A LEGACY IN BLOOD: The Torres Family and 60 Years of the Black Dragons deadlyartofsurvival.com

A LEGACY IN BLOOD: The Torres Family and 60 Years of the Black Dragons

Sixty years. Three generations. One system. The Torres family didn't just practice martial arts — they built an inheritance.

It started in 1967, when five-year-old GJ Torres Sr. began Hei-Long Kung Fu in New York City. Through Taekwondo, Shotokan, and the legendary Ron Van Clief's Chinese Goju, he forged the Torres Hei-Long System — and named his dojos the Black Dragons.

His twin sons, GJ Jr. and Ray, trained for 14 years before being allowed to test for black belt. “No black belt before 18.” Today they're 9th Dan co-leaders of the system. The grandchildren are already training.

From “Mr. Showtime” on the tournament circuit to Team Achieve — a special-needs dojo born from love and loss — this is what legacy looks like when it's written in sweat.

The cover feature of DAOS Magazine 25th Edition. Read the full story inside.

Want to be featured in DAOS Magazine? Apply here.


More from DAOS Magazine:
Latest fight + hip-hop coverage  ·  deadlyartofsurvival.com  ·  DAOS Party tickets — Dec 5, Harlem

Back to blog

Leave a comment