Manny A. Saavedra is Founder of the World Sansei Koryu Goju-Ryu Karatedo and Kobudo Organization; Saavedra Sensei trained with Peter G. Urban Sensei, receiving his Black Belt under said Instructor. Inducted into the Global Martial Arts Federation enabled him to travel to China and study with many high lever senior teachers of the arts. In 1979, Saavedra Sensei formed the World Sansei Goju-Ryu Organization aspiring to continue to develop the Art. Throughout this transformation, Saavedra Sensei sought to apply the accurate, traditional aspects of Naha-te. Although this transformation process was lengthy, it was nevertheless necessary to ensure the propagation of the Organizational philosophy, culminating in the formation of the Kokusai Koryu Gojukai Karatedo.
Saavedra Sensei opened his first Dojo in Corona Queens, New York. In the early 1970’s, he moved to South Florida propagating the ideas that eventually became the cornerstone of the Kokusai Koryu Gojukai Karate do Organization. Since 1979, his Organization has expanded into Venezuela, Chile, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, China, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Germany, South Africa, and the United States, respectively. Saavedra Sensei has also introduced Karate courses for credit at five major American universities, both the physical aspects and the Historical. His program at Florida International University was the largest Karate program of its kind in the United States with 700 credit hours per semester for seven years. In addition, he has taught university credit-classes in both Florida and New York. Saavedra Sensei is extremely well-versed in multiple manifestations of the Art, including neo-classical and traditional aspects of Goju-Ryu. He is a researcher, philosopher, and a life-long student of Goju-Ryu Karate. He has served as past President and Founder of the Inter-Collegiate Karate Association, Saavedra Sensei has developed many innovative teaching ideas for the mentally and physical challenged student, and has expanded his methodology and research for the benefit of the average person.
Also for the last 30 years he has promoted the International Silver Cup Championships an international event bringing some of the top athletes from around the world
Presently, Saavedra Sensei is a member of the Global Martial Arts Federation, Canton, China; a member in good standing of the World Traditional Karatedo Union, and has written extensively on the Art of Goju-Ryu Karate. His Hombu is located in the United States, South Florida.
