10th degree black belt George Alexander goes from 'Colonel Sanders to Bruce Lee' after successful knee surgery

Palm Coast Observer
Sports

How do you thank an honor a doctor, who affords you a second life in Martial Arts? If you’re world renowned 10^th degree black belt George Alexander, you present that doctor, namely Malcolm Gottlich, with an honorary black belt, from the International Karate Association.

After decades of competing and training at the highest martial arts level, Alexander developed osteoarthritis in both knees. Like many mature athletes, the years of wear-and-tear has broken down the cartilage, and the knee joint functions bone-on-bone, causing his normal daily activities to become a lot more painful.

While living in New York, Alexander tried various injections of synthetic material or “insertion of chicken guts,” as he calls it, but to no avail.

“These treatments might be effective for some people,” he said, “but at my advanced stage of the disease, the injections were not beneficial.”

Two years of chair yoga in New York didn't help, and it was too late for stem cell treatment. It became more and more difficult for Alexander to even walk up and down stairs—let alone train in martial arts.

Despite the pain, George continued to train and teach martial arts, keeping up the facade that he was fine, although his students knew better. Eventually the pain was too much and the arthritis too debilitating.

After moving to Palm Coast and finding Dr. Gottlich, “all the planets lined up for me,” Alexander said. Dt. Gottlich performed the necessary surgery, and Alexander has made a full recovery where he’s back to teaching Okinawan Karate, Jujutsu, Tai Chi and Qi Gung.

“You would never know that I’m totally bionic,” Alexander said. “After having total knee replacements in both knees, I went from Colonel Sanders to Bruce Lee in one year.” I can’t thank Dr. Gottlich enough for giving me a second chance to pursue the athletic lifestyle I love.”

George Alexander presented Dr. Malcolm Gottlich with an honorary black belt for saving his knees. Courtesy photo

DID YOU KNOW? In 1991 George Alexander was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and, in 1998 he was voted one of the World's Top 100 Martial Artists by the International Martial Arts Federation. He also holds a Ph.D. in political science and Asian history and is a retired professor from the State University of New York.

Say what? “After having total knee replacements in both knees, I went from Colonel Sanders to Bruce Lee in one year.”

GEORGE ALEXANDER