Keeping the Palisades Kicking
Martial Arts Instructor Gerry Blanck Celebrates His 25-Year Anniversary
July 18, 2007
Steve Galluzzo , Sports Editor
Gerry Blanck can hardly believe 25 years have passed since he first began teaching karate in Pacific Palisades.
“It’s amazing to think that when I moved here from Florida I was a kickboxer training to fight a certain guy and possibly get into the entertainment industry,” Blanck said. “But I loved teaching karate too and I came at the right time because back then there were no dojos in the Palisades.”
When Blanck arrived in 1983, he convinced the owner of what was then called Le Sante to let him do an exhibition and afterwards 30 people signed up for a class.
“That’s how it all started,” Blanck said. “When the new owner took over I was the first guy he hired.”
Sensei Gerry Blanck (left) admires a medal won by Special Olympics spokesman Paul Boyle for his demonstration at Saturday’s martial arts seminar.
The facility underwent several management changes over the years and Blanck even taught at Seven Arrows School and the old Pacific Athletic Club (since renamed the Spectrum Club) before it moved to its present location on Sunset.
In 1994, Blanck partnered with Fancy Feet founder Emily Kay to lease the space his studio currently occupies in the terrace level of the 881 Alma Real Building.
“We’ve had quite a few girls who danced next door but wanted to try karate too,” Blanck said. “So now they do both.”
To celebrate his silver anniversary, Blanck held a karate seminar Saturday afternoon and over 200 visitors were treated to live demonstrations by Blanck’s students as well as high-ranking blackbelts from across the country. After that, guests were invited to dinner and dancing at Pearl Dragon, where Blanck was presented with a commemorative photo album.
Blanck is a sixth-degree blackbelt in Yoshukai Karate, which incorporates moves from a variety of martial arts, including Judo, Jujitsu and Taekwondo. His martial arts center has earned the reputation as one of the finest on the West Coast and was named ‘School of the Month’ by Blackbelt Magazine in 1992.
“I’ve known Gerry for 11 years and I’ve taught here for over 10,” said local world kickboxing champion Baxter Humby. “He’s always been very supportive of my career. Whenever I’ve needed the gym for my training, it’s been available. He’s also been to a lot of my fights.”
Blanck also has made a name for himself by landing roles in several martial arts/action movies and has, over the years, taken advantage of the Palisades’ close proximity to Hollywood by training numerous stars from sports and show business, including boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard and his wife Bernadette, actors Steve Guttenberg, Christopher Penn and David Arquette; and actresses Melissa Rivers, Renee Russo, Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy, Amanda Bearse and Courteney Cox. He even trained Bob Dylan for six months before the singer/songwriter went on tour with the Traveling Wilburys.
“Bob had done some boxing in his younger days and he was pretty good,” Blanck remembered. “We would spar for four rounds or so and he could hold his own.”
It is the impact his teaching has on the lives of children, however, that is most rewarding for Blanck.
“I love seeing adults that I’ve trained bring their children in,” said Blanck, who lives in Sunset Mesa and has a 14-year-old daughter Danika. “Karate teaches respect and discipline. The belt system gives students a goal to shoot for.”
Perhaps his favorite inspirational story is that of former student David Rall, a local boy afflicted with a rare type of muscular dystrophy. Not only did Rall attain his blackbelt but he won the Junior Handicap Division in forms at the U.S. International Karate Championships at the age of 17. Rall died in his early 20s.
“David was such a smart, courageous young man with a bright future,” Blanck recalled. “Karate made his whole life complete and he talked a lot about the lessons it taught him.”
Blanck has trained well over 100 blackbelts and believes the variety of classes is what keeps students of all ages coming back year after year. Earning a blackbelt takes about three years of intense, dedicated training. To pass the test, a student must do 11 forms (or katas) and nine additional weapons forms, escape in two self-defense scenarios, break boards with kicks and punches, survive a sparring session with other blackbelts and take a written exam.
“We offer something for everyone,” he said. “Some people like sparring, some people want to learn board breaking techniques, some people specialize in weapons proficiency and others just want to learn self defense. Here they can learn it all.”
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