Master Andy Rivera began his training at age of 8 at the Henry Street Settlement on the lower East side of Manhattan under the tuteledge of Mr. Eddie Burgos. Later in life he met several Masters with whom he trained quite diligently. He met Unfundis-E.Preston Riddick at the age of 15 and studied the The Indoda Enstha System of self defense, where he 1st became an instructor. Later on, he met and trained with Master Ernesto Ellis who introduced him to the art of Vee-Jitsu Ryu.
Master Ellis, introduced Master Rivera to his instructor, Master Rudy Jones who took Andy under his wing and in turn introduced him to his own instructors Grand Master Florendo M. Visitacion & Prof. Moses Powell. During this time Andy also trained under Grand Master George C. Young in the dynamic art of Kara-Te where he was raised to master level in Young's Panther-Kumite System.
Master Rivera is thankful to The Lord Christ for blessing him to have met and learned from these esteemed Teachers!
Master Rivera has also trained with and learned from the following instructors:
1. Master Lionel G. Wilson-Classical Shotokan Kara-Te
2. Master Charles Sparrow-Aki-Ju-Jitsu
3. Grand Master Charles Elmore-Aki-Elmore Ryu Ju-Jitsu
4. Master Walter Bowe-Judo-Ju-Jitsu
5. Master Bilal Rahman-Wing Chun Gung-Fu, Northern Shaolin & elements of Fu-Jow.
6. Master Maynard Minor-Shoto-kan Kara-Te.
7. Mfundishi Weusi Iman-Chinese Kenpo
Master Rivera has taight at various places thru-out the years, some of which include:
1. Pratt Institute
2. Long Island University
3. Queensboro Community College
4. Rockaway Police Athletic League-Queens
5. Rochdale Community Center
6. Saint John's Recreational Center
7. Saint Mary's Hospital-Bklyn
8. Saint Gabriel's Church
9. Brownsville Police Athletic League-Bklyn
10. Brownsville Recreational Center
11. Saint Luke's Church
12. Omega Fitness Club
13. Henry Street Settlement
14. Saint George's Hotel-Health & Fitness Club
Master Rivera's Current Ranks are as follows:
1. 5th degree-Master-Panther System-Kumite (Kara-Te)
2. Unfundisi-Indoda Entsha System (Gung-Fu)
3. 3rd degree-instructor-Vee-Jitsu-Ryu (Ju-Jitsu)
4. 3rd degree-instructor-Sparrow Ju-Jitsu
5. 1st degree Chinese Kenpo
6. 1st degree Judo
*Unfundis=Teacher of the Martial ways presently: Founder of The River System
