Career
He started practicing Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu in 1975 when Hiroyuki Hamada was invited, by Messina, to teach the style that he had created. Hamada spent one month in the Dominican Republic teaching Messina and his advanced students from the Kenpo Karatedo Association. Before returning to Japan, Hamada promoted Felton Messina to 3rd degree black belt, after giving him an extensive exam. Felton Messina traveled four times to Japan to practice at Hamada's dojo, where he was promoted successively to higher ranks until he reached the highest rank in Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu which is Soshihan, that translated to English means "master of masters". This rank was given to him in 1999 in Japan, in the presence of 10 of his students from different countries of Americas that accompanied him. The rank of Soshihan given to Messina gives him power to expand the style Nihon Koden Shindo Ryu throughout the whole world, except Japan. Messina has spread the style in the following countries: Venezuela, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Cambodia, United States of America, and the Dominican Republic. He is the only Dominican that has been able to expand Karatedo internationally, founding many karate schools in the countries mentioned above.
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