Vincent Cruz

A pillar of traditional karate in the Americas

Vincent Cruz is Hanshi, 10th Dan, and a central figure in the transmission of traditional karate in the Americas. He was a direct student of Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, holding rank in both the AAKF and the ITKF, as well as in the Nippon Karate-Do Kyokai.

Founding of ISKA

In 1979 he founded the International San Ten Karate Association (ISKA), the organization to which USKTV is historically linked. ISKA preserves traditional methodology and promotes teaching faithful to the spirit of the great masters.

Written work

Hanshi Cruz is author and co-author of works on traditional karate, among them "The San Ten no Kata" — a set of five drills that introduce Shotokan students through a natural progression from white belt to black belt.

Legacy in Venezuela

Through his student Hanshi Ramón Zambrano, Vincent Cruz's teaching reaches Venezuela, where USKTV continues the path opened by the Funakoshi → Nishiyama → Cruz lineage.