USA, Germany, Romania, India and had also taught in Denmark, Malaysia and Jordan. He has taught in all these locations world wide and in 2023 a banquet and martial arts expo was thrown in his honor in Thunder Bay Ontario, for teaching in the Northern and Western regions of Canada for the past 35 years.
There are many others schools contacting him to be part of his newly formed organization, the IKI, Isshinryu Karate International. Which is purely a training organization open to all styles who want to train politics free.
For the past 5 years Albert has also been hired by St. Clair College in Windsor ON. to teach USE OF FORCE, for the Corrections program offered by the college and running monthly classes for Canada Customs and Immigration personnel.
Albert Mady was also awarded THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL, for his work in the community and representing Canada in a great light with his travels and championships. He has also traveled in June 2017 to Irbil Iraq to help in setting up and presenting an MMA demonstration on the Coalition military base for the soldiers, featuring UFC stars.
Martial Arts Ranks and Achievements
Albert Mady, has been a champion competitor, KATA, KUMITE, KNOCKDOWN and WEAPONS.
Albert is the first in Canada to achieve a 9th degree black belt in the Okinawa style of Isshinryu karate at the age of 47 years old, on July 7th 2006, and recognized with the title of “Hanshi”. This promotion was a media event held here in Windsor at the former Cleary Auditorium, where Albert Mady also hosted the American Okinawan Association World Isshinryu Championships. This was the first time the event was held in Canada.
• 2003 AOKA, American Okinawan Karate Association: Dojo of the year.
• 2006 Inducted into the International Isshinryu Karate Hall of Fame, {1st and only Canadian}
• 2006 Inducted into the International Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame {1st and only Canadian, other past inductees,Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Heilio Gracie, just to name a few.}
• 2006 Life Time achievement award, International Karate and Kobudo Association of India, {1st Canadian and only Canadian}
• 2007, World Head of Family Sokeship, International Hall of Fame, Best Martial Arts School in Canada
• 2007, The Grand Master Don Nagle Legion of Honor Hall of Fame Inductee
•2008 Inducted into the Grand Master Don Nagle, Legion of Honor Hall of Fame
•2008 Appreciation Award, 1st International Martial Arts Festival, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Awarded by the Government of Malaysia
•2008 18th World Peace Congress Convention, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, Diplomat Award.
•2008 Inducted into the Master Don Bohan, Martial Arts Hall of Fame for exceptional leadership, accomplishment and contributions to the martial arts
•2009 Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, inductee, LIVING LEGEND AWARD. .
•2012 THE QUEEN ELIZABETH II, DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL. For outstanding accomplishments and contributions to community and Canada
•2013 World Wide Winners Hall of Fame, Grand Master of the year, presented by Grand Master Riaz Baig
•2014 Inducted into the World Head of Family Sokeship, International Martial Art Hall of Fame, "INTERNATIONAL GRAND MASTER OF THE YEAR"
•International Karate & Kickboxing Hall of Fame Inductee,
•World Head of Family Sokeship Council, International Hall of Fame
•Masters Hall of Fame inductee 2016 Windsor and Essex County Sports Hall of Fame 2016 Inductee Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame Inductee
•2017 Grand Master Don Nagle Hall of Fame
•Guardian of Isshinryu 2017
•2018 1st Canadian to be inducted into the BRUCE LEE and Legends Martial Arts Hall of Honour
•2018, Columbus Ohio, By Supreme Grand Master, Joon Pyo Choi. Held in conjunction with the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Expo
•2019-Hanshi Albert Mady, at the Arnold Classic, in Columbus Ohio was Inducted into the 2019 Battle of Columbus Hall of Honor, Legends of Martial Arts and Bruce Lee Hall of Honor, “Life Time Achievement” Category.
Many Isshinryu championships, kumite, kata, weapons championships Kyokushin kata, weapons and knockdown champion
Affiliations
Hanshi, Ku Dan director of IKI. ISSHINRYU KARATE INTERNATIONAL: CANADA, USA, Romania, Germany , India OIKKA Member and Affiliate Life time member, American Isshinryu IFK. USA. KYOKUSHIN AFFILIATE.
•American Okinawan Karate Association, FMR board member
•North American Kyokushin Organization, Technical adviser
•Mady's Institute of Isshinryu karate
•Ontario Amateur Kickboxing Council, board member FRM
•Isshinryu Karate Canada, IKC, director
•Ontario Hand Gun Association
•International Isshinryu Karate Hall of Fame, FRM board member
•USE OF FORCE, Fmr Instructor for St. Clair College, Border Services program and Corrections program
Events
The Mady School of Martial Arts, TEAM MADY, has competed, won and placed in some of the worlds most prestigious martial arts events:
•WSSA and SWOSSA Wrestiling Championship University of Windsor
•Invitational International Wrestling Championships and many others
•1985 Michigan Tough Man
•Robbie Robinson 1986 World Tough Man
•Robbie Robinson 2000
•4 WKA Canadian Kickboxing Titles in Calgary (Fighters: Kim Piedl, Karen Wiedman, Katie Dunn, Basem Balbaki)
•World Shidokan, triathlon of the martial arts
•Tomasz Kucharzewski 6 time winner along with many other Team Mady fighters since 1991, in all weight classes, including Chucky Mady world super light weight champion and Jan Kaszuba, world middle weight champion.
•World Sabaki Challenge, many winners in all weight classes
•Ultimate Test World Kyokushin Championships, Atlantic City and NYC, many winners in all weight classes
•American Internationals Kyokushin and Tri-combat, Championships, many winners in all weight classes WFKO LIGHT AND HEAVY WEIGHT CHAMPIONS. Chucky Mady and Derek Kuchmey. Also many division champions.
•Oyama Gold Cup Canadian Kyokushin Championships
•Montreal World Kyokushin events, France, Japan, Budapest, USA, Canada.
•WFK CanadIan kickboxing title (fighters: Tom Barry, Sam Amro, Abdullah El Sahli
•WKF World Ammy MMA title (Fighter: Tom Barry)
•GAMMA World MMA championships 2019
•Singapore Grappler's Quest NAGA Joslin's grappling championships
•King of the Cage MMA
•USA and Canada Fighting Spirit Challenge
•MMA RAW POWER
•Bahrain Bellator MMA
•Freedom Fight MMA Oneida MMA
•Fighting Spirit Maximum Fighting Championships MMA
•ROFC Amman Jordan K1, (Fighter: Tomasz Kucharzewski 5 time participant And MANY MANY OTHERS)
Contributions to the Community
Albert is a proud Windsorite, Arab/Canadian and credits his success to his school, his students and all his martial art teachers. Over the years he produced local, international and world martial arts champions.
He has taught Canadian, U.S. and Danish law enforcement personal also the Victorian Order of Nurses to defend themselves or restrain patients, the sexual Assault Center of Windsor, throughout the primary and secondary school system, along with many other organizations and continues to use his time, expertise and efforts to our community and abroad.
Albert and his team are now promoting boxing and kickboxing shows in Windsor, always bring the best to this city and abroad.
AND STILL GOING STRONG. OSU !!!!
Join Team Mady
Karate · Kickboxing · Self Defence
Windsor, Ontario
