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Friday, August 22, 1997

Martinez reaches successful in karate and the boxing ring

By BRIG LOPEZ III / The McAllen Monitor

EDINBURG, Texas - While most boys were riding their bicycles or playing baseball in the park, Martiniano Martinez Jr. was training hard in a hot sweaty gym. The slender 9-year-old began his routine by punching the bag and studying his stance, always dreaming of the day he could call himself a true fighter.

"My father was a boxer, and I wanted to be a fighter just like him," said Martinez, now 38.

After thousands of hours of training in a gym, Martinez has earned a title no one can question. He was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame on July 19 in Houston. He holds an international rank of Black Belt, 5th degree, in karate.

"I wanted to be a fighter like my dad, but I never thought in my wildest dreams it would take me so far," Martinez said.

Martinez began boxing professionally when he was 26.

"I was pretty good," he said. "I had 17 knockouts and boxed all over Texas."

Though boxing was his first love, Martinez felt he was missing something.

"I felt, in order to become a true fighter, I would have to master as many styles of fighting as possible," Martinez said. "Every style alone has a weakness, and the more styles you learn, the stronger you are."

So, he studied every style he could find.

"Karate, judo, wrestling, boxing, kickboxing - everything and anything I could learn," he said.

"I even learned some self-defense skills off the streets."

Through the martial arts, he said, he has found a balance in discipline, control, respect and confidence.

Martinez now teaches Yellow Tiger Goju-Ryu Japanese karate at the Edinburg Recreation Community Center.

"There is nothing else that I want to do than what I am doing right now," he said.

"Giving students the knowledge I have acquired over the years is the best joy I could have."

Jesse Daniel Garcia, 21, of Edinburg, has studied with Martinez for a year.

"I've built up my confidence level a whole lot while taking classes from Mr. Martinez," Garcia said.

"He may be very demanding, but he has always set a good example for all the students. It is just a great honor to be taught by someone who is in the Martial Arts Hall of Fame."

Tony Garcia, the proud parent of a student, said Martinez is a fine instructor.

"I have known him for only a year, but he is the best I have ever seen," Garcia said.

"The man really knows his stuff. He brings a lot of knowledge to the children of Edinburg, and is a great role model for the kids."

Martinez, also a member of the National Hispanic Martial Arts Association, believes a positive attitude and self-confidence are the keys to success.

"A person can accomplish anything they put their minds to," Martinez said.

In early May, a representative from the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame personally approached Martinez at the recreation center and asked him to give him his nomination documents.

"It was a real honor," Martinez said.

"Only about 200 people worldwide are inducted in the Hall of Fame, so it really meant something special to me."

But Martinez said the biggest honor was the award of Master Instructor of the Year in Karate, presented at the banquet.

"It's a real acknowledgement of what I have accomplished," Martinez said.

"It's just a great feeling, knowing there are people out there who care about what I am doing."

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