Professor Silverio P. Guerra, Soke, Ph.D., M.A.
UMAHoF Founder, Chairman and President

Professor Silverio Guerra, Soke, Ph.D., M.A. is a career professional in the martial arts with more than three decades experience in a variety of disciplines. He holds a 10th degree Black Belt in Kakuto Shin-Ryu and Ji-Jitsu, a 7th degree Black Belt in Kobudo and a 6th degree Black Belt in Okinawa Shorin-Ryu. He is the founder and Grandmaster of Way of the Dragon Martial Arts Association, Kakuto Shin-Ryu, International Police Tactics Instructors Association and the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the International Hall of Fame and was voted Grandmaster of the Year in Self-Defense. He has been honored by the Wa No Michi Ryu Association, European Society of Soke-European Presidium of Certified Head Founders of Soke, International Brotherhood of Martial Artists and the Knights of Heaven-Soke. In 1996 the World Sports Medicine Hall of Fame honored him with an award for Outstanding Contribution of the Year. Professor Guerra holds memberships in the International Union of Martial Arts-Soke and the Society of Black Belts – life membership.

Professor Guerra actively teaches a number of martial arts disciplines including police defensive tactics, Kakuto Shin Ryu, Karate, Ji-Jitsu and pressure point defenses. He is also a Certified Massage Therapist and an expert on human physiology. He has served in a number of positions including President of the Open Hand Martial Arts Association, Instructor for Grand Valley University, instructor for members of the Edcouch/Elsa City Police department and Instructor for Community Mental Health, Michigan. In addition to all of this, he has worked in the entertainment film industry as a trainer and technical advisor to actors portrayed in martial arts films. He is widely respected and internationally acclaimed in the martial arts community. He is one of the most highly decorated martial arts experts in the United States.

Martial Art Rank

• Kakuto Shin-Ryu, 10th degree Black Belt
• Ji-Jutsu, 10th degree Black Belt
• World Soke Headquarters Kobe, Japan, 10th degree Black Belt
• Korean - Yudo and Hopkido Association of the USA, 10th degree Black Belt
• Dong Koo Yudo Kwan/Korea, 8th degree Black Belt
• Kickboxing, 7th degree Black Belt
• Kobudo, 7th degree Black Belt
• Okinawa Shorin-Ryu, 6th degree Black Belt

Title and Rank Certifications

• Founder and Grandmaster of Way of the Dragon Martial Arts Association – 1990
• Founder and Grandmaster of Kakuto Shin-Ryu – 1996
• Founder and President of International Police Tactics Instructors Association – 1996
  Professorship Awarded by Professor E.A. Moore, Ph.D. – 1996
• Founder and President of the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Inc.
• Awarded 10th degree Black Belt-Kai No Kenson Jujitsu by O Sensei Phillip S. Porter – 1998
• Awarded 10th degree Black Belt-Kakuto Shin-Ryu Karate by O Sensei Phillip S. Porter – 1998
• Awarded 10th degree Black Belt-Kakuto Shin-Ryu Karate Kai No Kenson Jujitsu by Hanshi, Phil Little – 1999
• Awarded Doctor of Martial Arts Philosophy by Soke Klaus Schuhmacher and the Internation Council of Higher Martial Arts Education – 2000
• Awarded 10th degree Black Belt-Kakuto Shin Ryu Karate by Soke Klaus Schuhmacher – 2000
• Awarded 10th degree Black Belt-Kai No Kenson Jujitsu by Soke Klaus Schuhmacher – 2000
• Awarded Certified master examiner in Kakuto Shin-Ryu Karate/Kai No Kenson Jujitsu by O Sensei Phillips. Porter – 2000
• Awarded Life membership; awarded by O Sensei Phillip S. Porter and the United States
  Martial Arts Association – 2000

