Author & Visionary
About Dexter V. Kennedy
Biography
Dexter V. Kennedy is a dynamic force in mixed martial arts — a celebrated innovator, a true warrior at heart, and a bestselling author with a career spanning over forty years. He started as a passionate student who loved combat sports and has become a respected master with a 5th Degree Black Belt in American Karate (Ishinnryu).
A retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer and combat veteran, Dexter has faced many challenges in battle and in life. He uses each experience to strengthen his commitment to unarmed combat and to the broader mission of making martial arts a mainstream professional sport.
As the founder of the National Martial Arts League, Dexter has spent decades developing the structural, financial, and operational blueprint for a professional point martial arts league — one that mirrors the franchise model of the NFL, NBA, and MLB, and provides real career pathways for elite martial artists.
Credentials
- 5th Degree Black Belt in American Karate (Ishinnryu)
- Founder, National Martial Arts League
- Bestselling Author on Professional Martial Arts
- Retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer
The Vision for Professional Martial Arts
The goal is straightforward: create a national professional martial arts league structured around city-based teams, standardized rules, organized seasons, and broadcast media — exactly as the NFL, NBA, and MLB are structured.
City-based teams create fan identity. Structured seasons create anticipation. Media-ready events create visibility. Professional pathways create careers. Together, these elements transform martial arts from a fragmented tournament circuit into a sustainable, fan-driven professional sport.