Hanshi Carlos Montalvo
He began his career in the Martial Arts during his early middle school years in the City of San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, where his father was the former City Police Chief. He practiced first Karate/Tae Kwon Do (1969) for a short period of time at the 4-H Club near his house. Later he practiced the Chinese style of Shaolin Tsu Kempo. His only brother began practicing Okinawa Kempo Karate Do under Sempai Luis Camara and Sensei Edwin Hernandez (a direct student of Toshimitsu Kina – Naha, Okinawa). During this time, Hanshi Montalvo also practiced Boxing under Silverio “Yeyo Kid” Salas, the former City Mayor at the same 4-H Club. Hanshi Montalvo joined his brother and both practiced Okinawa Kempo Karate and under Master William Hernandez obtained 1st and 2nd Degree Black Belt.
On January 1974, both, opened their first Okinawa Kempo dojo in San Sebastian, P.R. Already, Hanshi Montalvo was competing in Full Contact/Kick Boxing events in the Island making him one of the pioneers in that modality. In 1980, Master Hernandez and Hanshi Montalvo met and trained under Hawaiian Kempo Karate Master Cecil Peoples (a direct student of Grand Master Bill Ryusaki, Van Nuys, California). Under Master Peoples Hanshi Montalvo obtained 2nd and 3rd Degree Black Belt.
From 1974 to 1978, 80-81, Hanshi Montalvo was the Intern American University, San German, Campus’ Physical Education/Martial Arts Professor, Team Coach and Captain. Hanshi Montalvo traveled to Connecticut from 1978-79 to study at Yale University and U of Conn. Psychology Dept. Postgraduate courses. During that time, he taught Karate and Full Contact seminars at the Eastern Conn. State College and at the Windham Youth Center for disturbed youngsters. Upon his return to the Island, he competed in most of the major tournaments and established himself as one of the top fighters in the Caribbean. He was interviewed by many sports magazines and acted as bodyguard of celebrities during their visits to the Island to such as: Peter Phranton, Lou Ferrigno, Jose Feliciano, Jose Jose and Menudo (Ricky Martin). Hanshi Montalvo, due to work related commitments in 1984, left the Island leaving several dozens of black belts in Puerto Rico.
In April 1984, he moved to Miami, Florida to work as a Special Agent of the US Treasury Department, ATF. During this time, he met and began a long lasting relationship with Grand Master Manny Saavedra, founder of the World Sansei Goju-Ryu Karate (WSGRKO), Hanshi Montalvo was tested to the ranks of 4th, 5th, 6th Dans and later promoted to the 7th Dan in 1995 and 8th Dan in 2000. During his tenure in Florida, he became a member of the nationally rated “Miami Vice Team” and retired undefeated after four (4) years of competition. Hanshi Montalvo was the WSGRKO Vice-President in charge of approximately 200 black belts from the Caribbean and South America and later the President of WSGRKO in charge of over 400 black belts worldwide. At the end of 2000, Hanshi Montalvo with Hanshi Saavedra’s blessing, left Sansei and Founded the RONIN Goju Ryu Kai World Karate Organization, (a Goju-Ryu based karate style), also the International RONIN Martial Arts Federation (a Federation composed of different several martial arts organizations) and finally the RONIN Police Defensive Tactics Instructor Association (an association composed of Sworn Law Enforcement Officers, Instructors & Assistant Instructor of Municipals, State and Federal LE Agencies including Militaries that would attempt to improve their tactical operations techniques thru the use of the latest martial arts survival techniques).
During his martial arts career Hanshi Montalvo has been inducted into the following Halls of Fame: 1994 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Silver Life Achievement Award”, 1995 Latin America Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Life Achievement Award”, 2000 International Ju Jitsu Hall of Fame as “Federal Law Enforcement Instructor of the Year”, 2002 Florida Black Belt Association Hall of Fame as “One of the Best Middle Weight Fighter of the FBBA History” and 2002 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Grand Master of the Year”. Also October 2000 he received Puerto Rico’s Twentieth Century Martial Arts Excellence Award as the “Most Outstanding PR Competitor”.
Hanshi Montalvo retired from active competition 1996 with an outstanding record of 362 tournaments winning top three positions in 342 of them. Presently, Hanshi Montalvo is the World Police and Fire Games and International Police Olympics, State and World Champion, competing in approximately 20 of them. Hanshi Montalvo has been PR and USA National Kumite Champion, Florida State.
Champion and PR National Full Contact Karate Champion. As an Amateur Full Contact fighter his record was 24 fights, 24wins, 0 losses, 22knock outs. As a Professional Full Contact & Kick Boxer his record was 12 fights, 3 losses, 7 knockouts.
Hanshi Montalvo is considered in Puerto Rico as one of the “Pioneers of Karate” and appears in the PR First Martial Arts Encyclopedia titled “PR Karate Pioneers and Legends” written by Shihan Dr. Hector Sotomayor. On February 2003, the Okinawa Karate Federation recognized Carlos H. Montalvo with the rank of 8th Dan and the title of Hanshi as well as recognizing the Ronin Goju Ryu Kai as a legit martial arts style of karate. On March 2003, Hanshi Montalvo was recognized by a group of peers/grandmasters in Puerto Rico, as one of the “Pioneers and/or Legends of the Martial Arts” in the Westside of the Island.
Hanshi Montalvo is a Certified Close Quarters Combat Instructor, Safety & Survival Tactical Instructor, Advanced Undercover Techniques Instructor, SRT-SWAT Instructor, Street Alertness Instructor, Counter-Terrorism Instructor and he is presently a Peer Support Team member and a Crisis Negotiator for the SRT, US Treasury Department. Hanshi Montalvo has conducted Martial Arts as well as Law Enforcement seminars all over the world, receiving numerous commendations for job well done.
