THE LEGENDARY GRANDMASTER WILDCAT MOLINA O’SENSEI
“GOJU-RYU KARATE-DO”
Wildcat Molina O’Sensei (Willie Molina 03 September 1952 – 14 August 2025) was born in Puerto Rico, raised in Spanish Harlem, New York. He began Martial Arts in 1959, in the art of Tang Soo Do. He studied under George Matthews in the art of American Goju-Ryu which originated in Okinawa by Miyagi Chojun, passed on to Gogen Yamaguchi of Japan who passed it on to Peter George Urban founder of American Goju-Ryu. He continued Goju-Ryu training under Sensei Chuck Merriman, Sensei Teddy Wong, Grandmasters Aaron Banks and Sanunces-Ryu Jiujutsu Grandmaster Moses Powell. Grandmaster Molina was a highly respected fighter having fought in over 1,000 tournament matches. Most notable of all is that he is a World Class Welterweight Kick Boxing Champion, 29 matches, 1 loss and an amazing 23 confirmed wins by KO’s. Grandmasters Molina and Apache Cruz trained several championship fighters for the International Sport Kickboxing Association. After spending many years as a full contact fighter and coach Wildcat became a qualified and popular tournament referee with teaching credential and experience. His two senior students are Hanshi Frankie Huertas who currently teaches at the South Orlando YMCA, Orlando, Florida and Hanshi Eddie Burgos, Edinboro, PA. Both his brother, Orlando, and sister, Wanda, hold Senior Black Belt levels under Wildcat Molina.
“JOURNEY OF SENSEI AND STUDENT
ON THE WARRIORS PATH OF LIFE”
My Journey in the Martial Arts began in 1967. I continued my training while in the Marine Corp 1969 through 1974, studying in Okinawa and every duty station I was sent to throughout the United States. In 1974, while I was residing in Spanish Harlem, I was introduced to Wildcat Molina who at that time was a 3rd Dan teaching American Goju-Ryu and full contact. All my friends and wife thought I was crazy coming home with blood on my Gi and black and blues, etc. Years later Molina Sensei would repeatedly say, “Frankie, out of a thousand student or all the students I have taught, you were the last one I thought would continue to teach and carry my Legacy”. At that time my Dojo Brothers were, his brothers Orlando, Lefty, Augie along with Spider, Apache and others whose names I do not recall. After he caught me with a Kick to my nose, with blood coming out, he said “I thought you would never come back.” Yet despite that, I would continue with sprained ribs, black and blues, on crutches but there was no surrender in my Spirit. Through 1978 to 1994, while in the Army I continued to pass on what he had taught me to my students in Korea, Germany, Ft Leonard Wood/Waynesville, Missouri, Ft Hood and Soldiers as a Master Fitness Trainer for the United States Army. I would take my students to visit him or train whenever I had Military Leave. Upon relocating to Florida and opening a school at the South Orlando YMCA I reached out to him and he came to visit. It is there he introduced me to Peter Flores Sr, Soul-Ki founder of Duro Y Suave/Manos Vacias and I became Dojo #2 with the understanding that Molina Grandmaster was my Sensei. Throughout the years I would send for him to stay at my home for a week or I would visit him in Spanish Harlem to continue my training.
Finally, he was just not my Sensei. You see he knew my Son Frankie Huertas Jr, born in 1974. I knew his wife, kids etc. He held my Grandson, Adrian Yandel Cruz and was impressed with his growth in the Martial Arts. He elevated me from White Belt all the way through Kudan, 9th Degree Black Belt. Lastly during his last battle with life, we spoke on the phone often until his passing. The day before his passing, Wednesday he asked to see myself, Apache Cruz Hanshi, Reggie Semaca Hanshi and Eddie Burgos Hanshi. We all immediately made traveling arrangement to leave the next day, Thursday 14 August but that morning we were informed he passed. He would say, “Frankie you're more famous than me” with a smile. I would reply, I don’t even come close to your Legacy. We both would joke how we would live to be 100 years old. In God’s Hand. I will miss you, but his memory and spirit will continue to live in the hearts and minds of my students and those who accompany him on his Journey in Life. I love you my Sensei, Brother and Friend.