Master Jorge V. Penafiel

     Master Jorge V. Penafiel is a recently retired Medical Technologist and Senior Research Associate Scientist with Procter and Gamble Co. Born 2/22/42 in Iloilo City, Philippines where he lived half of his life before resolving to migrate to the USA with his wife Amy S. Penafiel. Now, at home in Cincinnati, Ohio, he keeps busy with house projects, tinkering with his computer, and doing the second love of his life teaching Martial Arts.
     Growing up his adolescent years in the Philippines, he saw the beauty and grandeur of his native country once referred to as the “Pearl of the Orient Seas”, nurtured the diversity of its culture, and sadly, also saw the travesty and ugliness of some of its people. As an avid sports enthusiast, it was the Martial Arts (MA) though that made an important impact in his adulthood specially. It was an accepted scene or incidence that brutal “Mano-Mano”, Street and or Gang fights happens and occurs frequently in their streets. Faced by this predicament, his early training in self-preservation and protection involved learning crude handed down street combative techniques as well as carrying cancelled weapon such as the infamous “Balisong” knife.
     For Master Jorge, his Filipino warrior spirit was again rekindled when changes in his westernized life-style and genetic predicament have to be addressed. Perfectly suited, Martial Arts came to mind again and hasn’t stop up to this point in time in his new found life. He gives credit and gratitude to the Art and to the People that have molded, guided, and influenced his being.
     Master Jorge MA journey began when he met fellow Procter and Gamble employee, Grand Master & Reverend Michael Posey, a Tang Soo Do practitioner and one of the founding member of the National Black Belt Karate Association (NBBKA) of Cincinnati. After more than 20 years of active Training, Teaching, MA Clinics, Tournaments, and a Master (4’th Dan Black Belt) Rank in the very traditional Korean Art, Master Jorge retired from the NBBKA to concentrate on studying and teaching his ancestral MA form.
     Being a Filipino in heritage, heart, and spirit, he found a new passion and niche in FMA and sees its growth in the USA and Worldwide. Presently, Master Jorge or simply “Tito” to his Filipino students is Head Instructor and Founder of Cincinnati Balintawak Club. He was the first Ohio student and first Qualified Master Instructor (1996) of Grand Master Bobby Taboada of Balintawak International. He teaches adult students only from other MA discipline that are seeking knowledge and training in FMA. Also, conducts by invitation Balintawak demonstrations, and occasionally travels around USA with GM Taboada to do Balintawak Seminars/Clinics.
     To be one of the best in your involvement in Martial Arts, Master Jorge likewise stresses hard work, focus, sustained dedication, net working, and diversity in training. Above all, is to be rewarded the highest honor of being inducted into a Martial Arts Hall of Fame by a prestigious organization recognizing your work accomplishments in the MA world. This he says is the “fulfillment and a joy ride of ones personal self-esteem and outlook in life”.
Last, Master Jorge most valued awards and honor includes:
- Induction into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council International Martial Arts Hall of Fame as:
- 2000 Millennium Master Instructor.
- 2002 National Master Instructor.
- 2003 Awarded Honorary Lifetime Membership by the Founder of SFMA International in Respect and Dedication to His Study of Martial Arts.
- 1985 Achieving Master Rank in Tang Soo Do and winning the Senior Black Belt Ohio Buckeye State Grand Championship Trophies in Kata and Kumite.
- Featured Employee of the Month Procter & Gamble Moon Beans Magazine for his contributions to the community as a Martial Arts Instructor.