Glenn Harrison

Scott Mullins

Pat Devore

Jose Otero

Glenn Kwan

Steve Popieski

Interview:Master Jon Stankowski

Style: Goshin Jutsu
Rank: Godan
School: village Karate Dojo

Q. How long have you been practicing the Martial Arts?
Could you tell us how and why you got started?

A. Well it seems like I have always been doing the martial arts. But I guess my formal training started around 1972 after watching a demonstration by the late grand master Durant and his students at Fort LeBoeuf High School. I remember as a kid having my older sister (who by the way could beat me up easily) grab me around from behind and by some freak accident I threw her over my head to the ground. I don’t remember her ever picking on me again, but it seems I have always been part of it. And of course, the whole Bruce Lee movie thing, you know everyone tried to do that stuff.
In my senior year I was not living at home my mom and dad thought it best for me to be gone, so I had to hitch hike from Erie to school every day on the sly, in order to graduate. I was often out late by myself and alone so I guess when I saw Grand Master Durant, I was so taken with it all I just wanted to see more, so a couple of guys at school (Ollie Brown, Greg Spilko, Lee Wiley and myself) started lessons at the then Sensei Capela’s dojo in Union City.

Q. How has your karate changed over the years?

A. With age you get a better understanding of technique and I think I appreciate the basics, as a new student you always want the fancy stuff however in time you see that everything is tied to the first exercise’s that you are taught. My karate is Goshin Jutsu as taught by grand master Capela.I am sure some things have moved toward a better understanding of technique, but the basic’s I was taught more than 30 years ago, as I listen to other masters of our system talk of technique, I realize the things that were taught back then are all the same that I try to teach today because it works. I guess simpler and less complicated is where I have tried to go.

Q. Who have you studied under?

A. Grand master Capela of course, has been and still is the greatest influence to my training and understanding of martial arts. In the early years, Grand master Durant of course put fear into a young Stankowski when visiting at Union City Karate Dojo. I have had the privilege of working with master Hicks and master Fife. But one man that is probably most responsible for teaching and encouragement was my dad the late master Jerome Stankowski.

Q. What are your personal beliefs about training?

A. I think training is a term used to prepare for some event. So if one looks at life as an event then training should be something we melt into life everyday. A person should try doing something daily to keep ready for life. Karate practice is something that should enhance life not overwhelm it. So I guess balance is a must, but yes every day! I also believe in order to be involved for life one must not try to be everything all at once. So many times we try to learn it all so fast that we miss so many things along the way. We get burned out and so in our older years we stop doing what we have loved to do for so many years. That is really sad to me. I think if we try to look at the journey, as the reward, then there is always something new to learn no matter who is still around. The other thing is this; I believe that teaching should be a thing by which both student and teacher learn from the experience.

Q. What do you feel is the proper ratio of kata to kumite in training?

My personal experience has been that the more you practice kata the better you become at kumite. Both are important but I guess it’s all what you want. Kumite, if practiced correctly, will be beneficial in understanding techniques you learn in kata. However if practiced poorly, it only becomes a brawl that relies on who is faster at the punch. To learn to fight, practice kata, for timing practice kumite. Each teacher knows what his student needs and the right amount.

Q. Do you have any funny or interesting karate stories you would like to share?

A. I got my father involved in the martial arts about the time I received my 3rd brown and dad, at 42 years of age realy got involved. Work and life got in the way for me, but dad kept right on with his training and we’d get together on weekends and do karate. I finally got myself around to continue formal classes with master Capela. And of course backyard practice with dad was nowhere close to the discipline you have in class. One night it got me good because at master Capela’s class down in the basements of his home, dad and I had just finished exercises and master Capela told me to go with Mr. Stankowski (I think dad was nidan at that time) and work on a particular technique. Weeeeelllll I LOOKED AT DAD and said, “ok pop lets go!!!!” I knew right away I screwed up, looking away wincing, waiting for Master Capela’s voice wich didn’t take long in the coming. I heard MR STANKOWSKI PUSHUPS!!! The funny thing was he didn’t say how many???. I am pretty sure master Capela got a smile from the experience. I just got sore arms.

Another time in my dojo in Mill Village my father was demonstrating the heavy kiai breathing in a kata. Now dad was very enthusiastic when performing, and vary focused. At a certain point he projected tremendous power with a loud kiai and his dentures flew out of his mouth. He quickly caught them in mid air and never missed a beat. The class was stunned, but mind you not one snicker. You see I had told them earlier about the (lets go pop) incident at master Capela’s.
However, after class we all got a big hoot out of that. Of course my dad led the show.

Q. How do you feel about full contact kickboxing and the mixed martial arts?

A. I guess I like everything; kickboxing has its place as well as the mixed martial arts. Of course I have found that any real fight I have been in there were no rules and win or lose I still had wounds to lick.

Q. Could you tell us a little about your school?
The Village Karate Dojo is located in Mill Village Pa. My father and I started teaching at the fire hall in 1989. I wanted to provide a place for local kids to come and learn something good as well as keep a place for my dad and I to practice. I'm not fancy but I keep to the same regiment taught to me at the Union City Karate Club many years before, and have had the privilege of encouraging many people over the years in this thing called Goshin Jutsu.


Q. Do you have any programs or events that you would like to promote or talk about?

A. I have had the privilege of attending the Goshin tournament in Pittsburgh, and many clinics around and about. I think if its something grandmaster Capela advises, you should try to attend. Every time I go to a clinic or tournament that is put on by this group of martial artist I learn something and always enjoy the experience.

Q. Is there any one you would like to thank or send a message to?

A. My goodness, who don’t I have to thank for so many years of companionship and teaching, even if years separate us. Life always gets in the way of what you want to do. But in my experience’s I find this group from grand master Capela down through the ranks to be the finest bunch of ladies and gentlemen I have ever known. And to any one whom from my students who have supported me through so much to any one who decides to do this thing called Goshin Jutsu, I have the utmost respect. And oh yes I do hope to get to Mr.Otero’s tournament this year God willing!!!!

Q. Do you have any advise for the karate students who will read this?

A. When a new student arrives at my dojo and decides to participate. I tell him that in order to learn karate from me that I need them to be a good student, listen, practice, ask questions and try everything I ask them to do. And in turn I will be a good teacher and will teach them how not to get hurt and to learn more about themselves, there bodies, and how to master themselves, to learn that the only limit you have is mostly the one you self impose. And my hope is to teach them all that I know without holding back with hopes that they will in there life time learn and become more proficient than me.