An EVG reader shared the following in memoriam ...
Longtime Lower East Side resident and martial arts legend Wilfredo Roldan, or Hanshi, passed away on Christmas Day. He was 69.
Some readers may have seen a small shrine pop up outside the former University of the Streets building at 130 E. Seventh St. near Avenue A, where he taught and ran the Nisei Goju-Ryu system for many years.
As Roldan progressed Nisei Goju-Ryu, mentoring countless students along the way, he was a regular at Odessa and other neighborhood hotspots. Watch him tell the story of the dojo and more local lore here and you can notice a characteristic twinkle in his eyes.
Having starred in a number of martial arts movies in the 1970s ("Black Force," "Velvet Smooth" and "Dragon Express"), he also taught physical education in NYC Public Schools for over two decades. With the "University of the Streets, the Prequel" (shot at Seventh Street and Avenue A), he continued to add to his list of endeavors and accomplishments.
He will be missed, but his spirit carries on. Osu.
So sorry to hear that, very sad news.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know him, but he sure looks familiar.
A unique and generous soul - May he rest in great peace -
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tribute. He was one of a kind and a wonderful individual with a great history in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteHe is missed. A very nice person.
ReplyDeleteAh I really liked him he was a really funny positive person. Had not seen him in ages...
ReplyDeleteMay he rest in peace. Knew him for many years. He was a mentor to my son.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed training with Wilfredo many years ago. Was at his Black Belt test at Nisei headquarters. Enjoyed him as a person and a martial artist. . Rest In Peace
ReplyDeleteVery sad to hear this. He was a positive force and my son was studied with him and we also lived one floor above his Dojo for years. Rest in peace dear friend. jjk
ReplyDeleteOh my!!!! He was a gracious man! What a loss!
ReplyDelete❤️❤️🙏🙏❤️❤️🙏🙏
God bless you sensei
DeleteWe were best of friends!
ReplyDeleteHe and i made black belt together back in the 70s.
I miss him.
Sensei Ron Brie
I was lucky enough to have been friends with Hanshi Roldan, he and i often discussed politics, religion and of course martial arts. i hadn't realized that he had passed until recently. It's a sad day for martial arts enthusiasts. He will be missed RIP Dear Friend
ReplyDeleteI had the great honor to meet a couple of times Grand Master Ruiz at the Seventh Street dojo in the early Eighties, for an interview with a Karate Italian magazine I was corresponding with. In the occasion Sensei Roldan invited me to practice and after awhile he allowed me to wear my brown belt in Wado Ryu. So I did and for about 18 months I lived a real enlightening experience! Roldan was strong and gentle at once, always funny and mordant with me, maybe the Italian and Puerto Rican bloods were just one under the Nisey Goju flag. I miss him badly.
ReplyDeleteMaurizio Baiata - Latina (Rome - Italy)
While I only studied with Sensei Roldán for a couple of years in the early 80s, he taught everyone the proper way to fall. As an avid road biker, that skill has actually prevented far more serious injuries. Never got a chance to say thank you. RIP Sensei.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this. I trained Nisei Goju with Richardson Sensei and Monroe Sensei in the early 70’s…from their inspiration I’ve trained martial arts since…in the United States and in Okinawa…
ReplyDeleteHe was my teaching colleague at Julia Richmond High School we were friends that lunched together. He was filled with vitality. He patrolled as a dawn on roller skates. God bless his memory. He passed too soon.
ReplyDelete“Mr. Hines, Get off your knees!” I can hear him now as I faded doing the worm around the dojo floor. For you RIP means Rock In Piece. Ush!
ReplyDeleteHe was my Goju brother and truly missed! Early mornings on the phone, sometimes at 1 or 2am
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Brother, just happened to run into this post and it surprised me. I remember being one of your students while growing up on 6th street. I remember the breakfast gatherings we had at the Odessa restaurant. May you be at eternal peace my friend.
ReplyDeleteI was in contact with Hanshi up to a couple of days before his passing. He was such a Great, Humble, Humorous & Caring Man! My Best Friend Orlando also a former student of Hanshi & I wanted to go up to NY to visit him. We live in Florida. Hanshi, the Humble Soul he is asked us that we not visit him. Of course Orlando & I decided that we were going to visit him anyway within the coming week to surprise & support him! We both love that man for all he did for us. Two days later we got the news that Hanshi passed! Devastated us both! I spent a lot of time at the Dojo. I remember back in the days Hanshi had us all doing running warm ups aound the Dojo back before he had the Hardwood Floors Refinished, the floors were covered with commercial pile carpet for those who remember. I had blisters for weeks🤪 he was a stickler when it came to conditioning the body. I remember working out for months conditioning the body way before he would teach me Katas. Hanshi & I bumped into eachother in the DR in 2008. We were both at the airport waiting in line to check in. I noticed someone about 10 passengers or more before my family & I with a Loud laugh & voice, I looked at my wife & I said Honey that sounds like Hanshi, she said no its not, what would he be doing here in the DR? I focused on where the voice was coming from, I walked towards the person, AND WHAT THE HELL, IT WAS HANSHI!🤪🤣 I had many great times and moments with him during our friendship. He was an inspiration to me and never judged me even when I screwed up and came home from being incarcerated! I was always welcomed at anytime at the Dojo. We spent many late nights just talking and breaking bread! A True Friend, Brother & Warrior! I Will Miss You Hanshi!🙏
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