Felton Messina
Encyclopedia
Felton Messina started practicing Karatedo in 1966, while studying in the University of Puerto Rico
, city of Mayagüez, supervised by his first teacher, the Puerto Rican Edwin Hernández in a style called Okinawan Kenpo
Karatedo. In 1968 he was promoted to black belt
1st Degree
and received the grade certificate from Hernández. In 1969, Felton Messina returned to the Dominican Republic
and graduated as engineer
. When he arrived in Santo Domingo
he saw that the only martial arts
practiced there, were Judo
and Taekwondo
. A group of young people heard of his arrival, they asked him to teach them his style of Karatedo that he had practiced in Puerto Rico. In 1969 the Kenpo Karatedo Association was founded by Felton Messina, and was spread throughout the whole nation. While being president of the Dominican Judo Federation, Messina, with the assessment from the president of the Dominican Olympic Committee forms, what to this day is known as the Dominican Karate Federation (DOKAFE), which was recognized as well by the Dominican Olympic Committee. With the recognition of DOKAFE by the Dominican Olympic Committee Felton Messina gives in the Dominican Judo Federation and becomes the first president of the Dominican Karate Federation. Messina, in 1975 , changes from the style to the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu under the teachings of Hiroyuki Hamada, native from the province of Sendai, Japan
.
, he is also known as the "father" of Karatedo in the Dominican Republic
. He earned this mention because he was the first person who took Karate
to the Dominican Republic and spread it throughout the whole nation, having the Kenpo Karatedo Association, in which he directed, more than 6,500 students throughout the whole nation. He is also responsible of introducing Karatedo to the military forces of the Dominican Republic
, training them in personal defense and competitive Karate
. Felton Messina was also coach of the Dominican Karate Team training them, in various occasions, to go to Panamerican and World karatedo tournaments, where his students won many times.
Messina was the first Dominican to write a book about Karatedo (specifically about the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu), published in 1979.
At the moment Messina has already ended his second Karatedo book titled "The Physics of Karatedo and the Unanswered questions about this art".
was invited, by Messina, to teach the style that he had created. Hamada spent one month in the Dominican Republic
teaching Messina and his advanced students from the Kenpo Karatedo Association. Before returning to Japan
, Hamada promoted Felton Messina to 3rd degree black belt, after giving him an extensive exam. Felton Messina traveled four times to Japan to practice at Hamada's dojo, where he was promoted successively to higher ranks until he reached the highest rank in Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu which is Soshihan, that translated to English means "master of masters". This rank was given to him in 1999 in Japan, in the presence of 10 of his students from different countries of Americas that accompanied him. The rank of Soshihan given to Messina gives him power to expand the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu throughout the whole world, except Japan
. Messina has spread the style in the following countries: Venezuela
, Cuba
, Puerto Rico
, Cambodia
, United States of America, and the Dominican Republic
. He is the only Dominican that has been able to expand Karatedo internationally, founding many karate schools in the countries mentioned above.
where he holds the rank of 7th degree black belt. The World Karate Federation
(WKF) recognizes his rank of 7th degree black belt.
He also possesses the rank of 1st degree black belt in the style of Iaido
, Muso Shinden Ryu. This rank was given to him, in Japan, by Iwagoro Setoguchi in 1977.
University of Puerto Rico
The University of Puerto Rico is the state university system of Puerto Rico. The system consists of 11 campuses and has approximately 64,511 students and 5,300 faculty members...
, city of Mayagüez, supervised by his first teacher, the Puerto Rican Edwin Hernández in a style called Okinawan Kenpo
Kenpo
is the name of several Japanese martial arts. The word kenpō is a Japanese translation of the Chinese word "quánfǎ. This term is often informally transliterated as "kempo", as a result of applying Traditional Hepburn romanization, but failing to use a macron to indicate the long vowel...
Karatedo. In 1968 he was promoted to black belt
Black belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
1st Degree
Dan rank
The ranking system is a Japanese mark of level, which is used in modern fine arts and martial arts. Originally invented in a Go school in the Edo period, this system was applied to martial arts by Kanō Jigorō, the founder of judo and later introduced to other East Asia countries.In the modern...
and received the grade certificate from Hernández. In 1969, Felton Messina returned to the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and graduated as engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
. When he arrived in Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
he saw that the only martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
practiced there, were Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
and Taekwondo
Taekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
. A group of young people heard of his arrival, they asked him to teach them his style of Karatedo that he had practiced in Puerto Rico. In 1969 the Kenpo Karatedo Association was founded by Felton Messina, and was spread throughout the whole nation. While being president of the Dominican Judo Federation, Messina, with the assessment from the president of the Dominican Olympic Committee forms, what to this day is known as the Dominican Karate Federation (DOKAFE), which was recognized as well by the Dominican Olympic Committee. With the recognition of DOKAFE by the Dominican Olympic Committee Felton Messina gives in the Dominican Judo Federation and becomes the first president of the Dominican Karate Federation. Messina, in 1975 , changes from the style to the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu under the teachings of Hiroyuki Hamada, native from the province of Sendai, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Dominican Republic
Felton Messina, aside from being known as one of the pioneers of karatedo in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, he is also known as the "father" of Karatedo in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He earned this mention because he was the first person who took Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
to the Dominican Republic and spread it throughout the whole nation, having the Kenpo Karatedo Association, in which he directed, more than 6,500 students throughout the whole nation. He is also responsible of introducing Karatedo to the military forces of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, training them in personal defense and competitive Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
. Felton Messina was also coach of the Dominican Karate Team training them, in various occasions, to go to Panamerican and World karatedo tournaments, where his students won many times.
Messina was the first Dominican to write a book about Karatedo (specifically about the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu), published in 1979.
At the moment Messina has already ended his second Karatedo book titled "The Physics of Karatedo and the Unanswered questions about this art".
Career
He started practicing Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu in 1975 when Hiroyuki HamadaHiroyuki Hamada
Hiroyuki Hamada was Born in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima on October 29, 1925. He was the founder of Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu Karatedo and master of Felton Messina.- History :...
was invited, by Messina, to teach the style that he had created. Hamada spent one month in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
teaching Messina and his advanced students from the Kenpo Karatedo Association. Before returning to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Hamada promoted Felton Messina to 3rd degree black belt, after giving him an extensive exam. Felton Messina traveled four times to Japan to practice at Hamada's dojo, where he was promoted successively to higher ranks until he reached the highest rank in Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu which is Soshihan, that translated to English means "master of masters". This rank was given to him in 1999 in Japan, in the presence of 10 of his students from different countries of Americas that accompanied him. The rank of Soshihan given to Messina gives him power to expand the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu throughout the whole world, except Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Messina has spread the style in the following countries: Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, United States of America, and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
. He is the only Dominican that has been able to expand Karatedo internationally, founding many karate schools in the countries mentioned above.
Rank
Messina at the moment possesses the Rank of Soshihan (10th degree black belt) for all the world except JapanJapan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
where he holds the rank of 7th degree black belt. The World Karate Federation
World Karate Federation
The World Karate Federation, or WKF, was formed in 1990 from former WUKO members and is the largest international governing body of sport karate with over 130 member countries. It is the only karate organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee and has more than ten million members...
(WKF) recognizes his rank of 7th degree black belt.
He also possesses the rank of 1st degree black belt in the style of Iaido
Iaido
is a modern Japanese martial art associated with the smooth, controlled movements of drawing the sword from its scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, removing blood from the blade, and then replacing the sword in the scabbard...
, Muso Shinden Ryu. This rank was given to him, in Japan, by Iwagoro Setoguchi in 1977.