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Dr. Juan Otero is a Psycho-Analyst currently in private practice in Newark, New Jersey. He has been the Chief Instructor / Owner Operator of the Center For Karate & Family Fitness school of martial arts in Hackensack, NJ since 1996. He began his martial arts training in 1966 studying Japanese Goju-Ryu at the Bronx Goju-Kai School, New York and directed the first Karate club at the City College of NY in 1968 after earning his Black Belt. He currently holds the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt in Okinawan Karate, specifically Goju/Goshin-Ryu.
In 1975 he joined the Goshin-Ryu Karate Association in Kearny, NJ training under the leadership of Grandmaster Alfred E. Gossett and Wayne Norlander, Sensei in Weehawken, NJ. He served as president of the association from 1992 until 2003, having under his leadership notable chartered schools and numerous outstanding Black Belts from Shodans to Rokudans. He was awarded the title “Master Instructor” rank by the GRKA in 1996; “National Certified Instructor” by the American Council on Martial Arts (ACMA) in 1998; “Certified Cardio-Karate Instructor” by the National Association of Professional Martial Arts (NAPMA) in 1999; “Certified Instructor for the Handicapable” under Sifu Joseph P. Calkins, by the NJ Martial Arts For The Handicapable (MAH) in 2000.
In addition to his professional practice in Behavioral Health Medicine, he has maintained an active lifestyle in the martial arts in order to achieve and maintain the very best and most current/and complete martial arts curriculum. In addition to his active role within the Okinawan Goshin-Ryu Karate-Do Association and the Center For Karate & Family Fitness, he is a member and participant of several key organizations throughout the United States and the world. Among the notable organizations he is currently affiliated with, and the respected Headmasters, are the following:
Founding Grandmaster/ Chief Instructor - @ Okinawan Goshin-Ryu Karate-Do Association – Tampa, FL.
Board of Directors / Founding President – @ Goshin-Ryu Karate Association of New Jersey, under Grandmaster U.P. Goncalves, Jackson, NJ;
President - @ World Organization of Mixed Martial Arts (WOMA)-USA, under GM Jack Stern, at Davis, FLorida;
Board Member/Sports Medicine Council - The World Mixed Martial Arts Association, under Dr.E. Moore- Cleveland, OH
Member/Certified Instructor - @ Martial Arts For The Handicapable, under Sifu Joseph Calkins – Fort Lee, New Jersey;
Member / Bd of Directors - @ Legends Championship Martial Arts Association, under Dr. Rocky Farley – Baltimore, MD;
Sokeship Council – Florida League Of Martial Arts (F.L.M.A.), Sifu Ed Gaska / Sijo John Gabriel-Largo, FL;
Council of Grandmasters - @ World Martial Arts Council of Elders, under Prof. June Makiling-Abaya – Philippines;
Member - @ Latin-American Martial Arts Society, under Hanshi Bill Solano, Soke - San Juan, Puerto Rico;
Member - @ World Karate Union, under Grandmaster Frank Tasetano – Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania;
Member – World Martial Arts League, under GM Klaus Schuhmacher – Offenbach, Germany;
Member – Go-Sei Ryu Goju Martial Science System Society, under Prof. Amin Hassan – Bear, DE;
For all of his efforts, Hanshi Otero has been recognized with the following achievements:
Founder / Head Instructor – Okinawan Goshin-Ryu Karate-Do Association, Inc.- Tampa, FL, November 2005;
Received the “Rhodes Scholar of The Year” Award- at Legends Champion of Martial Arts Meeting.- Baltimore,MD, 2005
Received “Doctor of The Year in Sports Medicine Award” – The World Mixed Martial Arts Assoc.-Manchester, NH, 2007
Sokeship Recognition – Wa No Michi Ryu Karate/ Kobudo Association- Soke Michael McGann – Largo, FL, March’06;
Received “Grandmaster Diploma”- Ryu Bei Ryu Kempo Karate Rengokai – Arak,Iran, March 2006;
Member - International World-Wide Black Belt Grand Master Council – Baltimore, MD, on September 2004;
World Head of Society Sokeship Council – Tokyo, Japan, 2004
Received “Shihan” License and Rank Recognition by Grandmaster Tetsuhiro Hokama, Sensei from the International/Okinawan Kenshi-kai Goju-Ryu Karate-Jitsu/ Kobu-Jitsu Association, Okinawa, September 2004.
