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THE HISTORY OF MASTER JERRY OTTO

Hanshi 8th Degree Black Belt

U.S. National Karate and Weapons Champion

Master Jerry Otto started his study of martial arts, as a teenager, in 1965 when his father was

stationed in Taiwan. He studied a local style of Chinese Kung Fu in a small village on

Yamingshan Mountain, outside of Taipei. After returning to the United States, in 1973, he

began formal training in the art of Korean Tai-Kwon-Do and the next year undertook studies in

two other styles, Okinawan Shorin-Ryu and Chinese Kempo at the Red Dragon Karate Dojo,

Easton Pennsylvania. Master Otto trained under Grandmaster Master Al Smith, Sr., who was a

student of Grandmaster Lou Cassamassa, of the Red Dragon Karate Dojo in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In 1978, Master Otto was promoted to the 1st Degree Black belt and 2 years later was promoted

to the 2nd Degree Black belt under this system. Master Otto also credits black belt instructors:

Paul Ortino, now 9th Degree Grand Master of Okinawan Kenpo Karate Dharma-Ryu Dojo in Las

Vegas and Master Glen Weaver who were instrumental in his early years of development when

they were members of the Red Dragon Karate Dojo, in Easton Pennsylvania.

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In 1981, Master Jerry Otto founded The Shen Dragon Karate Dojo. There he gained

recognition for his ability to teach students from the ages of 5 years old to 60-year-old

students. Under Master Otto’s leadership, the school and its students became involved in

various community projects, including disaster relief for families and the March of Dimes.

Master Otto also offered his services as a guest speaker to schools, church groups, and other

local organizations to talk about sexual-assault prevention, general self-defense, and substance

abuse prevention. His efforts as an instructor and community leader earned him recognition in

1986 from the United States Karate Kempo Association, as Teacher of the Year.

Master Jerry Otto 1981

Master Jerry Otto continued to study philosophical concepts as it applies to martial art

development through writings of ancient Japanese text translations by Zen Masters like Daisetz

T. Suzuki. His legendary knowledge of Zen and the Samurai martial arts inspired Master Otto to

seek a deeper understanding of how the concept of Zen could be brought forth to modern day

martial art training. Master Otto studied text from Tibetan Buddhism and frequently visited the

Labsum Shedrup Ling, Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center, in Washington New Jersey from 1983

to 1989. Master Otto then became friends with the founder, Geshe Ngawang Wangyal, a

Kalmyk Mongolian Guru. There he studied the philosophy and psychology of Tibetan Buddhism

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with Buddhist scholars and resident monks. In 1989, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama visited the

Buddhist learning Center. Master Otto was asked to body- guard His Holiness. He and a few of

his top Black belt students guarded the Dalai Lama during his teaching sessions at the Center.

On the last day of the Dalai Lama’s stay, Master Otto had the distinct honor and privilege of a

personal invitation from the Dalai Lama to attend an informal gathering with temple staff in his

private chambers. There he spent several hours conversing with The Dali Lama.

Master Jerry Otto with the Dalai Lama

Master Otto continued his studies, practice, and teaching, eventually achieving the master

rank of 5th Degree under Master Edward Hartzell, of the Okinawan Shorinji Kenpo System and

Master Nimr Hassan, who is a direct disciple of Grandmaster James M. Mitose, of the Koga Ha

Kosho Shorie Kempo System. Master Otto also earned the rank of master (4th Dan) in the art of

Chi Ling Pai under the instruction of Master Denis Decker and master (4th Dan) under Master

Cliff Comparano, in the art of Okinawan Kenpo. Throughout these studies, he was introduced

to the scientific concepts of physics as it applies to martial art technique development.

Master Otto was an avid tournament competitor throughout the 70s and 80s. He was well-

known throughout the east coast regions, as a top competitor in Kumite, Kata, and Weapons

Kata. In 1987, Master Otto decided to test his skills by entering the U.S. National Karate

Championships to challenge the top nationally ranked black belt competitors in the United

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States and Canada. Master Otto entered his first National Karate Competition at Master Dennis

Brown’s U.S. Capital Classics, in Washington, DC. In 1987. His debut at this level of competition

had an unprecedented outcome. Master Otto won all the eliminations, finishing in a tie with

Master Steven “Mad Dawg” Curran, the First-Place ranking national karate champion of the

senior division. Finally, in the tie-breaking round, Master Otto defeated the champion to

become the Classics 1st Place Division Winner.

