Martial Arts Biography
Hanshi William "Bill" Solano
Was born in 1942 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. He lived and was raised in the U.S. since the age of 5. His first experience in the martial arts was in 1958 in New York City in the art of Jujutsu. In late 1969 he started practicing Kung Fu (Wing Chun) in lower Manhattan, N.Y. (China Town). In 1970 he moved to Puerto Rico where he started practicing a Japanese Karate system (Garyu Rico Do) with Grand Master Gilberto Rodriguez, Soke. In 1972-73 he return back to the U.S. to N.Y. in which he return to the practice of Wing Chun Kung Fu with Sifu Chow Chun in downtown Manhattan. During that same year he and his family decided to move down to Daytona Beach, Florida where he started practicing Yoshukai Karate.
PIONEER OF YOSHUKAI KARATE:
At the end of 1975 he decided to return to Puerto Rico. As a Brown Belt he establish his first Dojo in the garage of his home. Upon his visit to the Hombu Dojo in Florida, USA he tested and got his Shodan (1st Dan) on July 4, 1977 at the Yoshukai yearly camp in St. Leo College, Tampa Florida. His Nidan on July 1978 and Sandan on February 1980. He proudly represented Shihan Mike Foster and the Yoshukai Karate style until 1981. During these years he promoted a few of his students to the Shodan level in Yoshukai.
Just to name a few: Osvaldo Casiano, Victor Cruz, Carlos A. Diaz, Julio De Lamadrid, Richard Flores, David Bauzo among others.
On December1981 he decided to establish his own organization. With the support of Grand Master Peter Urban better known as the Father of American Karate and the College of Dans, he was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt (December 29th, 1981) this promotion took place at GM Urban's home in New York. On August 23, 1982 he was promoted to 6 Degree Black Belt (Shihan) and recognize as founder of his own Karate & Kobudo organization better known as the Yoshu Ryu International Karate & Kobudo.
Throughout his dedication and research of the traditional japanese Martial Arts he developed a great desire to learn a traditional Okinawan system. in 1985 he travel to Okinawa the birth place of Karate where he had the honor to meet and practice with Grand Master Fusei Kise of the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate & Kobudo Federation, Kenshinkan and in later years with Grand Master Yuichi Kuda of the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo Karate and Kobudo Association.
PIONEER OF MATSUMURA SEITO KARATE & TUITE / KYUSHO JUTSU:
On January 1986, upon his return from Okinawa Mr. Solano was representing Grand Master Fusei Kise. In June, 1988 Grand Master Fusei Kise visited Puerto Rico in which he tested and promoted Mr. Solano to the grade of Nanadan (7th Dan), Kyoshi in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate & Kobudo.
In 1992, Mr. Solano was also tested and promoted to 7th Dan (Nanadan), Kyoshi in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Matsumura Kenpo Karate & Kobudo by Grand Master Yuichi Kuda of Okinawa and Hanshi George W. Alexander the USA representative for the Matsumura Kenpo Karate & Kobudo at that time.
FOUNDER: (Soke)
In 1994 Mr. Solano had establish his own organization, the Okinawa Shorin Ryu Kokusai Kempo-Karate-Do & Kobudo Federation, Inc. an non profit organization dedicated to the preservation and teaching of the Traditional Okinawan Martial Arts (Kempo Karate & Kobudo).
In 1994 Mr. Solano was promoted to 8th Dan by Dr. Bernie Weiss and Duke Moore, Hanshi of the American Teachers Association of Martial Arts (ATAMA).
On April, 2000 Mr. Solano was recognized and certify as Hanshi, 10th Dan by the International Matsumura Seito Society and its Supreme Grand Master Tom Hunnicutt, Soke and Supreme Grand Master Dave Shelton, Soke/Kaicho. Hanshi Solano is very proud to be a Lifetime member of this Society. On September 2001 Hanshi Solano was recognize by and was also elected President of the Latin America Martial Arts Grandmaster & Soke Council, Inc. a non profit organization dedicated to the recognition and unification of all Martial Artist that are Founders and Grandmasters of their own independent system, school or organization.
