Season 322 Episode 10317

Meticulous Moments with Juanita Kapp: Interview with Jose Luis Torres II

CEO/Founder, Champion Training/Team Torres Martial Arts
Director/Founder, North American Federation of Martial Arts
Publisher- Action Martial Arts Magazine and Martial Arts Xperience Magazine
Host/Creator- Video podcast series The Martial Arts Xperience
Master Jose Torres began training in the Korean martial art of Tang Soo Do thirty-eight years ago in 1982 under Master William Hamilton, receiving his 1st Dan Tang Soo Do Black Belt in September 1989. Furthering his martial arts knowledge Master Torres began training in Tae Kwon Do in 1991. In April 2001 he received his 4th Dan Black Belt Tang Soo Do from Grandmaster K. Rhee and in April 2002 received his 4th Dan Black Belt from the AAU Tae Kwon Do Organization. Grandmaster Ho Sik Pak, founder of the Hwa Rang Tang Soo Do Federation, issued Master Torres his Sa Bom/Master Certification in November 2006 and also promoted him to 5th and 6th Dans.
Master Torres opened his first martial arts school, Team Torres Martial Arts, in Edgewater Park, NJ in April 2000 and opened his second Team Torres location in Burlington Township in January 2006, instructing children beginning at the age of 3 years to adults well into their 70’s. His passion for teaching children combined with his love of martial arts led him to establishing several after-school programs, including programs in the Edgewater Park School System in 2003, Wee Kids Early Learning Center-Children’s Tot Program in 2005, and the Greenburg Academy in 2008. Team Torres Lambertville in 2014 and the Wee Kids After-school Burlington Twp Program in 2019.
One of the biggest accomplishments and contributions to the martial arts by Master Torres career is his founding of the North American Federation of Martial Arts in 2005, an organization whose members and tournament circuit have grown and become as recognized as the powerhouse organizations of NASKA and the NBL. Today NAFMA has over 2,500 competitors and 250 martial arts schools from various styles of martial arts, including Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Kenpo and Tai-Chi to name a few. Furthermore, in 2006 Master Torres began the North American Hall of Fame and most recently in September 2010 founded the MAX Radio Show- Martial Arts Xperience on WIFI 1460 AM.
For the last 16 years Master Torres has been a key promoter of Domestic and International Martial Arts Events in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, as well as the countries of Canada,Trinidad & Tobago, St. Lucia, and Guyana . He has hosted events in such facilities as the Taj Mahaj Casino, Spectrum- Philadelphia, Valley Forge Convention Center, Philadelphia Convention Center, Tropicana Resort, Oaks Convention Center and the Sheraton Resorts in Florida and NJ. Most notably Master Torres became the first ever martial arts promoter to host a fighting competition ( IKA) in the Wachovia Center (now known as Wells Fargo Center) in March 2009; preceding the UFC event at the arena six months later in August of 2009.
In March 2010- Master Torres was selected as Tae Kwon Do Director for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger- Arnold Sports Festival March 2010 in Columbus Ohio and in August 2010 was chosen as Tournament Director for USA Tae Kwon Do to host the 2011 Junior Olympic and National Qualifier for NJ.
Master Torres was selected as one of only 6 Tang Soo Do Masters from the United States to attend the 2011 World Tang Soo Do General Federation Forum in Seoul, Korea. The forum hosted over 30 masters from around the world. Master Torres was selected among 5 other masters to test in Korea in front of the esteemed Grandmasters Board. Master Torres was successful and was promoted to 7th Dan by Senior Grand Master Hee Suk Choi ( Don Bom #3) and again tested in 2018 and was promoted to 8th Dan Grand Master in Seoul, Korea
Tae Kwon Do Times Magazine featured Master Torres on the cover of its March 2013 Magazine with Master Eric Kovaleski from Dixon City, PA. He was then put on a solo cover in Sept 2018.
In 2019, Grand Master Torres purchased and became Publisher of Alan Goldberg’s Action Martial Arts Magazine. He also was appointed Professor of Sport Tang Soo Do and Youth Development for the World Tang Soo Do International Academy in Seoul, Korea
Beginning May 2020, he launched his new video podcast show The Martial Arts Xperience. He competed 20 episodes during his first season. 2021 is slated for 21 episodes for Season 2.
Throughout his 39 plus years in the martial arts Master Torres has received a staggering amount of Commendations and Proclamations, made great achievements in competition and been inducted into several Hall of Fames, some of which are listed below:
Commendations /Proclamations: