Rank: 8th Dan
School: Bayonne High School Karate Club
George began his studies of Isshinryu Karate approximately 1966 at the legendary Isshando Mercer Street Dojo in Jersey City under Shihan Don Nagle. He also studied under Sensei James Nagle and at various times with the other outstanding men who taught and trained there such as Ralph Cherico, Vincent Manning, William Briamonte, Dr. Michael Wanko, Dennis & David Nagle, Robert Mansfield, just to name a few.
His most memorable occasion was when he had the opportunity to study under the master himself, Tatsuo Shimabuku, in 1967 in Master Nagle-s Dojo.
When the Mercer Street Dojo closed he began searching for an Isshinryu Dojo. At that time he began to train at the Central Ave Dojo with Dennis Hoare, and others. After a period of time, Master Nagle opened a Dojo in Bayonne on 22nd St. and Broadway and George trained there until it closed and re-opened at 18th and Broadway in Bayonne. There he trained with Master Mark Wzorek and the tournament champions of that school such as Ralph Passero, Joe Mazza, Joe Lagriola, Richard and Dennis Persighn, and Robert Mc Kittrick, to name a few.
George, during his long career in Isshinryu, accomplished many things Karate related. He has been a Police Officer in the City of Bayonne since 1968 and in 1969 he began to teach defensive tactics to any officer that wanted to learn, FREE of charge. Some of these officers became interested in Isshinryu, through these classes, and started to study the art on their own.
In 1973 as a Ni Dan he created his own Nunchaku course for Police Officers to carry the defensive weapon in Bayonne. He gave demonstrations with the A.O.K.A. Demo Team to any civic group that wanted to learn how to do basic self defense and awareness and he promoted the art of Isshinryu by visiting Boy Scout, Girl Scout, Cub & Brownie Troops trying to promote a better understanding of Karate. He visited Senior Citizen complex-s in Bayonne and showed simple defensive tactics using a cane or umbrella.
George was a member of the Narcotics Squad in Bayonne and the Hudson County Narcotics Strike Force. He opted to use his back kick the way Master Nagle (also a Narcotics Officer at the time) showed him, instead of a battering ram to knock down doors. He also taught entry teams how to neutralize a subject when gunplay might not be appropriate. George also was the obvious choice to be the PR-24 (tonfa) instructor for the Bayonne Police. He certified over 150 men and women of the Dept. in the basic course and added a few extra moves of his own culled from the Isshinryu system. Bayonne is only one of a few Departments in the County he has trained.
In 1990 George was assigned to Bayonne High School as the uniformed Police officer, charged with school security in a school with a staggering 2400 students.
He approached the Principal and got permission to start the only High School Karate League in N.J. It was a school club at which students could earn extracurricular activity credits. All of his time was donated to teach the kids. As an adjunct faculty member he taught a self-defense course to High School girls who were already parents, most of them in a bad or abusive relationship.
In 1994 George was approached by the Director of the Bayonne Adult Education evening school who had observed George volunteering his own time to teach Bayonne High School students, and asked him if he could teach a Street Survival course for the urban setting. He collaborated with his son Christopher, a ShoDan in Isshinryu, and put together a course of instruction.
In September of 1997 George was inducted into the AOKA Hall of Fame by Master Nagle and awarded the Silver Life Achievement and the Master Instructor Awards.
On September 29th 2000 George was awarded the Pioneer in Martial Arts award by master Nagle-s successor Grandmaster Edward Mc Grath.
In 2002 Action Martial Arts Magazine presented George the Diamond Lifetime Achievement Award.
George continues to teach Isshinryu at the AOKA Dojo in Bayonne with Ralph Passero and teaches the Bayonne High School Karate League with Master Thomas Clarkin Roko-Dan (6th) He currently holds the rank of Hachi-Dan (8th) Dan.
For more information about George Wanko - please click here - www.njspba.com/bio3.htm
A personal note on Master Wanko's bio - from Master Ralph Passero
I figure I must have kicked him in the head to many times, because when he states that he trained with all the champions at the school it should have read 'he trained all of the champions at the school' in addition to working out with all of us. He also left out the part of kicking me in the jaw and knocking out one of my teeth and breaking two others. On the trip to the dentist I had to have a few teeth removed and a few posts put in (Thanks). Master Wanko was a big part of my training, all the techniques I learned form Master Wright I tried on him, but he already knew them and set me up but good.
He was and remains a great instructor and is in great shape till this day.
Master Ralph Passero
9th Dan Isshinryu Karate