Presently, he has received the “The Key of the City” from cities in Puerto Rico, USA and Venezuela. He was responsible for teaching Martial Arts (for the first time ever) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Ga. (“Largest Federal Law Enforcement Training Facilities in the US”). Hanshi Montalvo presently resides in the U.S. where he continues his Bushido now as a “Ronin”.
On January 1974, both, opened their first Okinawa Kempo dojo in San Sebastian, P.R. Already, Hanshi Montalvo was competing in Full Contact/Kick Boxing events in the Island making him one of the pioneers in that modality. In 1980, Master Hernandez and Hanshi Montalvo met and trained under Hawaiian Kempo Karate Master Cecil Peoples (a direct student of Grand Master Bill Ryusaki, Van Nuys, California). Under Master Peoples Hanshi Montalvo obtained 2nd and 3rd Degree Black Belt.
From 1974 to 1978, 80-81, Hanshi Montalvo was the Intern American University, San German, Campus’ Physical Education/Martial Arts Professor, Team Coach and Captain. Hanshi Montalvo traveled to Connecticut from 1978-79 to study at Yale University and U of Conn. Psychology Dept. Postgraduate courses. During that time, he taught Karate and Full Contact seminars at the Eastern Conn. State College and at the Windham Youth Center for disturbed youngsters. Upon his return to the Island, he competed in most of the major tournaments and established himself as one of the top fighters in the Caribbean. He was interviewed by many sports magazines and acted as bodyguard of celebrities during their visits to the Island to such as: Peter Phranton, Lou Ferrigno, Jose Feliciano, Jose Jose and Menudo (Ricky Martin). Hanshi Montalvo, due to work related commitments in 1984, left the Island leaving several dozens of black belts in Puerto Rico.
In April 1984, he moved to Miami, Florida to work as a Special Agent of the US Treasury Department, ATF. During this time, he met and began a long lasting relationship with Grand Master Manny Saavedra, founder of the World Sansei Goju-Ryu Karate (WSGRKO), Hanshi Montalvo was tested to the ranks of 4th, 5th, 6th Dans and later promoted to the 7th Dan in 1995 and 8th Dan in 2000. During his tenure in Florida, he became a member of the nationally rated “Miami Vice Team” and retired undefeated after four (4) years of competition. Hanshi Montalvo was the WSGRKO Vice-President in charge of approximately 200 black belts from the Caribbean and South America and later the President of WSGRKO in charge of over 400 black belts worldwide. At the end of 2000, Hanshi Montalvo with Hanshi Saavedra’s blessing, left Sansei and Founded the RONIN Goju Ryu Kai World Karate Organization, (a Goju-Ryu based karate style), also the International RONIN Martial Arts Federation (a Federation composed of different several martial arts organizations) and finally the RONIN Police Defensive Tactics Instructor Association (an association composed of Sworn Law Enforcement Officers, Instructors & Assistant Instructor of Municipals, State and Federal LE Agencies including Militaries that would attempt to improve their tactical operations techniques thru the use of the latest martial arts survival techniques).
During his martial arts career Hanshi Montalvo has been inducted into the following Halls of Fame: 1994 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Silver Life Achievement Award”, 1995 Latin America Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Life Achievement Award”, 2000 International Ju Jitsu Hall of Fame as “Federal Law Enforcement Instructor of the Year”, 2002 Florida Black Belt Association Hall of Fame as “One of the Best Middle Weight Fighter of the FBBA History” and 2002 Florida Martial Arts Hall of Fame as “Grand Master of the Year”. Also October 2000 he received Puerto Rico’s Twentieth Century Martial Arts Excellence Award as the “Most Outstanding PR Competitor”.
Hanshi Montalvo retired from active competition 1996 with an outstanding record of 362 tournaments winning top three positions in 342 of them. Presently, Hanshi Montalvo is the World Police and Fire Games and International Police Olympics, State and World Champion, competing in approximately 20 of them. Hanshi Montalvo has been PR and USA National Kumite Champion, Florida State.
Champion and PR National Full Contact Karate Champion. As an Amateur Full Contact fighter his record was 24 fights, 24wins, 0 losses, 22knock outs. As a Professional Full Contact & Kick Boxer his record was 12 fights, 3 losses, 7 knockouts.
Hanshi Montalvo is considered in Puerto Rico as one of the “Pioneers of Karate” and appears in the PR First Martial Arts Encyclopedia titled “PR Karate Pioneers and Legends” written by Shihan Dr. Hector Sotomayor. On February 2003, the Okinawa Karate Federation recognized Carlos H. Montalvo with the rank of 8th Dan and the title of Hanshi as well as recognizing the Ronin Goju Ryu Kai as a legit martial arts style of karate. On March 2003, Hanshi Montalvo was recognized by a group of peers/grandmasters in Puerto Rico, as one of the “Pioneers and/or Legends of the Martial Arts” in the Westside of the Island.
Hanshi Montalvo is a Certified Close Quarters Combat Instructor, Safety & Survival Tactical Instructor, Advanced Undercover Techniques Instructor, SRT-SWAT Instructor, Street Alertness Instructor, Counter-Terrorism Instructor and he is presently a Peer Support Team member and a Crisis Negotiator for the SRT, US Treasury Department. Hanshi Montalvo has conducted Martial Arts as well as Law Enforcement seminars all over the world, receiving numerous commendations for job well done.
Presently, he has received the “The Key of the City” from cities in Puerto Rico, USA and Venezuela. He was responsible for teaching Martial Arts (for the first time ever) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Glynco, Ga. (“Largest Federal Law Enforcement Training Facilities in the US”). Hanshi Montalvo presently resides in the U.S. where he continues his Bushido now as a “Ronin”.