The Miami Budokai has been and continues to be the premiere Martial Arts academy in the South Florida area for families. Okinawan Shorinryu is the core style taught along with JiuJitsu, Kobudo (weapons) and kickboxing. Shorinryu is the oldest style of karate and is formerly known as Shurite.
Luis Fernandez began his Martial Arts journey in 1967, where he studied Gojuryu Karate under Sensei Arturo Aviles. In 1971, he was introduced to Sensei Charle Bonet who taught Shorinryu Karate, and was a direct student of Okinawan Karate Grandmaster Eizo Shimabukuro.
Fernandez' study included many years of study in various disciplines including training with the Machad0 brothers (BJJ), Aquiles Yang (Tae Kwon Do), Maynard Stovall (Boxing) and others.
Throughout the years Fernandez had traveled and studied Karate in Okinawa under the late Grandmaster Eizo Shimabukuro while serving as the U.S. director for the Okinawan Shorinryu Karate-Do Asociation. In 2002, O'sensei Shimabukuro promoted Fernandez and provided him with the rare Master Instructor's License which had been obtained by only a few of his students at the time.
Though Fernandez' unique perspective and application of Karate comes from over 30 years of law enforcement experience and training he has also enjoyed teaching the Okinawan and sports models which are vastly different. Fernandez competitive resume ranks with the best. He was the 1980 All American Open middleweight and Grand Champion , which at the time was one of the largest events in the U.S. hosted by S. Henry Cho at New York's Madison Square Garden and rated as a top 5 fighter by Karate Illustrated.
in 2010, Fernandez graduated with a Bachelor's (Suma Cum Laude) from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens Florida. He has been featured in movies and documentaries such as Shootfighter II and Great Karate Inspirations and has been published in the Miami Medicine publication where he wrote an article in connection with the benefits of children diagnosed with ADHD studying martial arts.
He is a retired law enforcement officer and is currently the C.E.O. for Advice for Optimal Wellness, which is an integrative medical practice in Miami Florida.
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CREATING A SOUND MIND AND BODY
Welcome! The dynamics of COVID-19 have changed the way we are conducting our classes. At this time we welcome student and families who are interested in Private and Semi-Private Lessons.