Not just for kicks anymore

Most of his neighbors know Hugo Armando Jr. as the guy walking his 6-year-old Bichon, Spunky.

What they don’t know is that Spunky’s 50-year-old owner has kept company with the likes of Chuck Norris, and that he has 400 trophies under his third-degree black belt.

"I am a world champion and nobody knows me," said Armando with a laugh.

The lifelong South Philadelphian, of 13th and Ritner streets, finished first in the weapons category at June’s Blue Grass Nationals in Kentucky. Next month, he’ll head to Minneapolis for the North American Sport Karate Association Diamond Nationals. In November, it’s down to Miami for the Pan-American Internationals.

Armando was 18 when he started taking karate lessons at the PAL Center at 22nd Street and Snyder Avenue. Then, it was just a hobby.

The hometown champion, who manages five Center City apartment buildings, went on to earn numerous honors as a result of his martial-arts skills. In 1996, he was named the Karate Union Hall of Fame Outstanding Competitor of the Year. He also is a member of the North American Black Belt Hall of Fame, Philadelphia’s Hall of Fame and the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Fame.

"I never thought this would escalate to the level it has gotten to," said Armando. "It started out as a hobby of going to class two times a week, and I just got hooked on it."

Now his hobby — albeit a serious one — is to teach women and children to defend themselves with the use of martial arts at his own school, Positive Force, 17th and Jackson streets.

But Armando’s main thrust is national competition and training, which requires a significant time commitment. That’s why his average day starts at 4 a.m. on the treadmill, stationary bike and other exercise equipment.

"I had to find one hour [for training], so I decided to take the one I am sleeping with," said Armando, a 1972 graduate of South Philadelphia High School.

He continues his workout in his school every morning, and returns for another three hours of personal training at night.

Armando said that when he works with students ages 6-13, the goal isn’t to create neighborhood bullies; the martial arts are about discipline and should be used only in self-defense.

The teacher dedicates more of his time to women’s self-defense, giving his students hands-on training using Akido techniques, which include hand-manipulation moves.

"We don’t teach anything that doesn’t work," he said. "There is a 59-year-old woman in the class who can grab your wrist and break it."

After earning his black belt in 1988, Armando got into the competition aspect of martial arts.

"I was hooked and had to go to every tournament" — which turned into some 30 contests a year, he said.

And competing year-round requires a high threshold for pain.

"When you train hard, it’s hard to avoid that," said Armando, who once got 27 stitches above his left eye after taking a spinning kick.

He competes at least four times a month, for which he makes regular trips to Las Vegas to train with martial-arts expert Chuck Norris’ Black Belt United Fighting Arts Federation.

"He is a great person," Armando said of the former Hollywood action star. "He is one of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met."

In addition to his other activities, Armando has spent the last 30 years training Joe Pennisi, a Norris student. The instructor said he competes to get a better idea of how to prepare his students.

"I wouldn’t know how to teach students how to become champions if I didn’t know what it takes to be a champion."

At the upcoming Diamond Nationals, Armando will be one of 2,500-plus participants competing for prize money and trophies. Several hundred spectators also are expected. And he plans to continue touring the country for competitions.

"I am 50 and I feel like I am 17," he quipped. "I see myself competing until I can’t compete anymore."