Personal Biography:
As a teenager in 1982, Don Wideman and two buddies thought that it would be fun to try martial arts and he recalls that their first lesson consisted of “surviving the class.” On the way to their second lesson, the two buddies decided that they would step off the path leading to martial arts class and spend their time smoking and drinking. This was not the path that Don Wideman wanted; he attended his next class and never looked back in the direction that his buddies went.

With a growing interest in pursuing martial arts, Don Wideman tried out a number of martial arts schools in the Eau Claire area and trained up to just under the Black Belt level in traditional Tae Kwon Do. During this time, Mr. Randy Reid opened a martial arts school in Eau Claire; Don Wideman went to his first class with Mr. Reid and knew that he had found a home in Mr. Reid’s style of instruction. Starting again from a beginning belt rank, Mr. Wideman trained regularly with Mr. Reid, began teaching and assisting in running the school as a blue belt, and earned his first degree Black Belt on February 18th, 1989. As he continued training toward higher degrees of Black Belt and assisting Mr. Reid in opening more martial arts schools, Mr. Wideman competed regularly and enjoyed a competitive career as an undefeated kick boxer.

Now, as the founder of Black Belt America with over 21 years of martial arts experience, and father of two, Don Wideman understands what children, teens, and adults need in order to have a fun, exciting, and educational experience in the Black Belt America system. Offering nationally acclaimed programs such as “School Safe Street Safe” and “Character Development,” along with Black Belt America’s fun, challenging curriculum, “Leadership Programs” and “Instructor Training,” Mr. Wideman has created a martial arts system that is safe and beneficial for every member of your family.