Innovative Wing Chun | Self Defense Martial Arts | Omnific Pugilism | Chen Tai Chi Qi Gong Exercise | Franklin Highlands Cashiers NC
Sifu Armando Sainz
​Sifu Armando Sainz was nominated by the Florida Black Belt Hall of Fame as "2005 Sifu of the Year", "2006 Master Instructor of the Year" and "2011 Hall of Fame Silver Life Award" for 30 plus years in martial arts presented by the International Independent Martial Artists Association.
Additionally, Armando became the winner of both the 2012 and 2013 Best of Jacksonville Award. The Jacksonville Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the Jacksonville, FL area.
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Armando has had the privilege of training all kinds of people including many CEOs, high level executives, Military Personnel, Military Police and Civilian Law Enforcement including State and Local Police, U.S. Marshals and FBI as well as many friends and students from around the world.​
Celebrating Over 40 Years!
QUALIFICATIONS
Armando Sainz is a professional martial artist, master instructor at Innovative Wing Chun and developer of WingChun³. He started martial arts in 1979 and earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do Moo Duk Kwan karate and Hapkido self-defense under his earliest instructor, Master Robert E. Beaudoin (Seventh Dan). Master Beaudoin earned his black belt under Jae Chul Shin, along with Chuck Norris, while in Korea in 1962-63.
Armando began teaching regularly for Mr. Beaudoin around 1982 when he earned his black belt. He attended and trained in several of the seminars and workshops hosted by Mr. Beaudoin with teachers like Hyun Chul Hwang, Kun Tao Grandmaster Joe Rossi and Bill "Superfoot" Wallace. As time went by Armando studied several martial arts including Omni-Pugilism aka Bare-Knuckle Boxing, Modern Boxing, Kodenkan Ju-Jitsu, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Dim Mak, Chin-Na, Iron Palm, Tae Kwon Do, Kick Boxing and Filipino knife and stick fighting. He has also trained with firearms on a regular basis and is licensed.
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Armando's western influenced Wing Chun training began in 1995 where he was predominantly a private student for 12 solid years. During this time Armando trained constantly with peers, teachers and many other fighters both in and out of Wing Chun. Armando was officially certified a full instructor (Sifu) of Wing Chun in 1999 under Sifu Bill Graves and was the first of his primary teacher's students to complete the entire Wing Chun curriculum by early 2001. Armando also trained frequently with his teacher's teacher, legendary Wing Chun master, Karl Godwin and hosted several seminars for him. Karl is arguably the best Wing Chun master of his time and was known for touting Wing Chun's compatibility with western martial arts early in his career. Armando has been immensely influenced by Karl's spearhead approach and early groundbreaking work in western influenced Wing Chun development. In addition, Armando has traveled periodically to San Francisco to train with Kenneth Chung, Ben Der and Jack Ling during Ken's yearly five day seminars. Armando's Wing Chun lineage goes back directly to celebrated Grandmaster Ip Man. Although finished with the full curriculum, Armando continued training with his primary Sifu and other teachers until 2007 solidifying what he had learned. Armando is the most skilled student among his peers to this day.
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Armando was also a private student of Sifu Frank J. Paolillo and trained in Chen Style Tai Chi Chuan, Chen Pao Choi (Cannon Fist), Silk Reeling-Spiraling Power Qi Gong (Chan Ssu Chin), Dragon Ba Gua Zhang, Tao Style and the classic Shantung weapons of China. Sifu Paolillo was instrumental in Armando's martial arts development because he helped him open his eyes to the depth of the internal aspects of his system. In addition, Paolillo always encouraged him to make whatever he learned his own and to never be limited by men's traditions. Sifu Paolillo was a senior student of world famous Grandmaster Poi Chan, and also trained under Internal Martial Arts Masters; Kay Chi Leung, Li En Jiu, Zhang Xia Xin, and Hing Lun Kwan.
