Bio
Sensei Joe Torres is retired from the NYPD and has been training in martial arts for over 42 years and has been teaching for 23 years. He has trained in several different martial art styles where he has received numerous black belts.
In 1990 Sensei Torres was working for the NYPD where he found the need to use Goshin Budo Jujutsu while attempting to arrest or subdue criminals on an almost daily routine. He stuck with Goshin Budo Jujutsu because it truly worked and is the most realistic street practical art he had ever studied. The techniques he learned helped him defend himself when he was attacked with guns (in too close of a proximity to draw his gun), edged weapons, broken bottles and blunt objects numerous times. In late 2001 Sensei Torres had to stop training for several years due to an injury he received while working with the NYPD. He was injured again while working in 2003 leading up to his retirement. It took just over 8 years to get his body strong enough to start doing even minimal training again.
Training-
Highest rank acheived is Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Goshin Jutsu.
Sensei Torres started training in Judo in 1976 through 1987 where he earned a Shodan (1st degree black belt). Shortly after that, he was looking for something else and was trying several different martial art styles to see where he fit in from 1986 until 1990. He wanted to add striking and blocking to his martial arts tool belt. He received mid Kyu ranks in Shotokan Karate and Aikido just to name a couple.
In 1990 he found a strong connection to Goshin Budo Japanese Jujutsu. He trained under Shihan Robert Hansen (and Sensei Tom Fressle) in Goshin Budo Jujutsu until 1998 at Silent flute in Wantagh NY. He still trains in Goshin Budo under Sensei Tom Fressle (now the head of Goshin Budo). Sensei Fressle has been awarded the rank of Tuhon in APAC/Pekiti tirsia under Tuhon Mike Popolizio which is where most of Goshin budo's knife and stick defense come from. Sensei Fressle also has a purple belt under Rixon Gracie which he applied to Goshin budo ground fighting and basic BJJ.
Sensei Torres is a Sandan (3rd degree black belt) http://www.realselfdefenseli.com/ instructor under Sensei Fressle and is the South Eastern representative in the United States for both Goshin Budo and Real self defense.
Sensei Torres was in Genbukan where he trained in Ninpo Taijutsu, Asayama ichi-den and honbo jutsu for four years (1992-1996) under Grandmaster Shoto Tanemura (Robert Hansen’s teacher) who is known as one of the best all-around martial artists in the world. Tanemura Senei hold Grandmaster status in 29 different budo syles.
Sensei Torres started training in Hakko-ryu Jujutsu in 1993 which is what Goshin Budo is based on. He was cross training in Hakko-ryu under Menkyo Kaiden Shihan Sandaikichu Dennis Palumbo (Hachidan). He Stopped for years, then later took it back up where he trained under Menkyo Kaiden Shihan Sandaikichu’s Garner Train, Gil Adams (Judan, who Sensei Joe is currently alligned with) as well as Joseph Miller (Judan and "Chairman of the board" of Hakko-ryu).
Sensei Torres is currently a Yondan-sha (4th degree black belt instructor) in Hakko-ryu Jujutsu and in Goshin Jutsu https://hakkoryu.com/organization/instructor-list/ for the so Honbu dojo in Omiya, Japan. Sensei Torres is authorized to train and test people in Hakko-ryu Jujutsu and have that rank recognized in Japan.
Sensei Torres is currently undergoing his training and mentorship in Hakko-ryu for the rank of Menkyo Shihan (licensed master teacher of teacher's) by the Japanese ministry of Budo, which he started training for in 2018. The Shihan ceremony and transmittion is going to be in Texas in July 2020.
Sensei Torres also cross trained in Yoshitsune Jujutsu (also based on Hakko-ryu) a couple times a year for weekend seminars over a few years in the mid 1990s with Soke Michael DePasquale sr. and Nidai Soke Depasquale jr.
In the early to mid 1990s, Sensei Torres trained with Royce Gracie and several of the Gracie's on and off for a few years when he could at weekend seminars around the U.S., working on improving his BJJ/ground game.
