Richard Garcia: Director Ultimate Karate USA

My first formal study of the martial arts began at age 8 when I took Japanese Karate classes at a local community center. Growing up very poor in the Bronx, my family never really had enough money for karate lessons. I deeply wanted to learn more of the martial arts but had to settle for some old Black Belt magazines and the Saturday afternoon Kung Fu films for instruction. I finally had the chance to study again as a teenager when a Tae Kwon Do school opened up near my home. This was the start of true understanding and training in the martial arts.

After spending many years studying traditional Korean martial arts I switched to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Marcos Santos and the Machado Jiu-jitsu organization. I also studied Sport Karate under Garth Binns as well as Filipino Arts and Jeet Kune Do. I had the prestigious honor of becoming a certified full instructor in these arts by Navy Seal hand to hand combat trainer Paul Vunak.

As a lifelong practitioner of the martial arts it was always my intention to operate a world-class training academy. I did so in 2003 when I opened Ultimate Karate USA in Spanish Harlem. My goal is 350 students. As we start 2006 we’re about half way there.

My martial arts philosophy is simple and direct, I believe in openness to learning new things, constantly evaluating and evolving curriculum and training in aliveness. What I mean by aliveness is that nothing is ever stale or stagnate, whether referring to training methods or life in general; I believe that constant motion is important to grow as individuals. I believe that authentic martial arts has three key components, the physical, emotional, and spiritual. No part is more important than the other but no true martial artist can evolve if one component is missing. I personally practice Zen in order to fulfill both the emotional and spiritual parts of my persona and have taken this path, however I believe that there are many path’s that may be taken. In the words of Bruce Lee “use no way as the way”. I hope to continue in the path of martial arts innovator and philosopher.


Highlights:

• Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do Moo Duk Kwan (1999) Ul Sool Kim
  
• Ranked 4th Internationally in Sport Karate (2002) NASKA
  
• Lay ordained in the Hollow Bones Zen Lineage (2002) Zen Master Jun Po Dennis Kelly
  
• Opened Ultimate Karate USA training academy (2003)
  
• Awarded 4th degree Black Belt in American Karate (2004) Zen Master Jun Po Dennis Kelly
  
• Awarded full instructorship in Jeet Kune Do and Filipino arts (2005) Paul Vunak