Author: TSMA Page 182 of 200

COSTA MESA — It’s pretty impressive whenever a student of the Gracie Barra school of Brazilian jiu-jitsu gets a black belt.

Even more impressive is when one of those students is 78.

Gene Pace was awarded his black belt Thursday night during a ceremony after his regular twice-weekly class and sparring session at the Costa Mesa studio.

More than 100 of Pace’s friends and supporters showed up to see his milestone.

“It was overwhelming. And last night…” Pace started with a pause, then laughed. “Well, it was a little emotional.”

The Whittier resident has been training under the Costa Mesa school’s founder and instructor, Mike Buckels, for more than 15 years.

“He’s Mr. Consistency. He never misses a class, not ever,” said Buckels, who holds a black belt in jiu-jitsu, as well as kru in Muay Thai kickboxing.

In those 15 years, before Pace, Buckels had only awarded one other jiu-jitsu black belt, and it was to another instructor.

“The best way to describe Gene is that he just executes what you teach him to do,” Buckels said. “If you show him a move, he will go after that move.”

Although Buckels admits that he is careful whom he pairs with Pace, as an older student Pace is not one to underestimate.

“Gene can still pick me up — and I’m a 180-pound man — and toss me to the ground,” Buckels said. “He practices with people as much as 55 years younger than him.”

Pace fell into the Brazilian practice after signing up for a martial arts course for fitness — and to humor his grandchildren.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, OK, they can’t kill me, and besides, maybe I’ll learn something,'” Pace said, laughing.

“Once I got started, I had to think, ‘Do you just walk away [and] embarrass your grandkids?'” Pace continued. “Nah, you can’t be disrespectful like that. And everyone just stuck with it.”

Pace’s interest in martial arts transferred to jiu-jitsu after meeting Buckles and liking his style of teaching.

A lot of that style resonated with Pace’s finish-what-you-start attitude.

“The things learn you here are discipline and techniques, which you apply to situations, but you never walk around like a peacock,” Pace said. “But, as Mike says, if someone won’t back down, you finish it.”

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – GREAT KILLS – A half-century ago, George Smith got into a scuffle with another man, and though he took what he considered a beating, the lifelong Staten Islander ultimately came out a winner.

Fifty years later, that Manhattan fight is still enabling the 73-year-old man to hold his own.

On Dec. 13, at his longtime dojo, the House of Karate in Great Kills, several dozen of his former and current students gathered at a reunion to pay respects to the man fondly known as Sensei Smitty.

Smith, a New Dorp resident who opened the South Shore dojo in 1971, was surrounded by men and women who grew up as pupils. He was also joined by teenagers who currently practice martial arts under his tutelage.

Like the Advance wrote last May, Sensei Smith is a man of many parts. A grandson of a bareknuckle-fighter and son of a professional boxer who had more than 300 bouts on his welterweight belt, the young Smith bounced around North Shore neighborhoods and practiced his forefathers’ craft along those same streets.

Having fought 157 amateur fights himself, Smith, who described himself as “pretty good,” became an even better fighter after going blow-for-blow against a combatant with a different set of skills.

“Every time I went to hit him, he kicked,” said Smith. “Every time he kicked and I went to block, he punched. After the fight, I said ‘What was that?’ He said ‘Karate.’ ”

That was 1961, said Smith.

“And since then, I put a (karate) gi on and I’ve been wearing one ever since,” he added.

Sensei George Smith’s dojo rules are simple: Everyone starts at the bottom. Everyone works. Nothing is free. Sensei’s word is final. The sign has remained in place since the House of Karate opened in 1971. (Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein)

Having founded his dojo 40 years ago, Smith has encountered hundreds of people. Only a small percentage have gone on to achieve black belt status.

Jonscott Turco, through hard work and determination, is one of them. His name, along with a few dozen others, proudly hang on a wood panel in the karate dojo.

“It was a critical aspect for a lot of our lives,” said Turco, a Westchester, N.Y., resident who coordinated the reunion.

He began in 1975 at 6-years-old and trained at the House of Karate three times a week. Turco and his fellow karate students traveled to compete in out-of-state tournaments. On Saturdays, they watched Bruce Lee flicks and enjoyed a bite from Village Maria Pizzeria across the street.

“The more I grew and got into my own life, the more I looked back in retrospect and really saw the impact (Smith) had on how I grew as an adult,” said Turco. “How I handled stress and challenges, and how I became successful in my own right as an adult.”

His friend, fellow black belt David Saffran, said the sensei is like a father.

Through their experiences at the House of Karate, Saffran and other students from the 1970s, have kept in touch over time.

“We’ve always kept our connection. It’s always been like, ‘Those are our brothers.’ We used to kick the crap out of each other (during lessons) and then we left, we were all friends.”

