JAPAN KARATE-DO
RYOBU-KAI

Technical Director for Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai, Venzuela 
International Instructor for Japan Karate-Do Ryobu-Kai 
6th Dan Shindo Jinen-Ryu Karate-Jutsu 
Member of the Board of Directors, JKR International

Martín Materano was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1956. He began practicing karate under Sensei Eleazar Landeta in October, 1975, the same year that Yamazaki Sensei first visited Venezuela and founded JKR in that country.

Two years later, as a yellow belt, Sensei Materano trained with Yamazaki Sensei directly in Anaheim. As an orange belt training at Oxford University in England, he tested for green belt with Eleazar Landaeta and the club's instructor, Gustavo Landaeta. Two months later, in October 1979, JKR of England was founded by Yamazaki Sensei. Since then, Sensei Matareno has maintained contact and sought frequent opportunities to train with Yamazaki Sensei.

Sensei Materano was a member of the Venezuelan National Team from 1982 to 1984, and returned to the team again in 1986 until he retired from tournament competition at the national and international levels.  He has competed widely, including the 1982 and 1990 World Championships in Taiwan and Mexico, respectively, and in the 1995 World Cup in Germany, as well as 5 Pan-American Championships, always placing at the top or near the top. He is most proud, however, of his top honors in Konishi Cups, for individual kata and team kumite, in 1991 in Venezuela, in 1993 in Japan. and in 1999.

Sensei Matareno also holds licenses as a Pan American Judge in both Kata and Kumite.

In 1982, Martín had the opportunity to train with Konishi Sensei in Tokyo, Japan. He has also trained with Shoko Sato (Shito Ryu), Shunji Sudo (Goju Ryu), and Uchiage (Uchiage Goju Ryu), among others. He currently serves as Chief Instructor for JKR Venezuela, and works in Venezuela and other South American countries to preserve and pass on the techniques and philosophy of Shindo Jinen-ryu.