21/07/2026
🙏💛♥️🇵🇭
A vision. A bow. A legacy.
In this quiet moment on the mat is the man who changed the course of Philippine martial arts.
The late Kaiso Shihan Manuel “Pocholo” Veguillas III, the Father of Modern Karate in the Philippines, founded the Association for the Advancement of Karatedo (AAK) in 1964 with a singular goal: to introduce and cultivate Karatedo as a discipline that shapes character—not just athletes.
From modest beginnings—wooden floors, borrowed spaces, and a handful of students—AAK has grown into a national and international institution. What began as one man’s mission has become a movement—a family—spanning decades and impacting lives far beyond the dojo.
From wooden floors and borrowed spaces...
To world-class dojos and global champions.
For 61 years, AAK has produced world-class athletes, developed grassroots and school-based programs, empowered youth and women, and—most importantly—built generations of disciplined, respectful, and principled individuals.
Our athletes have brought pride to the Philippines in the SEA Games, Asian Championships, and World Karate Federation events, while staying rooted in humility and honor.
As we celebrate 61 years of AAK, we honor our founder, our roots, and every member of the AAK Family who continues to carry the torch.
This is more than history.
This is legacy.
AAK: Breaking through barriers since 1964.
Ossu, Kaiso Shihan Pocholo. Your legacy lives on.
