About US

After over 25 years where does ULTIMATE WEAPONS real story as a business begin? Truthfully, we were not always “Ultimate” as our company began simply enough in a small backyard woodshop in New Jersey. But ever before that our story is a story of a Fathers love and devotion to his little girl. Started by Mr. Steve, he was, like many of our clients, just another parent driving his daughter, Mary Kate, to Martial Arts Classes and then taking her to compete in her first tournament. Watching her train hard and develop her skills he was as proud and supportive as any other parent there, but as time went on, he grew frustrated. A lot of the weapons available at the time were poor quality and anything that was “flashy” for competitions was incredibly expensive! After seeing some nunchaku at a tournament booth, Steve realized he could easily use his experience as a woodworking Estimator and a trade show Exhibits coordinator to make nunchaku for Mary Kate that were better crafted.

So off to his shop in his backyard he went! He quickly created some wooden chucks and used some of his films and vinyl from a trade show display to decorate them. As soon as the other students and parents at the dojo saw them, they asked him to make some for them. Soon Steve was even taking in request to decorate the wood Bo staffs of Mary Kate’s teammates. Soon Steve was customizing his own wood turning lathe and created his first bo staff, now the Ultimate Weapons journey can really begin! Steve began traveling to karate tournaments and setting up booths of his custom made and decorated Bo and chucks, all while watching and supporting his daughter as she competed. What a team they made! Mary Kates’s dad was “the Weapons guy”! Over the years the options and styles changed and grew, and new weapons were soon added as Steve tackled any request to design and make martial arts weapons. Soon it was time to leave the shed and open a full-time shop. Before he knew it retirement was coming close, by now Mary Kate had grown and left her dojo but Steve wasn’t ready to leave the Martial Arts World behind just, yet he needed a successor to continue making the Ultimate Weapons he has so carefully created those 20+ years ago in his shed…

As fate would have it that role was filled by another father/ daughter team, Master H and Marie.

Master H. Had been a long-time customer of Steve’s and was looking for new ways to contribute to the Martial Arts community. Master H. had competed in many tournaments over the years and run many successful karate schools, but those schools were now being headed by his son. As the world slowed down when the Covid Pandemic hit Mr. Steve decided it was finally time to leave his shop and turned operations over fully to Master H and his daughter Marie. With Master H’s long history and experience as a 8th degree Black Belt it was time to take the next step in our journey to always be “Ultimate”! We packed up our tools and moved from our small workshop in New Jersey to a new home in South Carolina. The daily operations of the Ultimate Weapons shop and staff were trusted to Marie as General manager. With her father’s trust Marie jumped right in and was able to have 2 of the top staff of the New Jersey shop move with the company to South Carolina! Ultimate Weapons added more staff and soon outgrew that location, and we needed a more centralized location. So, in 2022 we moved to downtown Knoxville Tennessee. Ultimate Weapons was founded on a father’s love for his daughter and now that legacy continues with Master H and his daughter Marie, our Ultimate Weapons are truly made by martial artist for martial artist.

Master H- Owner/CEO

If you have seen “The Karate Kid”, then you know his story. Bullied and picked on as a kid, he met a Kung-fu teacher and became his only student. That is where his lifelong love of the Martial Arts began. Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris were his heroes. One day he walked into a new karate school to find the instructor was one of Chuck Norris Blackbelts! Chuck Norris would come every 3 months or so to teach classes and conduct belt testing. Master H Received his 1st Degree Black Belt from Chuck Norris in 1979. He has continued to train in several other styles such as, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu, Shotokan, Aikido, Kung-Fu, Krav Maga, and American styles. He is currently an 8th Degree Master Black Belt in the Chuck Norris System, a 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 1st Degree Black Belt In Krav Maga. He has been featured in Black Belt Magazine, Karate Illustrated, and on the cover of MA Success and the Martial Arts Professional Magazine. He was a member of the USA Intersport karate team that traveled to the Soviet Union in 1990 and has won 2 Gold medals in the Georgia Games.

Master H has had a long competition career and has several titles in many circuits such as, NASKA, and NBL, as well as receiving Competitor of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and School of the Year from Chuck Norris UFAF organization. Master H has a continuing legacy as his family is now in their 3rd generation of Black Belts.