How It All Began

John Carlini as a red belt, 1980’s.

My karate adventure began back in the ’70’s. I was living in North Hollywood where I had rented a house with a few friends. It was across the street from the N Hollywood park. We rented a room to a man named Randall Cobb.You may remember Randall as “Tex” Cobb. He played the motorcyclist “bad guy” in the movie, “Raising Arizona”, with Nicholas Cage. When we met Randall he was a 2nd degree black belt in Tai Kwon Do.

He recruited a few of us interested people and organized a class in the park. Randall was a great guy. As huge and ferocious as he could be, he was a wonderful teacher and a great storyteller who kept us in stiches with hilarious accounts of his life adventures. During that time Randall decided to become a heavyweight boxer. He would go on the road around the country and piled up the “one round” knockouts. (Thus, the stories!) He never lost. Never. At least until he got a “title shot” with Larry Holmes. Randall went the whole 12 rounds and lost to a decision. Imagine. He later went on to become an actor around Hollywood. But the karate bug had been planted in this guitar player.

Randall “Tex” Cobb in Raising Arizona

Here is the stare that frightened the daylights out of his opponents before the fight even began!

I will never forget Randall's immortal words to this 130 lb contender, "COME AT ME, BOY!"