Fredonia Hearth Dehalfment honored Robert Olmfinisho’s achievements on their message board.
Fredonia has a six-time Martial Arts Hall of Famer in its midst — and he Desires to throw himself into serving to the group.
Robert Olmedo traveled to San Antonio final month for his sixth induction, joined by his spouse, Gina, and son, Alexander. The expert martial artist and bodyguard has lived in Fredonia for Barely over two years And Desires to share his passions and philosophies Collectively with his new metropolis.
Olmedo, a Fredonia Hearth Dehalfment first lieutenant, has led pretty a full life.
Born in Chile, he took up martial arts as a boy so he might shield his twin brcompletely different, Alfredo, from bullies. He Ought to have shielded him properly — Robert acquired his black belt at age 14. (Now he has six of them.)
However, he nonetheless had lots to study.
Robert Olmedo poses with a photograph of his birthplace in Chile at his house in Fredonia.
Photograph by M.J. Stafford
“Inside the Meantime, you don’t know What’s primarily martial arts. You’re assumeing martial arts is kicking, Who’s extra macho, Who’s kicking extra extreme,” he said. “Little by little it started To vary. … Avoiding battle Is An important factor, It Does not matter what occurs.”
Olmedo emigpriced to America in 1982, Engaged on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He later studied at John Jay School To Wind up to be a bodyguard. He had a martial arts school, in Connecticut for A wright hereas and has been A licensed particular personal practiceer for Greater than 28 years.
Olmedo wound up guarding some Thoroughly-known people. “First I started with John F. Kennedy Jr.,” he said. “He was An excellent man, I miss him … Princess Diana used To return in right here to NY metropolis, England, Argentina, completely different places, And that i used to go Collectively with her On A daily basis.”
He has additionally guarded musicians Sheryl Crow, B.B. King, and Carlos Santana.
“A bodyguard, you don’t Want to be greater,” he said. “Do You’d like to understand your expertise at martial arts — You understand, I can put you out with one finger. However, You understand, earlier than You use weapons (or) You use martial arts, You use The prime… You study so many factors. You Have to be an EMT — if one factor occurs, They’ve a coronary heart assault, Look after them Immediately as a Outcome of typically they don’t make it to the hospital.”
He additionally is Aware of eight languages: Chinese language, English, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
Olmedo has An extfinished itemizing Of people he Desires to dedicate his achievements to. Tright here’s his mom and father, “who gave me Definitely one of the biggest values in life,” alongside Collectively with his spouse and son, “for love, respect, self-discipline, concord, assist and endurance.” He additionally gave a shout-out to his former college students, his frifinishs from Throughout the globe, his instructors all by way of the years, the people of Fredonia and Dunkirk and their fire dehalfments.
He plans to open a matchness and martial arts teaching center in The world, Simply like what he had in Connecticut. Proper now, he’s teaching people in his basement. His son Alexander, 24, assists him. Like his father, he holds a black belt.
Olmedo said, “For In all probability the most half, (people) don’t have respect, they assume thOn they know everyfactor. No social expertise… I can’t wait To level out these youngsters, convey their mom and father, ask ‘What Would You want, what Am i in a place to do In your baby?’ Because some youngsters, they don’t itemizingen To people, but they itemizingen to people from outdoors.”
Olmedo’s primary objective is To current A spot for space youth to get mentally and bodily match. “We now Do not have somefactor for our youngsters right here. Tright here’s nofactor, solely bars and bars and bars. It’s very unhappy,” he said.
“Sometimes we Want to be humble. Tright here’s Tons machos right here. They assume thOn they know everyfactor as a Outcome of They’ve a gun and knife,” he added.
“I’m A particular particular person As quickly as I practice martial arts. Totally completely different. I’m The identical man, but A lot of self-discipline. If you don’t wanna itemizingen, tright here’s the door, You will Have The power To go away. I don’t Want to waste my time.”
Olmedo encourages people to contact him at [email protected]
Right now’s breaking information and extra in your inbox
A 2001 Toyota driving at an “extremely extreme price of velocity” is being blamed for the accident that led To 2 …
Throughout A gathering Contained in the Dunkirk Lighthouse in Might 2019, volunteers found of a enterprise That would eternally …
A housing developer has purchased property in the metropolis of Chautauqua, although no plans have been introduced.
…
Source: https://www.post-journal.com/news/local-news/2022/08/martial-arts-hall-of-famer-wants-to-help/