One of the most important aspects of Smith’s instruction was that he never promoted violence. And he always kept his eye on his students’ grades.

“If they weren’t good, you wouldn’t go to karate,” explained Turco. “That was a huge motivator. It was incredibly tough. We learned to respect the hard work that went into what we did.”

Both Turco and Saffran said the House of Karate, now 40 years old, is a great community mainstay.

Smith said his lessons teach students how to survive in the street.

“I was very poor when I was young, so I know what’s out there,” said Smith. “My biggest thing is to make my young students strong to win two wars: The war of drugs, before they’re even approached, and how to defend themselves and take care of themselves, only when it’s absolutely necessary.”

Smith also taught hard work.

“I make sure they earn and work for everything they get. They don’t get nothing for nothing,” he said.

Said Turco: “I think it’s important to make an effort to honor him.”

Smith attended Saffran’s Bar Mitzvah many years ago and stood in the back. When the ceremony ended, Saffran said his sensei yelled “Yes!”

That’s the kind of guy he is, both Turco and Saffran explained. “He was always there for me,” said Saffran. “I love the man to death.”

A Green Bay martial arts instructor on Wednesday donated $7,500 to Green Bay police to help officers avoid hand-to-hand combat.

“It’s a late Christmas present for us,” Lt. Andy Lewis said of the donation, which will buy at least seven new Tasers. There are now 48 devices at the department.

Tasers deliver electronic charges to a suspect’s muscles to prevent resisting arrest, Lewis said. The use of Tasers also limits the need of officers to tussle with suspects, which can lead to injuries.

Officers deployed Tasers 56 times in the past 12 months, Lewis said.

Ed Manning, 47, said he decided to help the department when he found that there were not enough Tasers to arm all officers during Green Bay Packers home games or other large events requiring increased staffing.

“I was really amazed to find out there wasn’t a Taser for every single patrol officer. To have to be forced to choose between which officers are going to have to have it, that’s not a very easy choice to make.”

Manning said he raised the money within a week with the help of relatives.

“I got a wonderful Christmas bonus this year and I turned around and basically gave it right back to the city,” said Manning, who is employed at EDCO Food Products Inc. “The more we can support police, the better we’re going to be in the long run.”

The new Tasers should arrive at the beginning of 2012, Lewis said.

Joseph Stricker of Saginaw owns two martial arts studios that teach skills for life.

How long have you owned the martial arts studios and where are they located?

I have owned the Martial Arts Connection for seven years. The Saginaw school has been open for seven years and is located at 6285 Bay, Suite 1. The school in Bay City opened in August 2010 and is located at 207 Third.

In 2011, the Martial Arts Connections also opened up a company called Wing Chun Connection that makes martial arts supplies and sells wholesale and retail items to companies throughout the United States. Wing Chun Connection is located in Bay City at 519 Washington. Call 399-9925 for more information.

What do you offer?

We offer karate (for youth and adults, starting at age 3), kung fu, ju jutsu, Iaido, escrima, self-defense, a wide variety of fitness programs and many other additional programs. Personal training, group training and private lessons are also available.

How did you get involved in martial arts?

When I was a child, I used to watch my dad, Anthony Stricker, with his involvement in martial arts. It was from that point on that I realized that I had a passion for this and it was my dream. As I was growing up, others would constantly laugh at that fact that I was consistently dressed up in karate uniforms, ninja suits and Bruce Lee shirts.

Tell us about your family.

I am very fortunate to come from an immense family. Family has always been a big portion of my life. I enjoy the company and quality time that comes along with having a big family. I also try to have a family atmosphere within the Martial Arts School.

How many students do you have and what is the most important thing that you teach?  

Overall I have approximately 100 students and growing. These students are a combination of children and adults. With the vast majority of classes that I teach, I cannot honestly state one factor that is the most important. All of these classes that are offered help with self-esteem, discipline, healthy decision making skills, respect, commitment and confidence. I enjoy every class that I teach, and teaching others what I know has been my passion for life.

What are your other interests?

My biggest interest is continuing my education with martial arts and expanding my knowledge. I am eager to this day to learn new tactics and skills to pass on to my students. Other interests involve my religion, going to church, cooking, working out and relaxing watching a movie when time allows.

What are your plans for 2012?

My plans are to continue the growth of the Martial Arts Connection. I also look forward to the third annual Cinco De Mayo “Cinco K Run/ Walk.” All the proceeds that are raised through this event are donated to scholarships and juvenile diabetes awareness. The fourth annual “Battle in the Coliseum” Martial Arts Tournament, which is held in October at Saginaw Valley State University, is also something I prepare for all year long and look forward to immeasurably.