AIKIDO, MMA, GRAPPLING, JUDO,JUI JITSU, AND WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSE.

Master Spider Rodriquez
Rafael “Spider” Rodriguez- Biography

Master Rafael “Spider” Rodriguez holds the rank of Fifth Dan in the martial art of
TaeKwonDo. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico in 1948 and migrated to New York
City in 1956. In 1962, at the age of 14, he began his
martial arts training under Grand Master Richard Chun
and Mr. Joseph Hayes, and became Mr. Hayes’ first
black belt student in 1970. Master Rodriguez also
studied with Master Ernie Reyes, Sr., under the West
Coast Tae Kwon Do Demo School.
In 1987, Master Rodriguez was an Instructor at the
Children’s Arts and Science Workshop ( CASW), and
from 1972 to1974 organized PAL Tae Kwon Do classes in
the South Bronx, and remained an active member ofthe
East Coast Division of the National PAL throughout the 70s. He currently divides
his time teaching TKO at the New York Presbyterian Hospital and the National
Action Network, a not-for-profit civil rights organization founded by the Reverend,
AI Sharpton.
Master Rodriguez is a caring, patient, and disciplined instructor, who is
compassionate about the lives of his students. Throughout his life, he has
counseled and helped countless numbers of individuals and is loved and well
regarded throughout his community. Through the art of TKO, he has’ ~helped his
\ students to develop peace, grace, confidence, and control. According, to JYiaster
‘· Rodriguez, the best teachers are the hardest critics. ‘
Master Rodriguez travels to Seattle, WA, annually to pay respects to his idol,
Master Bruce Lee. During his last trip, he met Master Lee’s best friend_~nd student,
Master Taki Kimura. He also met some of Master Kimura’s top students. Master
Rodriguez also keeps in touch with Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon, and his widow,
Linda.
Master Rodriguez is also a professional Salsa Instructor {he teaches salsa classes 3
days per week), an avid photographer, an autograph enthusiast who has met
hundreds of celebrities; he is an artist and a poet.