Grandmaster Ed Hartzell congratulating Master Jerry Otto at the 1987 U.S. Capital Classics, Washington D.C.

The success at the Washington, DC tournament set in motion a series of events that would

elevate the level of the competition in the national karate senior’s division, forever. Master

Otto continued to compete in tournaments across the country setting new standards for his

fellow competitors and by the end of that year, (1987), accumulated enough points to earn 3rd

Place Ranking in Kata from the North American Sport Karate Association.

The next year, 1988, Master Otto competed in the North American Sport Karate Association

(NASKA) and the Professional Karate League (PKL) events, winning First Place in 18 of 22

competitions to earn the top ranking in the U.S. and Canada in the Senior Forms and Senior

Weapons Division in both Karate Leagues. In 1988, Master Otto won two First Place National

Titles in the NASKA league and two First Place National Titles in the PKL league.

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Master Jerry Otto with 2 First Place National Titles in NASKA & PKL

With a remarkable display of skills, he repeated his success with the PKL in 1989, finishing the

season as the only Undefeated Champion in both Kata and Weapons, an unprecedented feat

in the two black belt categories. This accomplishment is not known to have been broken to this

day. In all, he won Six First Place National Titles in two years. Master Otto became renowned

for his quick agile movements and his powerful Bo skills.

HALL OF FAME 1988 Undefeated Kata & Weapons 1989

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Master Otto’s accomplishments during those years earned a new respect for the senior

competition division. His remarkable accomplishments also earned him a special distinction- a

place in the PKL Blackbelt “HALL OF FAME,” prompting league President Glen Hart to describe;

“Master Otto is the greatest senior competitor in weapons kata and open hand kata in the

history of the national pro/am circuit,” (1989).

At the same time, Master Otto sought to promote a greater public interest in the martial arts

by organizing tournaments, seminars, and exhibitions. As a part of this, he brought the first

national tournament to Pennsylvania, the Keystone National Karate Championships, in 1988

and 1989.

As a result of being introduced to Hanshi Judan Shugoro Nakazato and such Masters as Kyoshi

Hachidan Eberhard Greene Welch Sr, and Hanshi Tadashi Yamashita of the Shorin-Ryu

Shorinkan, Master Otto continued his quest for higher levels of martial arts. He would become

a personal student of Hanshi Tadashi Yamashita formalizing Master Otto’s knowledge in the

Kobayashi Shorinryu Karate System. Sensei Tadashi Yamashita has dedicated over 60 years of

his life to the practice Okinawan Karatedo and Kobudo. He currently retains the rank of 10th

degree black belt in both karate-do and Kobudo. Master Yamashita is also the President and

Director of U.S. Shorin-Ryu Karate Association and U.S.A. President of the Zen Okinawan

Kobudo Association. Kyoshi Hachidan Eberhard Welch has also dedicated nearly 50 yeas of his

life to the martial arts and the Shorinryu System and is now one of the top four ranking 9th

degree black belts directly under Judan Shugoro Nakazato.

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Master Otto and Master Tadashi Yamashita Master Otto and Grandmaster Nakazato

In 1991, Master Otto moved to the Virgin Islands then opened his second Martial Arts Dojo on

St. Croix. The new karate school flourished with students of all ages. In 1995, during one of

Master Yamashita’s visits to Master Otto’s Dojo, Master Yamashita promoted Master Otto to

the rank of Renshi 6th degree Blackbelt.

Master Otto has performed many marital art shows and karate demonstrations over the years.

His renown Karate Demonstration Teams from New Jersey and the U. S. Virgin Islands have

entertained and focused on bringing more awareness to the World of Martial Arts.

Master Jerry Otto and Grandmaster Tadashi Yamashita Demonstration

at a Caribbean Regional Tournament in the U.S. Virgin Islands

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Master Otto has taught more than a thousand students over the years. Many of his students

have gone on to become champions on their own. They have also excelled in the realm applying

martial arts disciplines to their academics and career pursuits. Some of his students, for

example, have attended such schools as Penn State, MIT, Valley Forge Military Academy, while

others are pursuing successful careers in the private business sector, medicine, and law

enforcement.

