The rise of Full Contact Kickboxing intrigued the young Brooklyn native, and after seeing one of his idols, Kickboxing World Champion Joe Lewis, he focused on learning the art of kickboxing. Despite excelling in Karate, Neglia desired to continue his Martial Arts education by learning other art forms as well. Here, Neglia would begin to learn of the ancient traditions associated with Martial Arts, and he would go on to receive his first black belt years later in American Karate. In his teens Neglia would start training in American Karate under Warren Siciliano, who was already known for training the legendary heavyweight boxing champ Rocky Marciano. "I considered myself a tough guy from street fights I'd been in, but after seeing how these Martial Artists moved, I knew it was something I had to learn." Lou was already someone who could handle himself on the streets, but nevertheless that day unexpectedly started a lifelong passion for the Martial Arts that still runs strong today. Lou Neglia grew up in the Gravesend section of Brooklyn, NY, a tough neighborhood by any standard. One day there was a young man in attendance whose life would be forever changed after witnessing the abilities of these Martial Artists. They were billed as "Karate versus Kung Fu," attracting a stream of curious fans to witness the action. Aaron Banks was well known for organizing such demonstrations, hosting many in and around his hometown of the Bronx, NY. In the late 1960s, there was tremendous interest in the Martial Arts, creating an audience to watch skilled practitioners hold demonstrations displaying their abilities and the effectiveness of their art form.