Movie star visits The Dojo

London, Frankfort, Istanbul, Madera?!

Don “The Dragon” Wilson, 11-time world champion kickboxer and star of more than 30 movies, travels the world giving seminars on kickboxing and self-defense.

Wilson made an appearance in Madera at Sensei Pete Valdez’s The Dojo. Debbie Goodman, host of the TV show “Martial Arts Mania!” approached Valdez and asked if he’d be interested in hosting Wilson at The Dojo, where Wilson would teach three seminars: kickboxing, self-defense and “how to break into Hollywood.” VIPs were treated to a meet and greet with Wilson, and Dojo students rotated sitting next to him during lunch and asking questions.

While filming her show at a tournament last year, Goodman was impressed with one of Valdez’s students, Brodie Casten, from Madera. Casten was interviewed and, as a result, The Dojo was chosen to have its own segment of “Martial Arts Mania!” ...