Shihan Dr. Hector Sotomayer, HF

Dr. Hector Sotomayor, 8th Dan, was born in Puerto Rico, in 1961. He graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in 1985 with two associate degrees and a bachelor degree in Education; he also graduated as Second Lieutenant, US Army and became a helicopter pilot. He established his first dojo in 1978. He earned the Army Commendation Medal for his Meritorious Service as a helicopter pilot during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He worked as the Director of Training for State Civil Defense Agency. In 2001 he graduated “Summa Cum Laude” with a Master’s Degree in Administration and a Doctorate Degree in Philosophy with a specialty in Contact Sports. He is a writer with 4 titles, a Sporting events director with over (40) mayor activities, an Safety Officer, a Commercial Pilot, and a School Principal.

Started martial arts in 1970, in 1973 he began shotokan training, later as brown belt he was chosen to lead a karate school.

His black belt testing: 1978 shodan with Sensei Reynaldo Gonzalez, 1980 nidan with Sensei Raymond Perez IKA, 1984 sandan with Raymond Perez IKA, (RIP) 1989 yondan with Sensei Vincent Cruz ITKF/ISKA, 1994 godan ITKF/ISKA/ISKF, 2000 rokudan ITKF/ISKA, 2006 nanadan IRMAF/IKD, 2018 hachidan IKD.

Sensei Sotomayor has been blessed to train with some of the most amazing and knowledable karate masters in the world such as: Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama, Sensei Vincent Cruz, Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa, Sensei Takayuky Kubota, Sensei Sensei Hideo Oshi, Sensei Yutaka Yaguchi, Sensei Masaaki Ueki, Sensei Masaru Miura, Sensei Ben Otake, Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Kenneth Funakoshi, Sensei Fumio Demura and Sensei Frank Woon – A- Tai. Nevertheless, he recognize some for their unique qualities; first Sensei Nishiyama for he was a genius in body dynamics, Sensei Cruz for his incredible knowledge of life, Sensei Kubota for been the fastest, strongest and destructive force he has ever seen and last but not least, Sensei Woon-A-Tai for his courage and humbleness.