Meet Francisco Santander | Economist, Martial Arts Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francisco Santander and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francisco, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In a world running towards automation and detachments thru tech, I believe human connections and skills in pursuit of an improved quality of life could only be translated, taught and transmitted successfully by another human being, not an algorhythm or piece of hardware.

Thus, the tide of tech would be survived if only by teaching, and teaching manual skills like martial arts that transcend beyond the obvious and reach individuals deeply; building or rebuilding character and other skills and capabilities needed to manage a lifetime pon this planet. Seeing businesses in my career, I also knew that a nonprofit model would be better than a for-profit model and that targeting an exceptional demographic would be required to succeed and differentiate what my mission is from the myriad of worthy nonprofit missions. This ability to manage stress, anxiety and many other physical or mental challenges, acquired alongside training in the traditional martial arts, is a necessity. For instance, how do you manage your stress?

What should our readers know about your business?
The Dojo of Exceptional Wellness, Inc. (DEWINC®) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and Charitable Organization, founded in December 2017 and based in the state of Florida, that seeks to provide traditional martial arts instruction and mentorship to adults and children in the General Population and Special Needs communities. Our mission is to empower youth, adult and senior participants by promoting a safe, peaceful and welcoming environment for self-expression, inner strength, self- empowerment and self-confidence development through our Wellness and Martial Arts Programs (W&MA).

DEWINC® developed a No-Contact program delivered by Certified martial artists and monitored by Board Certified ABA professionals. We ensure the safety and management of the participants’ special needs while delivering benefits that transcend to participants’ habits and routines, their family and community relationships, improving their overall Quality of Life. Our W&MA programs are developed from Okinawan Karate-do or Chinese Tai Chi for Health with an emphasis on body mechanics and spiritual wellness, promoting coordination, mental focus, and self-confidence in anyone between the ages of 9 to 99, helping them grow and thrive in their communities. Keep in mind that special needs conditions do not expire, they last a lifetime. Our W&MA program has proved that adding a traditional martial arts, non-fighting program to their existing regimen of therapies can only assist participants in reaching their goals faster, providing them lifelong tools for self-regulation and management; a better Quality of Life.

We currently operate multiple W&MA Programs under provider agreements, partnering with Miami-Dade County Municipalities and Wellness Corporations, operating in ADA compliant spaces that already belong to the communities. DEWINC”#s goal is to make the W&MA Program available for the Special Needs and General Population Communities throughout Miami-Dade County and beyond.

Getting here was not an obvious path. I am an economist with professional background in the financial, aerospace and consulting industries over the last few decades. I was born in the country formerly known as Venezuela, currently an anarchic narco-regime, lived there from birth until middle school, when I moved to the Northeast in the U.S. to attend high school, university and, upon evaluating the potential consequences before H. Chavez coup in 1998. After returning home less than two years since graduating university, hoping to begin a life envisioned, I chose to move away from home and embark on my present journey. Witnessing the ‘El Caracazo’ event in 1989 first hand showed me clearly the limited potential of my Venezuela’s Fourth republic to begin my professional and family life. Two countries, where one has eliminated me and erased its own potential and another that welcomed me and gave me the opportunities and challenges to make myself the individual I am today. I share with friends that it feels as having Venezuelan hardware and American software.

Today, I have been married with the love of my life for over 30 years, have 3 awesome kids (31, 29, 19), been in multiple industries at the international level, hold a 5º BB in Okinawan karate-do (open-hands) and kobudo (weapons) and hold various Tai Chi for Health® Certified Trainer certifications, am a naturalized U.S. Citizen. The narco-regime has literally ‘killed’ me on paper, in the Venezuelan governmental records. You can verify this by searching the Venezuelan Electoral Registry under my identification (cédula) number. Nevertheless, I have lived my life and learned to reinvent myself over and over until, under the need to reinvent once more. With the current societal shift toward more healthy habits, wellness becoming central to a larger swath of the population, just as the largest wealth transfer is occurring in the financial wealth markets worldwide, AI-proof traditional martial arts training and its underlying philosophies, their true treasure, and its benefits to overall wellness are at the core of DEWINC®’s business plan.

I founded this nonprofit foundation to share my skills and capabilities developed over decades, working in various business disciplines to the benefit of the general and special needs population to improve their quality of life through martial arts therapy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I hope you’re aware the level of difficulty in a location like South Florida … if you can provide several pages, perhaps, multiple issues of your publication, to detail the places and things I would offer a best friend was visiting the area.

To begin with, the water. Florida is the Sunshine State and this is core to any outings. Outdoor activities, as my friends are similarly active as I am, would also be center stage. The Venetian Pool, the growing and improving museums and art scene is another feature that would be a plus for showcasing South Florida.

In addition, Food. South Florida is a wonderful place to find awesome places to eat. I will not mention any particular place as there are better sources to search for specific recommendations.

Then, the Entertainment. South Florida is an excellent place to find all kinds of talented shows in theater, music, opera and so much more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, none of my efforts would be possible without the loving support of my wife and family. Secondly, I am fortunate to count on the network and friendships of the Florida Karate-do Alliance (Sensei Jesus Costa specifically), essential in promoting our Mission and activities, delivering life-improving experiences to our participants.

Website: www.dewinc.org

Instagram: @CiscoSKKAF

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sisllc2014/

Twitter: @skkaf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uerunesudojo

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SKKAFLORIDA/videos

Image Credits
All media are the exclusive property of the Dojo of Exceptional Wellness, Inc. (DEWINC®).