Tom Saviano

10th Degree Black Belt
American Kenpo Karate Association President
Founder of the White Tiger Kenpo System
Martial Artist since 1964

Tom Saviano began his martial arts training in March of 1964, in the art of Goju Shorei in Chicago, Illinois. He was an avid tournament competitor from the years of 1964 through 1969. He is a martial arts instructor, and is certified as an official tournament judge and referee. He has over 5 decades of experience in self-defense. Saviano’s White Tiger Kenpo Karate System is for the serious martial artist. Mr. Saviano trains professional bodyguards, police officers, U.S. Marine Corps instructors, former Navy Seals and World Class Fighter Keith Hackney, as well as men, women and children from all walks of life.

Mr. Saviano studied for 3 decades under the late Kenpo Grand Master John McSweeney, a 10th Degree Black Belt in the American Kenpo Karate Association, and an 8th Degree Black Belt in American Combato (Jen-Do-Tao). Mr. Saviano holds a 10th Degree Black Belt in American Kenpo and a 6th Degree Black Belt in Chinese Kang-Chuan-Do. He has been the owner and head instructor of his own school since 1981, where he personally supervises over 200 students.

His Designations and Accomplishments: 

• President, American Kenpo Karate Association.
• Executive Member, Board of Directors, North American Karate/Kung Fu Association.
• Certified Black Belt in the following
• American Kenpo Karate Association
• International Kenpo Karate Association
• Midwest Black Belt Federation
• American Karate Association
• Chinese Kenpo Association
• One of 1,000 selected for inclusion in “Who’s Who In American Martial Arts (1 of 40,000 Possible Selections)
• Co-founder of the R.A.P.E. (Rape Awareness and Preventive Education) program
• Executive Director/Team Tournament Arbitrator for the United States Karate Team of "Team U.S.A."
• Featured in cable special "In Defense of Yourself"
• Featured in self-defense instruction book "Street Karate"
• Featured in various magazines and local newspaper articles
• Feature columnist, Kickboxx Magazine
• Instructed self-defense classes at Northern Illinois University
• Instructed the Karate Club at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Circle Campus.
• Head Instructor, Women's self-defense, College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Il
• Included in National Register’s Who’s Who In Executives and Professionals
• President / Arbitrator of the “International Referees Council”, International Federation of Pankration Athlima
• Inducted into International Federation of Pankration Athlima Hall of Fame, 1999
• Inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame with the prestigious “Gold Belt Award” for international contribution to the martial arts, 2002
• Master Saviano has taught his White Tiger fighting system in Europe (Italy, Greece and Ireland) and Asia (mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao) as well as throughout the United States
• 1 of only 2 Masters invited by the Chinese government to review their national Wu Shu championship team in China
• Awarded 10th Degree (Grand Master Level) July 2003 · In May of 2007, Grandmaster Saviano was inducted into the prestigious, first ever International Kenpo Karate Hall of Fame
• April 2008, Grandmaster Saviano was selected as one of five Masters to be inducted into the Illinois State Martial Arts Hall Of Fame as a pioneer in the development of Martial Arts in the Midwest.