Many of his former students have continued development of martial arts and their academic

career. Such students as Grand Master Ed Maciejczyk, (head of his own system, Florida USA),

Master Michael Pulsinelli, (Shorinryu Shorinkan), Master Chris Corley, a successful instructor in

Pennsylvania, black belt & instructor Edward Nuttal, Brian Scassalletti, (MIT graduate), Angel

Hansen, Jerry Chang, (MD.), Dwaine Beebe, Thomas Smith, (Wall Street), Scott Smith, Kurt

Miller, (business owner), Brandi & Becky Otto, Reed Hobart, (Valley Forge Military Academy),

Mark E. Bober, (Head of his own system-Tian Long Dao), Richard Long, Toni Reager, started her

own Dojo-Tatsu Karate Dojo, the late blackbelt Yener Korkut, (winner of the John Lennon

songwriting competition, his original music now on CD, St. Croix, USVI) and black belts-Rodney

(US Navy), Everett & Shelly Fabio, USVI and Kurt Schultz, (Africa) just to name a few.

Through the years Master Otto has taught members of private security firms and several law

enforcement agencies; The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Drug Enforcement Agency,

Phillipsburg Police Department, SWAT members of the Easton Pa, Police Department, New

Jersey State Police, U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix Police Department; Detective Squad & Tactical

Team members.

Master Otto left the Virgin Islands in 1997 due to his primary profession of construction

management. He lived in Puerto Rico, where he continued to teach his martial arts in various

karate dojos and also trained briefly in Aikido. His profession took him to St. Maarten, D.W.I.

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and eventually to Mauritius Island, in the South Indian Ocean. He continued to practice his

martial arts and studies in eastern philosophy frequently visiting Hindu Temples and conversing

with the Hindu Pandits, to deepen his philosophical knowledge.

In April 2013, Soke 10th Degree Grand Master, Edward J. Hartzell promoted Master Otto to

the rank of Hachi-Dan 8th Degree Black Belt, also recognized by Grand Master Nimr Hassan of

Koga Ha Kosho Shorie Kempo Association and Grand Master Paul Ortino of the Okinawa Kenpo

Karate Kobudo dharma-Ryu Dojo. Since the 1970s, Master Otto, Grand Master Paul Ortino and

Grand Master Hartzell have had a long history of training and practicing the Martial Arts.

Master Otto returned to the Virgin Islands in 2011. He now lives on St. Thomas and continues

to practice his martial arts. His love for practicing and teaching martial arts is his lifetime

journey. As such, he plans to open a new Shen Dragon Karate Dojo on St Thomas, soon. The

primary focus will be specializing in martial art training for the youth and self-defense for

adults, of all ages.

His journey continues………

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KARATE AWARDS

Among numerous honors Master Otto has earned through the U.S Karate Kenpo Association (USKKA), North American Sport Karate Association (NASKA), and the Professional Karate League (PKL): Regional Championships East Coast USA 1975 to 1985 Teacher of the Year US Karate Kempo Assoc. 1986 National Competitor of the Year US Karate Kempo Assoc. 1987 Ranked 3rd Place in U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1987 Ranked 3rd Place U.S. & Canada North Amer. Sport Karate Association 1987 Ranked 1st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1988 Senior Blackbelt Forms Ranked 1st Place U.S. & Canada North Amer. Sport Karate Association 1988 Senior Blackbelt Forms Ranked 1st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1988 Senior Blackbelt Weapons Ranked 1st Place U.S. & Canada North Amer. Sport Karate Association 1988 Senior Blackbelt Weapons Hall Of Fame Professional Karate League 1988 Ranked 1st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1989 Undefeated in Forms Ranked 1st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1989 Undefeated in Weapons Elected to Executive Committee Profession Karate League 1990-91 As Players Commissioner Nominated to Who’s Who in the Martial Arts for the 2017 Addition 2017 Nominated to World Head of Family Sokeship Council 2017