Sensei Torres still trains in BJJ at a Tom DeBlass affiliate school and is a purple belt.
Sensei Torres trained in week long or weekend seminars several times (some more than others) with some of the best martial artists of the 80s and 90s such as "Superfoot" Bill Wallace, Joe Lewis, James DeMatteo, Royce Gracie, Relson Gracie, Rixon Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Prof. Wally Jay, Yoichiro Matsumura, Benny "the Jet" Urquidez, "Judo" Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, Bob Wall, Robert Crosson, Sato Kinbei, Roy Goldberg, Michael DePasquale Sr, Michael DePasquale Jr and several others. Sensei Torres was lucky enough to have the opportunity to train with many of these high ranked amazing martial artist and trained whenever he could due to his time restrictions with his job with the NYPD as well as his teaching schedule.
In 2018 Sensei Torres underwent training (as part of his licensing for Menkyo Shihan in Hakkoryu) in Koho Shiatsu Igaku and Taizanryu Shiatsu. These are forms of martial arts acupressure therapy. He received his instruction from Menkyo Kaiden Judan Shihan Sandaikichu Joseph Miller from Hakkoryu Honbu Dojo and Menkyo Kaiden Judan Shihan Sandaikichu Gil Adams and after 10 days of hands on training and studying for 4 months before that, he received his license and certification by the Japanese ministry of health as a practitioner of these styles of martial arts shiatsu.
In 2020, Sensei Torres wanted to have his Judo Shodan re-verified since he received it so long ago since receiving his black belt. He joined the ATJA (American traditional Jujutsu association) where he trained in Judo (under Yondan Sensei Ken Nazemetz) for 9 months before retaking and passing his shodan test in July of 2021. The ATJA is a class A Judo organization. His rank is also recognized by USA Judo.
Teaching-
In the mid 1990s Sensei Torres was teaching Jujutsu in Long Island N.Y. at Silent Flute self-defense school's in Wantagh and Syosset.
Later in 2011 he was teaching at Sensei Fressle's dojo, Real self defense in Syosset and Hicksville NY.
Sensei Torres was teaching martial arts for women’s self-defense at point blank range in Mooresville and Matthews N.C. from 2015-2017.
Sensei Torres was teaching Goshin Budo, Goshin Jutsu and Hakko-ryu Jujutsu at a local karate school from 2016-2019.
Sensei Torres teaches at the greatest camp on Earth (greatestcamp.com) every year since 2018 for a 3 day seminar comprising of Judo, BJJ and Japanese Jujutsu.
In 2020 Sensei Torres was teaching Judo at Champion's Judo club in Cornelius NC for 8 months as part of his reverification for Shodan.
Sensei Torres teaches private lessons, women's self-defense seminars, weekend seminars at other martial art schools, law enforcement seminars and joint martial art seminars (such as the greatest camp on Earth) that combine instructors from several different martial art styles. Many of these seminars have taken Sensei Torres all around North Carolina as well as a few other states.
Certifications-
in 1993, Sensei Torres was doing an instructor program under Shihan Robert Hansen (owner/head instructor of Silent Flute) which was 2 hours a day. This class taught you more about the techniques, what makes them work and how to teach.
In 2016, Sensei Torres became a licensed instructor for Hakko-ryu Honbu dojo based in Omiya Japan and is registered with the Japanese ministry of Budo, school number 48310. Sensei Torres is a Yondan-sha (4th degree black belt instructor) in Hakko-ryu jujutsu and in Goshin Jutsu (Hakkoryu Henka).
In 2018 Sensei Joe received his license and certification from the Japanese ministry of health in Koho shiatsu igaku and Taizanryu shiatsu.
Sensei Torres has completed the US centers for safe sports program as an instructor/coach where he has been verified by them in learning, identifying and reporting different types of physical, psychological and sexual abuse as well as all forms of bullying among teachers as well as adult and child students.