Grandmaster Carlos S. Velez II

Carlos Salvador Velez II, Martial Artist, writer and consultant, holds black belts in Nisei Goju Ryu, Kyokushinkai and Ronin Goju Ryu Kai.

A native of Puerto Rico, he began studying Goju Ryu Karate in 1966. In 1967 he joined Sensei Roberto T. Rios and Mas Oyama's International Karate Organization, the Kyokushinkai Kan. Velez was concerned about karate tournaments and the judging in the island and was instrumental in bringing the AAU Karate program to Puerto Rico. He was appointed Chairman of the program in 1982. During his presidency, Puerto Rico's first AAU Karate Referee's clinic and AAU Karate tournament were held.

Velez also lived in Canyon, Texas, where he served as Mas Oyama's representative and as an instructor at the West Texas State University Kyokushin Karate Association. This association was approved by the student government and the P.E. Department. Then, he was under Shihan Bobby Lowe.

Velez is a member in good standing with:

- International Karate Organization Kyokushinkai Kan
- Nisei Goju Ryu Karate-Do Organization
- International Society of Okinawan-Japanese Karate-Do
- Okinawan karate Federation
- International Santen Karate Association
- World Head of Family Sokeship Council
- Ashihara Karate International
- American Federation of Martial Artists
- American Kyokushin Karate Organization
- Ronin Goju Ryu Kai

He has trained under Roberto T. Rios, Jose A. Martinez, Jose R. Conde, Frank Ruiz, Fernando Caraballo and Carlos H. Montalvo. He has also attended seminars sponsored by, Jae Hwa Kwon, Bill Wallace, Seiyu Oyata, David and Kickan Cook and John Farrell.

Velez was exposed to Martial Arts Journalism for the first time in 1975 with K-Arte Marcial Karate magazine, in Puerto Rico. In the last twenty seven years his articles, as a free-lance writer, have been read in all kinds of Martial Arts publications in the USA, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. He currently writes for Florida's The Karate Voice, New York's Action Martial Arts News and Puerto Rico's Artes Marciales en Accion.

He has been the object of many awards and appointments through the years. Some most dear to him are: a Citation by the House of Representatives of Boston, MA, for his first "20 years in the study of Karate and his commitment to the development of the body and mind through the Martial Arts." Certificates of appreciation by the World Taekwondo Federation, Semai Do Karate and Puerto Rico Kyokushin Karate. He is a three-time Journalism Award Hall of Famer. Recently, Velez was awarded the Title of Renshi by the International Santen Karate Association. He is a consultant/advisor for several of the Martial Arts organizations mentioned above and a Good-Will Ambassador for the Okinawan Farate Federation.