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LINEAGE OF SHORIN-RYU KARATE KUSUNKU (Ch’uan Fa) PEICHIN TAKAHORA (Okinawa-Te)

SATSUNUKU “TODE” SAKUGAWA

(1733 – 1815)

SOKON “BUSHI” MATSUMURA (1796 - 1893)

YASUTUNE “ANKOH” ITOTSU (1830 – 1915)

CHOSIN CHIBANA (1885 – 1969)

SHUORO NAKAZATO

DENIS DECKER (Chi Ling Pai) (1919 - 2016)

ALICK SMITH EDWARD HARTZELL TADASHI YAMASHITA EBERHARD G. WELCH 10TH DEGREE 10TH DEGREE 10TH DEGREE 9TH DEGREE Shorin-ryu/ Shin Ju Ryu Kenpo Chinese Kempo Hanshi Paul Ortino 9th Degree Okinawa Kenpo

JERRY OTTO 8TH DEGREE

Grand Master Shen Dragon Karate Dojo

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ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Charter Member, Yamashita International System. Since 1988

Mayor’s Citizen for Community Interest Award, Phillipsburg, N.J, 1985

Security for the 14th Dalai Lamas during his visit to the Labsum Shedrup Ling, Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center, Montana Mountain, Washington, NJ, 1989.

Private Body Guard for local Corporate Executives, as well as for other Executives during international travel.

Featured Speaker at PKL Annual Awards Banquet. 1990 and 1991.

Guest Speaker and Instructor in Self Protection and Drug Prevention for schools, churches, woman’s groups, and other community organizations.

Produced and Directed local, regional and Nation Karate Tournaments. Including the 1989 and 1990 Keystone Nationals, the first national tournaments held in Pennsylvania.

Founder and Teacher of the Shen Dragon Karate Dojo, Phillipsburg, NJ, one of the most accomplished schools on the East Coast. Founded 1981, Shen Dragon provides instruction to students of all ages, focusing on the tradition values of Oriental philosophy.

Produced and Directed the Easton Area Christmas Karate Extravaganza in 1988, a martial arts “who’s who”, show which featured such national talent as Charlie Lee, Christine Bannon, Dan McFarland, Tony Morrison, Steve “Nasty” Anderson, Kevin Thompson of the Trans World Oil Karate Team, and the Shen Dragon Karate Demo Team.

Organized, March of Dimes Benefit Karate Tournament, Easton, PA, 1988.

Board Chairman, Committee for Family Disaster Relief, 1983-1985.

Subject of feature articles in national and international martial arts magazines, as well as stories carried by local newspapers and television stations.

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ORGANIZATIONS

Past and Present

United Tai Kwon Do Association

Martial Arts Association (Gary Alexander, Founder)

United Karate Kung Fu Association, (Lou Cassamassa, Founder)

Oriental Defensive Arts Association, (Master Condi)

West Virginia Chinese Martial Arts Association, (Master Denis Decker)

East Coast International Kosho-Shorie Association, (Master Nimr Hassan)

U.S. Tang Sho Dau Chinese Martial Arts Federation (Master Steve L. Martin)

Yamashita International Martial Arts Association, (Hanshi Tadashi Yamashita)

Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo Dharma-Ryu Dojo. (Grand Master Paul Ortino)

Kenpo Jujutsu Ryu Kosho Kenpo Ryu Schools and Temples (Grand Master Edward Hartzell)

Victory Martial Arts International Council – Lifetime Member (Grand Master Jason Victory)

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Master Otto with his student (late) Chief Hillary Fredrick – Caribe Indian Tribe – Dominica W.I.

PHOTOS OF LEGENDARY CHAMPIONS

US NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF NASKA AND PKL 1988 - 1989

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Ho Sun-Pak, Jean Frenette, Jerry Otto, Kevin Thompson Finalist at the Battle of Baltimore 1989

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Christine Bannon, Ho-Sun Pak, Yo-Sun Pak, Mike Barnardo, Jerry Otto, Michael Dietrich

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Master Jerry Otto Diamond Nationals

Master Jerry Otto Capital Classics, Washington D.C.

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MASTER JERRY OTTO

Shen Dragon Karate Dojo, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands