Salem Ex-Marine May be World's Toughest Kickboxer (VIDEO)

Black belt John Olivera of Steele's Karate in Salem trains kickboxers by serving as their human punching bag.

John Olivera and Tim King were in Marine Corps boot camp together 25 years ago Photo By: Bonnie King

(SALEM) - Oregon`s capitol city is home to one of the most radical, inspirational and durable Kickboxing instructor/champions in the nation. In fact, there may not be a tougher martial arts instructor alive.

A former U.S. Marine, he is still one of the few and the proud, from his mannerisms to the logo he created for his fight team shirts. John Olivera is the Sensei at Steele`s Karate in Salem and he shares his lifetime of experience with those who take an interest. What John has done in his lifetime is become one of the most accomplished martial artists and not just in one style of martial arts either.

I knew John in the earliest days. We were both Marine Corps recruits in Platoon 1044, 1st Battalion `C" Company at M.C.R.D. San Diego. That is the long way of saying that we went through Marine Corps boot camp together.

Twenty-three years later, having gone in our opposite directions for all of our lives, we met during an interview at his Karate studio on North Broadway in Salem. John and I were meant to run back into each other and it has been a great reunion. In this video report, you will see John being essentially, a `human punching bag" as his students polish their skills.

Round after round, John concentrates more on being kicked and punched than fighting back. He told me after the rounds were over; that he does not believe there are many people who can take the amount of sheer punishment that he can in his highly conditioned state. It has something to do with his particular physique and build. Anyone interested in learning more about John and Steele`s Karate, visit their ad on Salem-News.com.

WATCH THE VIDEO NEWS REPORT BY TIM KING...