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Black Belt Instructors
Sensei Kevin became interested in 1991 in Nisei Go Ju Ryu and studied under Grand Master Frank Ruiz until his demise in 1995. He continues to study International Nisei Go Ju Ryu under Hanshi Wilfredo Roldan. Sensei Kevin has competed for many years in Florida’s SE tournament circuit, he was 1995 UFSKA Form Champion. He received his Teaching Licenses from: Shihan Frank Ruiz and Hanshi Wilfredo Roldan. Sensei Kevin is currently teaching selected students in S.E. Florida.
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Luis Antonio Mercado was born in Ponce Puerto
Rico on July 20th of 1948. At the age of six his family moved to
New York City and resided on the upper west side. From 1968 to 1971
Sensei Mercado joined the US Army and was stationed in the 173 airborne
infantry. He received special training as a weapons expert in short
and long distance sharp shooting.
Sensei Mercado began his martial arts
training at The New York Health Spa on the Upper East Side of
Manhattan, under the tutelage of then Sensei Roldan. After eight
years Sensei Mercado was taken by Hanshi Roldan to the Hombu Dojo
of the Nisei system. Under Hanshi Roldans' direction Sensei Mercado
received the opportunity to train under Grand Master Frank Ruiz.
Also under the instruction of Professor
Vistacion and direction of Hanshi Roldan, Sensei Mercado received
a first degree black belt in Vee Arnis Jitsu. Sensei Mercado is currently one of the chief instructors at Nisei Goju World Headquarters.
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Maritza Yvette Rijos was born and raised in the beautiful island of St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands). After high school, she attended college in Cedar Rapids Iowa and Majored in Research Chemistry with a minor in Russian. While in Iowa, she also attended Jung's Tae Kwon Do Academy which took her to 3rd Degree Brown Belt. Soon after college, she lived briefly in NY and also Miami. In Miami she joined the Air Force Reserves and liked it so much she went active duty completing a total of 7 years in the Air Force, where she achieved the rank of Sergeant. While in Japan where she was stationed, she got married and had two sons named Robert and Micah. They were both born in Tachikawa Japan.
In 1992 after receiving an honorable discharge, she returned back home to St. Croix to raise her sons.
Maritza and her sons are now active in Martial Arts and have been competing since.
She is a First Dan Black Belt in Tae Kwan Do and Second Dan Black Belt in the art of Nisei Goju Ryu, under Grandmaster Wilfredo Roldan.
She has participated in many competitions and placed 1st in weapons and Katas for Black Belt Advance Division, earning the title of Female Black Belt Champion of the Virgin Islands in weapons.
She plans to continue her military career as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army National Guard.
Maritza currently a Laboratory Technologist-Microbiologist and Infection Control Officer. Healthcare Administration is her second degree and is currently attaining a Master's Degree to further her career.
We at the Nisei Goju Ryu World Headquarters are very proud of her development
