BIOGRAPHY - MAURIZIO MARTINA

Born in March 24, 1959 in Brindisi Italy. Antonio Maurizio Martina is a retired Karate World Champion of 1986, who never loose any fight. Almost winning everything and he is awarded the black belt 10 dan. He had a total of 309 fights of which 227 were won by knock outs, 54 were won by default, and the rest a normal fight. He never lose a single fight in his life. Thus, he is regarded by many as a living karate legend.
He is married to Angela Howell, a famous actress and model in his time. He is blessed with two daughters and two sons. Two sons from his wife Angela namely Damiano and Maurizio Jr, and daughters Rosellina and Perla.

Karate Master, Actor, and Business Tycoon.
 
Maurizio's karate career is greatly influenced by his father Damiano Martina who was then a karate master. Inspired by his love for karate, he dedicated his life to karate and won several titles namely:
1. European Champion 10/10/1978 Takis Statopoulos
2. World Karate Champion 28/10/1982 Juan Ramon Ponce

Shortly after karate victory, he switched to acting and he starred in many movies in Turkey namely Olum Vurusu , kara sim sek turkish roky, bana bela derler . rakeos . kasirga e tanti altri. At the same time, he invested in business and one of them is his several casinos in different locations including Turkey, and Montenegro of which he was earning an estimated income of one million US dollars a day.

The Downfall and Rise
At certain point, the life of Prof. Maurizio Martina changed in just a matter of days. He was coned to a crime he never committed. He was abducted and labeled a drug lord, putting evidence of a single ticket in the pocket of someone that he don't know. He was jailed for fourteen years (14) , all his properties lost and the peak of his life where he was supposed to enjoy with his growing kids and family were thrown to the darkness. The witnesses were killed and he was bargained of his freedom by signing a piece of blank paper. He put his honor in front of his life, and never signed something he doesn't know for what. He endured the torture and pain and risk of losing his life for many years in the jail but never lose his sanity. That makes him even a greater person.
After spending 14 years, he was finally freed and was declared INNOCENT asking for his forgiveness for making the mistake of putting him to jail. Life stolen can never be regained but Prof. Martina moved forward starting all over again, reunited with his family.

Community Service:
 Currently, Prof. Maurizio Martina is the President of UPAM World Federation operating in many countries such as Turkey, Italy, USA,South Africa, Israel, and recently Tanzania the newest member of the federation. He teach young people especially women on karate as a tool for self defense http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH9AgMOQd8Q. UPAM Tanzania supports violence against women where karate is taught for free by the hands of the living karate legend.http://www.upamtanzania.weebly.com. At the same time, he is the President of Mason Diamond and Gemstones Ltd. a company dealing with Diamonds and gemstones,http://www.masondiamonds.com. And gold mining and processing in the vast land of Tanzania.

 Development of World UPAM Karate Federation

The World UPAM Karate Federation which has just established its chapter in Arusha intends to train local women in self-defence skills; free of charge.
International Karate and Black-Belt Champion, the Italian Martial Arts Star, Prof Maurizio Martina has just make a visit to establish the East African Branch of the World UPAM Karate Federation in Tanzania and for starters he is setting up shop in Arusha.
The interim Executive Secretary for the WUPAMKF in Tanzania, Nassib Majamba said special consideration is being given to both women and children for the soon to start, martial arts classes here through which the vulnerable groups are to be offered skills for their self defence.
And the offer is open to all Tanzanian women as well as children. It seems the days of domestic violence driven by male chauvinism are soon to be over.
But also criminal targeting women or children may also want to change their careers.
“Women and children in developing countries are usually vulnerable and more susceptible to cases of mugging, abduction, rape and other forms of physical violence and the world karate body intends to turn their weaknesses into strength,” said the local WKF secretary.
The World Karate UPAM Federation, according to its local officials plans to use the newly opened Arusha-based branch as its East African establishment to promote and boost martial arts skills to professionals, as well as all interested people in the region.
The president of the World Karate Federation (UPAM) Maurizio Martina who is a world champion Karate and full contact black belt showed up here in person to lay down ground for the East African Karate office.