Tom Levak (born November 8, 1938) is a late bloomer who never stopped blooming. He was 25 years old when he began studying karate in 1964 at the Oregon Karate Association.
Tom did not compete in sparring until 1972, at which time the only adult age division was 18-and-over. From 1972 through 1974, he was undefeated in major Pacific Northwest tournament under-black belt sparring. In October 1974, Levak was promoted to black belt and from that time through 1979 was the #1 rated heavyweight black belt in the Northwest by all major karate publications. He was National Shorin-ryu Grand Champion, a three-time NW Champion, a three-time Western States Champion, and winner of over 20 other sparring titles. In 1980, he temporarily retired from karate competition.
In 1981 and 1982 Tom co-promoted, with his instructor, Dan Anderson, the largest karate tournament ever held in the Northwestern United States, the Portland Pro-Am National Karate Championships.
In 1987 USA Karate created master’s divisions for competitors ages 45 and up. Levak began competing in those divisions and continued to fight in the 18-and-over division. From that time until his retirement from competition in 2007, Tom won 18 USA Karate National Championships, two AAU National Championships, and approximately 15 international and world championships, and placed in many more. Tom's medals included the USA Karate International Championships, the Goodwill Games, the NASKA World Championships, Ed Parker s International Championships, the Funikoshi World Championships, the Shito-ryu World Championships, the NW Ryobu-kai International Championships, the USAKF International Championships, and the World Traditional Karate Championships at the Arnold Schwarzenner Martial Arts Festival.
In numerous tournaments during his 50s and 60s Tom won or placed in the 18-and-over division or the 35-and-over division. In 1996, he won the Oregon State Championships 18-and-over division at age 57.
Tom Levak is a Willamette University Law graduate who served as a respected arbitrator for five decades.
In 2004 the Multnomah Athletic Club gave Tom its highest athletic accolade, the President’s Award. He appears in the MAC Gallery of Champions. Tom is also in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the East Bank Saloon masters basketball program.