Received Three (3) Honorary Doctorate (PhD.) Degrees from: (i) World Organization of Mixed Martial Arts – Education Division (July 2004); (ii) Legends Championship Martial Arts Association – Education Committee (September 2004); (iii) International University of Martial Arts Sciences- Int. Council of Higher Martial Arts Science Education (Mar.’06).
Hawaii Martial Arts International Society - Grandmaster of the Year & Master Instructor of the Year, LasVegas, NV-2003;
Latin-American Martial Arts Society International Hall of Fame – Grandmaster of the Year Award, San Juan, PR - 2003;
American-Okinawan Karate Association – Lifetime Achievement Award & Master of the Year Award- Bayonne, NJ,1999;
He is registered as a “Certified International Instructor” by the following:
American Federation of Martial Arts - Instructor’s Diploma (8th Dan), under Hanshi Adolfo Ennever, Blufford, South Carolina 2007;
Dong Koo Yudo Kwan, under Grandmaster Kang Dong-Koo, Korean Yudo and Hapkido Association International, registered in Seoul, Korea 2004;
World Head of Society - as an International Instructor with Lifetime Membership at the World Head Soke Council, Tokyo, Japan 2004;
Office of Sports & Martial Arts – recipient of the WOMA Sports Award in Okinawan Karate, presented by Prince Bader Bin Saud Moh’d Mogren Al Saud,in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2004.
During the course of 2004 alone, he was honored with the following Hall-of-Fame recognitions:
USA Martial Arts Association – Received “Okinawan Karate Master of the Year”, and the New Jersey State Representative;
World Karate Union – Received the “Lifetime Achievement Award-With Honors”, in Tannersville, Pennsylvania;
World Head of Family Sokeship International Hall of Fame – Received “Outstanding Instructor of the Year”, in Orlando, FL;
American Okinawan Karate Association/Grandmaster Don Nagle Banquet –“Lifetime Achievement Award”, in Bayonne, NJ
Legends Champion Martial Arts Banquet – Received “Outstanding Contribution To The Martial Arts”, in Baltimore, MD;
International Ju-Jitsu Association Hall of Fame – Inducted as “Master Instructor Of The Year”, in San Juan, Puerto Rico;
During the 2005 year, Dr. Otero was nominated for and received these additional awards:
Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards – as “Dedication To The Martial Arts 30+ Years”- Atlantic City, NJ – Jan. 2005;
World Professional Martial Arts Organization–“Martial Arts Ambassador of All Times” – Madison Sq. Garden, NYC Jan. 2005
Goshin-ryu Karate Association- “Lifetime of Teaching, Dedication and Leadership “ Award – Jackson, NJ - Jan. 2005;
Celebrity Martial Arts Hall of Fame – as “Diamond Lifetime Master of the Year”, Lubbock, Texas, March 2005;
USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame Awards Banquet – “Goshin-Ryu Karate-SOKE of The Year”, NYC, March, 2005;
World Karate Union 10th Annual Awards–“Golden Lifetime Achievement Award–With Honors”-Tannersville,PA- July’05;
Legends Champion Martial Arts Hall of Fame Event – “Rhodes Scholar of the Year Award”, Baltimore, MD.-,Sept. 2005;
In the course of this past Year (2006), Sensei Otero was also nominated for the following awards and recognitions:
Action Martial Arts 2006 “Ambassador For The Martial Arts” Award – Tropicana Hotel – Atlantic City, NJ – January ‘06;
Great Grandmaster Aaron Banks-“Ambassador - True Martial Artist of All Time” – Madison Square Garden- NYC, Jan’06;
