Manny Saavedra

Manny A. Saavedra is Founder of World Sansei Kokusai Koryu Goju-Ryu Karatedo; Sensei Saavedra trained with Peter G. Urban Sensei in New York City. Sensei Saavedra was inducted into the Global Martial Arts Federation in 1993. This enabled him to travel extensively and study with many high lever senior teachers of the arts. Beginning in 1980, Saavedra Sensei formed the International Sansei Goju-Ryu Organization aspiring to continue to develop the Art. Throughout this transformation, Sensei Saavedra 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 founded in 2006.

Saavedra, Sensei opened his first dojo in Corona Queens, New York, he moved to South Florida propagating the IDeaS that eventually became the cornerstone of the World Sansei Kokusai Koryu Goju-Ryu Karate do Organization. Since 1980, his Organization has expanded into Venezuela, Chile, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, 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 20 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.