|
| |
| Shihan Manuel began his martial arts training over 35 years ago. He
started training as a child in karate, jujitsu, and tae kwon do with friends in
his neighborhood. He studied formally under Master Joseph Artesi in the
USA Goju style. Shihan Manuel continued with Master Artesi to the level of
7th Dan (degree) black belt. Shihan Manuel first entered karate
competitions at the tournament level as a white belt, winning the white belt
division. By 1975, he was the Garden State Grand Champion as well as
winning dozens of other tournaments. To challenge himself even more so, he
began training in full contact karate (the forerunner to our contemporary full
contact kickboxing of today) where he became a top ranked contender in the
Superlight Weight Division. It was at this time that Shihan Manuel was
stricken with a rare and devastating disease that began to cause paralysis in
his arms. Even as the disease progressed, Shihan Manuel continued to
train, learning to use his legs in place of his arms when his arms were no
longer effective. The quick spread of his paralysis finally took away the
use of his legs. While many others would have given up all hope of
continued martial studies, Shihan Manuels spirit and faith allowed him to turn
his focus to teaching the art he had mastered. Teaching the martial arts
as a way of life, and with the philosophy that our children are our future,
Shihan Manuel has dedicated his life to teaching children positive morals,
values, and ethics. Shihan Manuel is a Christian and puts God before all
other things, yet teaches his art to all people of all races, creeds, and faith.
A lifelong student of the martial arts, he continues his own studies with other
Grandmasters, passing along the knowledge he has embraced to his select cadre of
black belt instructors.
He extends his most profound gratitude to his teachers,
including Grandmaster Peter Urban, Grandmaster SL Martin, Professor Remy Presas, Grandmaster George Dillman,
Professor Wally Jay, Sifu William
Cheung, and Grandmaster Bo Sayoc for sharing their arts with him and contributing to his own
martial education.
|
|
|
Shihan Manuel
