John Dutcher

Martial Arts expert John Dutcher passed away on October 13, 2010 from complications arising from hemachromatosis. Mr. Dutcher was born November 11, 1940 in upstate New York, the son of Arlie and June Marie Dutcher, of Native American and Irish American lineage. Mr. Dutcher joined the United States Marine Corps in 1957 where he rapidly became an accomplished Martial Artist earning black belts in Judo and Karate. His tours of duty included Japan, Laos, Lebanon, and the Dominican Republic, culminating in Quantico, Virginia where he served as a hand-to-hand combat instructor. Entering civilian life he became a Master Instructor earning a 6th degree belt in Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do. He was a senior instructor with the Jhoon Rhee Institute and competed with the finest tournament champions of the late 1960’s, winning the 1968 Global Tae Gyun Championship, and demonstrated karate techniques with Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and others of that era. He continued to work with USMC hand-to-hand combat programs and received a citation from the then Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1967 for his insight and contributions. He was declared the first “USMC Black Belt Emeritus” of the modern Marine Corps Martial Arts Program in 2001. Mr. Dutcher was the Director of the Academy of Korean Karate and Unarmed Combat headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland from 1970 through 1975, teaching close combat techniques to civilians, U.S. Treasury agents, and the first generation of United States Air Marshals. Mr. Dutcher went on to perform private security work throughout Europe, Central America, and the Middle East including training personal bodyguards in all forms of defensive techniques. He retired to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to enjoy hunting, fishing, and shot gunning. During that time he became a consultant to Thomas Associates, Inc., advising the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps on matters of force protection. Mr. Dutcher was an avid hunter and fisherman, firearms expert, gourmet, accomplished scuba diver, and Life Benefactor Member of the National Rifle Association. Following his covert work on behalf of the British government during the Falklands Campaign, he was accepted into membership of the East India Club of London, England. He is survived by Alexis Thomas, to whom he had previously been married, and his daughter, Kathleen Marie Dutcher of Reading, England. He will be missed greatly. Semper Fi, “Dutch”. Ceremony and burial will privately be held in the future, by invitation of the family. In lieu of flowers or other considerations, it is requested that donations be made to the John “Dutch” Dutcher Martial Arts Program, Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd, Suite 102 PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057 or via the John Dutcher Martial Arts Program Fund at CNB, P.O. Box 279, Stevensville, MD 21666, Att: David Thompson, Vice President.

John Dutcher

November 11, 1940 - October 13, 2010