USA Martial Arts 2006 Hall Of Fame – “Head Founder Of The Year” – JFK Holiday Inn, New York City, NY- Feb.’06;
Kempo Karate Tokukai / International Kempo Federation Hall of Fame- “Grandmaster Diploma”- Arak, Iran - Mar.’06;
Florida League of Martial Arts –“Grandmaster Lifetime Achievement Award” - Clearwater, FL, March 2006;
World Karate Union 11th Annual Hall of Fame Banquet – “Continued Dedication Award”- Tannersville, PA in June 2006;
Universal Martial Arts 2006 Hall Of Fame – Houston, Texas on July 2nd –4th, 2006;
United States Martial Arts Association - International Hall Of Fame – under O’Sensei Phil Porter, St. Peters, MO, July 2006;
Ryuuki Shinja Ryu Eagle Dojo – “Shinja Knight Award” – by Renshi Frank Perez, at Riverview, FL. – August ‘06
World Martial Arts Sokeship/ HeadFounders/ HeadFamilies/ Grandmasters Council- Cleveland, OH – Sept.’06
For the year 2007, Sensei / Dr. Otero has been nominated and the recipient of the following recognitions:
Action Martial Arts 2007 “Continued Dedication To The Martial Arts” – Tropicana Hotel - Atlantic City, NJ – January 2007;
World Professional Martial Arts Organization –“World’s #1 Ambassador Of The Martial.Arts”-Madison Sq.Garden –NYC;
Legends Champion Martial Arts Association – “Greatness Award In The Martial Arts” – Edgewood, MD March ’07;
American Federation Of Martial Arts – “Platinum Elite Warriors Award Of Honor” – Hilton Head, So Carolina, May ’07;
World Martial Arts League – “American Goshin-Ryu Hanshi Of The Year ” – Hilton at Wilmington – Newark, DE, May’07;
Latin-American Martial Arts Society – “Continued Dedication To The Arts Award” – Embassy Suites at San Juan, Pto. Rico;
The World Mixed Martial Arts Association – “Doctor of The Year Award in Sports Medicine” – Manchester, NH June’07
World Karate Union – “Award Of Continued Dedication To The Arts” – Chateau Resort, Tannersville, PA, June’07
United States Martial Arts Association, O’Sensei Phil Porter – “Golden Life Achievement Award”– St. Peters, MO, July’07;
US Head of Families Martial Arts Association–Hall of Honor - “Grandmaster Warrior of Honor”–Baltimore, MD, Nov.’07;
Dr. Otero considers the following to be his “Greatest Achievements” for the year 2007:
President - for World Organization of Martial Arts – W.O.M.A.USA, under GM Jack “Pappasan” Stern;
Executive Council Member - World Martial Arts Council of Elders - under GM June Makiling Abaya, Philipinies;
National Director of Training – for Goshin-Ryu Karate Association of New Jersey;
USA Representative – International BUDO Association of Europe - under GM Jan Roman Braun, Warsaw,Poland;
USA Representative – Polski Zwiazek Sportu Budo (Polish Sports Budo Alliance), under GM Jan R. Braun;
USA Representative – European Martial Arts Organization, Warzaw, Poland;
Sokeship Council – for Florida League of Martial Arts (FLMA) - under Sijo John Gabriel / Sifu Ed Gaska, Largo, Florida;
Executive Secretary – Mid-West Martial Arts Association - under Grandmaster / Dr. Arthur Parrott, Chicago, Illinois;
He believes in the fact that “You Must Be A Student For Life” !!!!!
Grandmaster Dr. Juan Otero Jr., 10th Dan is the Chief Instructor of "Center for Karate & Family Fitness". He can be reach at E-mail: drsensei817@yahoo.com
COMBAT WARRIOR E-MAGAZINE April 2008 / CombatWarriorMag.com
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