Awards and Recognition

• Who's Who in the Martial Arts Elite 1992 Edition Karate International Magazine
• Inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame – 1996, Life Achievement
• Inducted into the World Sports Medicine Hall of Fame – 1996, Outstanding Contribution of the Year
• Society of Black Belts Life Membership – 1996
• Wa No Michi Ryu Association Grand Award of Honor – 1996
• Inducted into the International Hall of fame – 1996, Silver Life Achievements
• European Society of Soke-European Presidium of Certified head Founder of Soke – 1996
• International Brotherhood of Martial Artists Knights of Heaven-Soke – 1996
• International Union of Martial Arts-Soke – 1996
• Wa No Michi-Ryu Association – Grand Award of Honor – 1996
• Confederaco Brasileira De Kickboxing – Grand Master of the Year – 2000
• World Kick Boxing League (WKL) – 2000
• Full Contact Kickboxing Association – 2000
• United States Karate Association do Brasil, U.S. K.A. – 2001
• World Head of Society – International Instructor – Life Member – September 30, 2001
• World Soke Head Council / Japan – International Instructor – September 30, 2001
• Prince Bader Bin Saud Bin Mohammad MO GREN AL/SAUD – WOMA SPORTS AWARD – September 30, 2001
• 10th degree Black Belt – Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Prince Special Council, Prince Al-Montaser Bin Saud Al-Saud Certificate Award – September 20, 2002
• International Grand Master Society, 10th degree Red Belt, Lifetime Certificate – September 27, 2002
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Special Security Council – Certificate of International Membership – September 27, 2002
• World Organizer of Martial Arts – College of Criminology International Council of Higher Martial Arts Education Doctor of Philosophy in Martial Arts – November 10, 2002
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Special Operation Security Council – International Membership / Special Operation Certificate Membership – November 17, 2002
• Inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame – Voted Instructor of the Year – 1993
• Inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame – Head Founder of the Year – 1997
• Inducted into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Inc. – Voted Grandmaster of the Year – 1999
• Inducted into the World Karate Union Hall of Fame – Voted Grand Master of the Year – Self Defense – 1999
• Inducted into the International Black Belt Hall of Fame – Voted Grand Master of the Year – 1999
• Inducted into the United States Martial Arts 2000 Millennium Hall of Fame – Voted
• International Karate/Kobudo Grandmaster of the Year – 2000
• Inducted into the Southern Black Belt Hall of Fame – Voted Grand Master of the Year – 2000
• Inducted into the United States Martial Arts 2000 Millennium Hall of Fame – Voted Grand Master of the Year – 2000
• Inducted into the Cosmopolitan Florida Hall of Fame Martial Arts Brotherhood – Voted Grand Master of the Year – 2000
• Inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Fame & Spirit Awards – Voted Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts Grand Master Award – 2001
• Inducted into the World Christian Martial Arts Hall of Fame – Voted Humanitarian of the Year – 2001
• Inducted into the United States Isshin Ryu Karate Association – Voted Living Legend – 2001
• Inducted into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame – Voted Martial Arts Living Legend – 2001
• Inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine's Hall of Fame & Spirit Awards – Voted for Continuance of Excellence in the Preservation of the Martial Arts – 2002
• Inducted into the Confederacao Brazil C.B.K.B.T – G.O. Hall DA FAMA – Voted for Grand Master of the Year – March 8, 2002
• Inducted into the United States Isshin Ryu Karate Association – Voted The Living Legend – 2002
• Inducted into the World Head of Family Sokeship Council International Hall of Fame – Voted Grand Master of the Year – Kauto Shin Ryu Karate / Jujutsu – August 30, 2002
• Inducted into the Cosmopolitan Florida Hall of Fame Martial Arts Brotherhood – Voted Grand Master of the Year – December 7, 2002

Training and Screen Acting

• Commercials Acting (Caryn Gorme)
• Film Acting (Gary Chason)

Special Talents

• Defensive Tactics, Weapon retention
• Weapon disarming tactics, International Control Tactics
• Officer Survival and Stop Approach
• Mechanics of Arrest and escorting Prisoners
• Promoted to 10th degree Black Belt by Professor Carlton G. Burke and the Soke
• Council of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame
• Master of Kakuto Shin-Ryu Karate – Kobudo
• Certified Massage Therapist Mt3346, B.A. Degree - 1976, Grand Valley University
• Elementary teacher and Social Worker

Past Positions

• President of the Open Hand Martial Arts Association
• Instructor for Grand Valley University
• Instructor of members of the Edocouch/Elsa City Police Department
• Instructor for Community Mental Health
• Past Chairman of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame

Current Positions

• President of the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Inc.
• President of the Way of the Dragon Martial Arts Association
• President of International Police Tactics Instructors Association
• Instructor for Members of the Pearland City Police Department
• Instructor for Members of the Houston City Police Department
• Instructor for Members of the Brookside Village Police Department
• Instructor for Member of the U.S. Customs
• Chief Instructor for S. Guerra Family Self-Defense
• Korean – Yudo and Hopkido Association of USA - Representative of Texas, USA – September 28, 2001

Featured Interviews and Articles

• Karate International Magazine – 1992
• La Voz De Brazoria County – August, 1992
• La Presensa Latina De Houston – September, 1994
• La Presensa Latina De Houston – June, 1996
• World Karate Magazine – September, 1997
• Action Martial Arts Magazine – November, 1998
• Fillipino Martial Arts Magazine – October, 1998
• Interviewed by various radio stations