Dean of the Dojo

Sensei Gerry Blanck Celebrates His 35th Anniversary with a Yoshukai Karate Seminar at His Martial Arts Center   

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Hee-yahs echoed off the walls of the studio Saturday morning inside Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center, where many of the world’s finest Yoshukai Karate students gathered to pay homage to their Grand Master and celebrate another milestone for the fun-loving sensei who has become one of Pacific Palisades’ adopted sons.

A who’s who of the sport showed up at the facility in the basement of the 881 Alma Real Building to congratulate Blanck at a summer seminar/workout commemorating his 35th anniversary in the place he has made his home since 1982. When he first opened his dojo doors way back when Blanck had no idea it would still be going strong in 2017, but he embraced the community and it, in turn, embraced him back.

“Like the saying goes ‘If you’re rich you live in Beverly Hills, if you’re famous you live in Hollywood and if you’re lucky you live in Pacific Palisades,” said Blanck, a resident of Sunset Mesa. “I lucked out when I moved here. Now it’s about giving back to the community that’s given me so much.”

Blanck is a regular around town, always greeting people with a smile or a handshake. His motto is “keep kicking” and that’s precisely what he’s done for three and a half decades, sponsoring a Pacific Palisades Baseball Association team every season, marching in the Fourth of July Parade and teaching karate to hundreds of local children.

“I have students who have been with me since they were kids,” Blanck recalled. “Now they’re doctors and I’m teaching their kids.”My biggest highlight was riding as Parade Marshal in 2012. I remember seeing all the chairs lining the streets the day before. I was in the parade my last year in Pensacola [Florida] before moving here. A lot of people have a bad image of LA, but the Palisades is friendly, families are down to earth and it has a small-town feel.”

Saturday’s festivities included a summer seminar/celebration featuring World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo  Organization Directors and 8th-dregree blackbelts Hiroaki Toyama from Japan and Mike Culbreth from Alabama, local retired kickboxing champion Baxter “One-Armed Bandit” Humby, Grand Master Katsuoh Yamamoto’s wife, daughter  and  grandkids, many visiting high-ranking blackbelts from across the country and kids from Blanck’s own classes.

Weapons and forms demos were given by, among others, Culbreth’s daughter Brooke (a graduate student at Auburn), Blanck’s former pupil Erik Hofmeister (a 4th-degree black belt and veterinarian), Yamamoto’s grandson (an Olympic hopeful in judo), and special celebrity guest MC Sensei SeaDog, who wowed the audience with his skillful use of nunchucks.

“I met Gerry in 1975 and I still see him every year when he comes to Pensacola for the winter camp he started,” said Culbreth, who will turn 61 in September. “He’s a good, honest guy, a former world champion and a great martial artist.”

Much to his surprise, Humby was presented with an honorary blackbelt certificate.

“I had no clue,” Humby said.  “It’s an amazing honor, especially with everyone here from Japan and all over North America,” Humby said.

Despite having no right hand, which was amputated at birth just below his elbow after becoming entangled with the umbilical cord, Humby became a Muay Thai world champion and has lived in the Palisades for 21 years. He and Blanck play tennis regularly with the winner posting a triumphant photo on his Facebook page.

“We hit it off right away,” Hunby said of his friendship with Blanck. “What I love about Gerry is his genuine sincerity. He is a kind soul. What you see is what you get.”      

Humby’s daughters train under Blanck. Mila, almost 7, is a “Karate Kid” and Ally, who just turned 5, is a “Little Dragon.”

Among the first of Blanck’s students to earn her blackbelt was  Huntington resident Jennifer McIntosh, who was elevated to 7th degree blackbelt Saturday  and watched her husband Jim get his honorary blackbelt.

“I was one of his first students along with Linda Ellrod,” McIntosh recalled. “I used to run a lot and saw he put up a sign saying ‘self defense.’ I was older than her but Linda was only 15 and thought he was kind of cute. Gerry’s very charismatic, he’s very good with kids and he’s like family.”

After the seminar, Blanck invited teachers and students alike to join him in honoring Master Yamamoto (who died in February) at the Martial Arts History Museum in Burbank.

“This was a nice way to pay homage to him, especially with his family being here,” said Blanck, an 8th-degree black belt. “It’s a celebration of his life.”

The two-hour presentation featured a video slide show and testimonials  from Yamamoto’s peers, friends and students.   

Fittingly, Blanck’s anniversary celebration culminated that evening back home in the Palisades with dinner, DJs and dancing at Pearl Dragon, which has long been one of his favorite local hangouts. Blanck, Humby and invited guests partied all night.

Blanck became interested in martial arts at the age 14 and earned  his black belt in 1977. He became a contender in kickboxing and won the World Karate Association Super Featherweight and International Kickboxing Association Junior Lightweight belts.

“The last 35 years have been awesome,” he said. “Now let’s see if I can make it to 40 years.”