The Shadow
After establishing American Freestyle Karate in Salem 40 years ago, Eddie Thomas has won more than 500 karate trophies, including his five for winning world championships.
Thomas opened a satellite dojo where he served as the black belt instructor in Clifton Forge during the mid-1990s in the building currently named the Clifton Forge Antique Mall at 528 Main Street.
Clay Johnson, one of his students from Clifton Forge, became a black belt under Thomas’ guidance, and Johnson now operates an American Freestyle Karate dojo in Covington.
In addition to winning karate tournaments, Thomas, also an actor, has performed in 12 movies. Thomas remarked, “I am usually cast as an assassin.”
His first lead role, however, was Talos, the protagonist, in the karate film that he produced. Currently, Thomas is producing the sequel titled “Talos: The Dark Lords of Xibalba,” and his son, Gabriel Thomas, who is eight, will be portraying Talos as a child.
Gabriel is following in his father’s footsteps as a karate student and as an actor. He will be making his film debut.
Eddie revealed, “I was an extra in “Dirty Dancing” that was filmed at Mountain Lake in Pulaski,” and I have been cast as an assassin in most of my other roles in films.”
He began taking lessons in Shotokan karate at the Salem Parks and Recreation while he was a student at Andrew Lewis High School in 1975, and after graduating from ALHS, he enrolled at Virginia Western Community College where he earned his associate’s degree in commercial art.
Eddie recalled, “Instead of pursuing commercial art, I opened my dojo in Salem, and although I’ve had three or four different addresses over the years, the name has always been American Freestyle Karate.”
The martial arts disciplines that American Freestyle Karate incorporates are boxing, Shotokan (Japanese karate) Tae Kwon Do (Korean karate), and Thai kickboxing. Since opening his dojo in Salem, he has provided instruction to more than 10,000 students.
He observed, “Right now we are focusing our attention on completing the film.”
Three international film distributors are negotiating with Eddie to distribute “Talos: The Dark Lords of Xibalba.”
Eddie said, “We are talking to three international film companies that are interested in the distribution of our sequel, and we are trying to figure out which one will offer us the best deal.”
As an independent filmmaker, Eddie needs to raise $85,000 to complete the project, and he is seeking support from his former students and others who wish to support his filmmaking endeavor.
Eddie remarked, “If anyone wants to learn more about the film or to support us in our effort, I can be contacted at American Freestyle Karate, (540) 815-4863, or anyone can write to me at 1780 Apperson Drive, Salem, VA 14153.”
“We are using computer graphics in the filmmaking process, and the film will be placed on as many mainstreaming venues as possible,” Eddie concluded.
Eddie was born in Roanoke in June of 1959, and he has remained in the area his entire life. At his dojo in Salem, Eddie has hosted such world-famous karate champions as Mike Stone, the middleweight black belt world champion from Maui who won 96 straight black belt matches during the 1960s and 1970s.
