Trivia

He became the first PKA events coordinator where he befriended heavyweight kickboxing champion Joe Lewis who became his mentor. In 1980, Corcoran co-founded the STAR System World Kickboxing Ratings with Paul Maslak.

For three decades, Corcoran served as editor of Black Belt, and then Professional Karate, Inside Kung Fu, KICK Illustrated, The Fighter International and Martial Arts Success.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he began martial arts training in 1967 eventually writing press releases for his Shorin-Ryu karate instructor to pay for lessons. In 1973, as a newly promoted black belt, he compiled the first set of national Top Ten ratings for American karate Kata competitors for Official Karate magazine.

In 2000, Corcoran received Gary Lee's "Living Legends Hall of Fame Award" and in 2002 he received the Battle of Atlanta's "Hall of Fame Award". In 2004, he received the Martial Arts History Museum's "Funakoshi Award".

John was also the editor for John Graden's "Martial Arts Professional" magazine in the mid-1990s and producer of Graden's USA Karate TV show in the mid-1980s.