Jesús M. Jiménez was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico and currently resides in Guayama, PR. He is an attorney whose work is based in litigation involving issues in contracts, family, property, tort, corporations and labor.
Family
His father was Carlos Jiménez Del Valle, who was an anesthesiologist. His mother is Conchita González-Rubio, who was an administrator. He has four siblings: Carlos, Concepción, Jose and Ivan.
Jesús’ wife is Doris S. Díaz, a nurse, mother and currently the administrator of his law office. They have four children: Solimar, an MD; Dorimar, a businesswoman; Maria Alejandra, a psychology student at the University of Cayey, UPR and Jesús, who is studying secondary education with a concentration in sports.
Karate History
“I started martial arts at the age of 11 years old in a Judo club and practiced until 15 years old, when my family moved Guayama. At that time I was brown belt. Two years later I started karate. The style that I started practicing (1978) was Order of Isshinryu Karate & Kobudo. My first sensei was Eduardo Gonzalez and he left the dojo to me when I was a brown belt in 1980. Then Juan F. “Paco” Lopez became my sensei, with the permission of Master Cooling. In 1981 Sensei Lopez came to the mainland to practice medicine. His brother, Juan de Dios Lopez, then became my sensei he began to prepare me for my black belt. A year later, Sensei Juan De Dios Lopez moved to the mainland to pursue his career and Master Cooling became my sensei.”
Other Studies
I have studied Aikido with Sensei Juan Alicea; San Yama Bushi Ryu Jutjutsuwith Josean Negrón; Matayoshi Kobudowith Sensei Kimo Wall & Sensei Luis Cuadrado, and Goju Ryu with Sensei Kimo Wall.
Q&A
What were your impressions of the dojo when you first started? What was it like?
My first impression of the Dojo was that it was a nice place to make exercises. Sensei Juan De Dios Lopez was taking care of the work out that day. I entered the Dojo because my friend Yamil Sued took me there. The Dojo was on a second floor, in a wooden building without air conditioning.
When and where did you open your first dojo?
I inherited my dojo in Guayama in 1980, because my sensei at that time had moved to finish his career as an anesthesiologist. It had a good group of karateka and Master Cooling gave his authorization so I could continue the Dojo under the supervision of Juan F. Lopez.
Do you have any favorite stories from your years of training?
I recall going with Sensei Juan De Dios Lopez to visit other karate schools to practice kumite, and training sessions with him lasting to midnight. I recall that in an Aikido seminar held by Yamada Sensei (one of Ueshiba’s students) that he told me to throw a punch, so I threw a snap punch and he told me, “No! I need a thrust punch.” I did it and I flew across the room.
Have you received any awards or recognition for your work?
From my karate career: I used to compete in karate tournaments and between 1979 to 1995 and won some kata and kumite competitions. That gave me the opportunity to know other karateka and today we hold a very close friendship.
Do you have any words of wisdom for the kyu ranks?
Work often and work hard, think on every movement your Sensei shows you and study it. Do all the movements of the katas until those movements become natural for you. Enjoy your time with your Sensei and take advantage of it. Always work like real. “If you fall 7 times, get up 8.”
Has there been any particular person(s) that you feel influenced your studies? Why?
- I have several! Of course, my father and my mother because they showed me perseverance.
- Master Cooling showed me the importance of believing in yourself: No matter what others may think of you, believe in yourself. He showed me that it can be lonely at times like this, even if you are correct in your behavior. He showed me that life is a matter of perception and that depends on the interest of the other persons. He showed me the importance of family and gave me the opportunity to have some spiritual brothers that are awesome.
- Master Ewing he showed me the importance of feelings and trust and how protective can be as a Sensei.
- Master Smith he showed me the importance of happiness.
- All these persons influenced my determination to continue my studies because life isn’t a matter of karate and studies only.
Anything else about your karate life that you’d like to share?
Never stop learning. Karate has many houses (kan), and surely you can live in one of them. For the moment we are living in the Order of Isshinryu kan, in the future we will be able to build our own house.
From my business career:
- From 1988 to 1998, I served as a member of the Bar Examination Board by appointment of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
- From 1990 to 1996, I gave seminars to the Marshalls of the Administration of Justice.
- Trial Lawyer of the Year 1994, Puerto Rico Bar of Attorneys
- In 1995, the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico recognized me for my cooperation in the development of security in the court room.
- Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Puerto Rico Martial Arts, 1998.
- Recognized for my work with the Puerto Rico Bar of Attorneys, 2012.
- Recognized by the Major of Guayama for my social work with the children of the Guayama Municipality, 2014.