Hanshi Bill Solano has been Inducted into the following Hall of Fame: "International Karate Hall of Fame", "Eastern USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame", "The Florida Brotherhood Martial Arts Hall of Fame", "Latin-American Martial Arts Hall of Fame". He was Inducted as "Grand Master of the year by the "USA Martial Arts Association Hall of Fame" and on June 9th, 2001 he was inducted into the World Wide Martial arts Hall of Fame as Grand Master of the Year.
On September 1st, 2001 Hanshi Solano was accepted as a lifetime member and was also certify as Hanshi 10th Dan by Supreme Grand Master William A. Rankin, Soke and the United State Martial Artist Association. He has been recognize and certify and as a Lifetime member of the"King's Kung-Fu Association and the Universal Fighting Arts Federation which is headed by Sijo Richard Mieir-King.
In 2002 Hanshi Solano was also Inducted into the Hawaii International Martial Arts Society. He is a lifetime member and has been Certify as a 10th Degree, Grand Master, by this Society.
He is also very proud and Honor to have been Inducted and accepted as a Lifetime member into the prestigious "Pioneers and Legends International Martial Arts Society Hall Of Fame".
As a competitor Mr. Solano distinguished himself during the 80's winning various awards in Kata, Kobudo and Kumite Championships.
At the present he is better known as an excellent Teacher, Seminarist, Counselor and Tournament Promoter.
***Credits: Hanshi Solano is the Pioneer of the Matsumura Seito (Orthodox) Kempo-Karate, Tuite/Kyusho Jutsu for Puerto Rico and Central America.
The first puertorican to be tested and promoted to the grade of 7th Dan (Nanadan), Kyoshi by two famous Okinawan Grandmasters and world-wide organizations of the Matsumura Seito, Shorin Ryu lineage.
PRMAF:
Hanshi Solano is also the Founder and President of the "Puerto Rico Martial Arts Federation (PRMAF) Inc. a non profit organization dedicated to the unification of the Martial Arts styles in Puerto Rico. With over 500 active members, this organization has achieve many of his objectives. Acreditted by the the Department of Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico, PRMAF has his own Tournament Circuit and Rules which are use in all Rated events.
He is a lifetime member of the following international organization:
Pioneers and Legends International Martial Arts Society Hall Of Fame
International Matsumura Seito Society
United States Martial Artist association
King's Kung-Fu Association
Universal Fighting Arts Federation
International Black Belt Federation
Hawaii International Martial Arts Society
Latin America Martial Arts Grandmaster & Soke Council
Hanshi Solano is the Founder, President and Tecnical Coordinator of the following:
· Okinawa Shorin Ryu Kokusai Kempo-Karate-Do & Kobudo Federation, Inc. (OSKF)
· Universal Black Belt Society (OSKF)
· Kibukitai Ryu Kobu-Jutsu Division(OSKF)
· Universal Self-Defense Institute (USI)
· Gladiator Triple X Knife Tactics Combat System
· Latin-American Martial Arts Society & World-Wide Hall of Fame
· Latin America Martial Arts Grandmaster & Soke Council
· Puerto Rico Martial Arts Federation (PRMAF)
· "Puerto Rico Open World Challenge Martial Arts Festival & Championship"
· "Grand Kumite Martial Arts International Championship"
· The Okinawa Shorin Ryu Kokusai Central Headquarters are located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA. With branches in the following places: U.S.A. // Panama // Venezuela
This organization is credited by the Department of
Sports and Recreation of Puerto Rico.
Hanshi Solano is available for seminars and clinics relating to
Okinawan & Japanese Martial Arts.
O.S.K.F.
P.O. BOX 646
SAINT JUST, P.R. 00978-0646
TEL: (787) 214-0864 / (787) 214-1049
Puerto Rico's Martial Arts History
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