Rafael Julian Palanques It is an institution in the world of martial arts. Born in Lucena del Cid, he has just been awarded the Great Medal of the Council of Masters of Martial Arts of Spain, an award that he will receive next June in Cartagena after the popular vote of all the teachers who chose him as deserving of such distinction. But not only that, the Royal Federation of Judo and Associated Sports has also awarded him the honorary diploma of emblazoned black-gold belt in Wu-shu. A historic milestone.
The merit of said recognition at the national level is for carrying a lifetime dedicated to the mastery and teaching of martial arts. And, officially, Rafael Julián is titled as National Master by the Higher Sports Council since 1988.
Rafael Julián Palanques. / Mediterranean
The teacher, who is currently 63 years old, He actually started practicing karate in 1975. under the direction of teacher Antonio Espídos, currently president of the World Karate Federation. He combined this art with the practice of taekwondo under the direction of master Hang Seung Soo in Castelló, until in 1979 he began practicing Chinese kung fu with master José Candela, establishing kung fu schools in places such as Lucena and l’Alcora. .
Two years later, already in Castelló, He started in the Choy Li Fut style with the master Gaspar García and, in 1985 with Carlos Moreira, he would also try Hung Gar with maestro Lam Chuen Ping, with whom he continues to this day.
A true reference
Rafael Julián is considered one of the great references of Chinese martial arts, from the most internal styles such as Tai Chi to the different integrated variants of Kung Fu. So much so, that he is currently the technical director of the Wu Shu (sports kung fu) department of the Valencian Federation of Judo and Associated Sports.
Rafael Julián with his students. / Mediterranean
With the philosophy of cooperation, respect and friendship as fundamental principles, has been teaching at the Lung Tao center in Castelló for more than 20 years. He himself defines this space as a place “oriented towards personal excellence”, rather than as a martial arts school, thereby reflecting his vision of teaching and the humble way of perpetuating the tradition that he inherited from the great masters with whom he worked. It was training.
During his sporting career he achieved three gold medals (Tai Chi weapon, Kung Fu stick and Nan Chuan), four silver medals (Kung Fu short weapon, absolute, Kung Fu empty hand and Tai Chi empty hand) and a bronze (absolute in internal styles) at the World Championships in Taiwan in 2009.
His record
In addition, he was proclaimed world champion of empty hand tai chi and internal styles in Taiwan two years earlier. And he was a silver medalist (tied in score with the champion) in Sword Tai Chi at the same World Cup. Before, in 1993, he was European Tai Chi champion in Paris and since 2006 he has served as Sanda coach of the Valencian Judo and DA Federation.
All this accumulated experience and the titles he can boast of have led him to train an outstanding number of top-level athletes. In fact, among his students there have been more than 30 Spanish champions in Wu Shu and Taichi, a world bronze medalist such as Manuel Negre from Alcoron in China and two European champions in combat such as Héctor Gas and Miguel Julve. The international champions Sergio Negre and Juan José Ribes in combat and José Luis Roldan in Tai Chi, as well as more than 100 instructors and a few Spanish champions, are also his disciples.
Without a doubt, this Castellón native is already a teacher of teachers and living history of the martial arts of Spain.
2024-03-06 16:20:24
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