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Carlos Salvador Velez II, Martial Artist, writer and consultant, holds black belts in Nisei Goju Ryu, Kyokushin and Sansei Goju Ryu Karate. Velez, a native of Puerto Rico who began studying the Martial Arts in 1966, was concerned about Karate tournaments and the judging on the island, he was instrumental in bringing the AAU Karate program to Puerto Rico. He was appointed Chairman of the program in 1982. During his presidency, Puerto Rico's first AAU Karate Referee's clinic and AAU Karate tournament were held. Velez also lived in Canyon, Texas, where he served as Mas Oyama's representative, and as an instructor at the West Texas State University Kyokushin Karate Association. This association was approved by the Student government, and the P.E. Department.
He has trained under Jose A. Martinez, Roberto Rios, Jose R. Conde, Frank Ruiz and Fernando Caraballo. He has also attended seminars sponsored by Kwon-Jae Hwa, Bill Wallace, Seiyu Oyata, David and Kickan Cook and John Farrell. Velez was exposed to Martial Arts Journalism for the first time in 1975 with K-Arte Marcial Karate Magazine, in Puerto Rico. In the past thirty years his articles, as a freelance writer, have been read in all types of Martial Arts publications in the United States as well as his native country, Puerto Rico. He currently writes for Florida's The Karate Voice and New York's Action Martial Arts News.
He has been the object of many awards and appointments through the years. Some most dear to him are: A citation by the House of Representatives of Boston, MA, for his first "20 years in the study of Karate and his commitment to the development of the body and mind through the Martial Arts." Certificates of appreciation by the World Tae-Kwon-Do Federation, Kenko Dojo and Puerto Rico Kyokushin Karate. He is a three-time Journalism Award Hall of Famer. He is an advisor for Semai-Do Karate, and a Good-Will Ambassador for the Okinawan Karate Federation. Velez believes: "training hard is the only way."
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