The DON NAGLE AOKAINC, has lost one its pioneers, Sensei's Master Mark Wzorek 8th Dan, an original student of Master Don Nagle. Master Wzorek, was one of the most skilled fighters of Master Don Nagle, his vicious tactics, and evasive movements made him almost impossible to hit.
When a black belt of Master Nagle needed to be disciplined he was chosen to kumite with Master Wzorek, during the sparring he got the message. Mark had earned a reputation as one of Master Nagle's best fighters.
In 1964, I knew Mark Wzorek, I knew he was a tough guy or thought he was, we were not friends, and had a few run ins. 1965 I joined the Army, went Airborne survived a tour in Vietnam and when I returned, had another run in with Mark Wzorek, this time he tells me I cannot fight with you, I am a 4th degree Black Belt in Karate, I just started laughing at him, he said in order to fight me, I would have to come to the dojo, karate school, and now I know he is bluffing, so I go to the school and challenge him, he and the instructor at that time explain to me I will have to join up and be a member of the class before I can fight him. I join along with my friend Butch, and on the night I join, there is black belt testing going on, and Mark Wzorek is fighting one after another, and none of them have a chance, these are black belts, and they are getting a beating beyond belief, bouncing off the walls, off the floor, and some just collapsing and dropping to the floor. This ends with his last match fighting Dennis Nagle, Master Nagle's younger brother, and he got his share also. This comes to an end, and he turns to the kohai, students sitting on the floor, and looks directly at me and says, are you ready to kumite, I do not know what this word means, then he says sparr with me, I look at my friend Butch and he says you fight him, if you start to loose I will jump in, so much for that, I look at the floor and say loud enough for all to hear, NO!, he asks again, and again I refuse. At the end of the class, we both leave in one piece, and decide to return the next night, I spent two and half hours on four basic exercises, this was after I apologized to Master Wzorek for challenging him.
I became one of his students, and when it was time for me to be tested for black belt, and I passed, he called me in front of the entire Shiai, including Kichiro Shimabuku, had me kneel down, and took off my brown belt, and gave me his OBI, a moment in my life never to be equaled. In my wildest dreams, I never expected this to happen, and never thought I would spend the next 40 years of my life in this dojo, and hang around with Master Don Nagle for 35 of them, and then become the president of the DON NAGLE AOKAINC.
Mark and I shared a friend ship and stayed close, he is a legend in the DON NAGLE AOKAINC, and will not be forgotten.
from Ralph Passero
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Memory of Shihan Mark Wzorek
Shihan Mark Wzorek, 8th Dan Isshinryu Karate, an original student of Grandmaster Don Nagle passed away on Monday 22 October 2007, a Hall of Fame, and inductee of Don Nagle's Isshinryu Legion of Honor, a pioneer on the oldest martial arts school in Bayonne, and a teacher of many of the Senior Black Belts instructors today, including Hanshi Ralph D. Passero the president of the AOKAINC. Master Wzorek was one of the most skilled fighters of this historic school, and was able to teach and promote many to the rank of black belt, he had received his black belt from Grandmaster Don Nagle, and he in turn passed it on to Ralph D. Passero, who inturn passed it down to Dennis Burnett, who passed it on to its latest recipient, William Jasolosky, the legend behind passing this historic belt, is the student will surpass the master. This is a very high honor in the martial arts world, and few share this prestigious gift. Mark Wzorek was on the executive board of the Don Nagle American Okinawan Karate Association INC, he was a true master in the art of Isshinryu and will be regarded as a Legend of the Don Nagle AOKAINC, Bayonne, ISSHINRYU KARATE SCHOOL
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Jersey Journal - Bayonne karate school celebrates 50 years
Bayonne karate school celebrates 50 years
Thursday, September 27, 2007
By LAUREN BULL
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
An anniversary is good reason for getting some attention, but Ralph Passero, president and owner of Don Nagle's American Okinawan Karate Association, has seen what it's like when you reach the one that's golden.
"This phone has not stopped ringing in the past three weeks," he said at his desk last Monday.
On the other end of the line, people were asking about the annual Don Nagle World Open Karate Championship, which took place on Saturday at Marist High School. The tournament, open to all styles of martial arts, typically attracts between 300 and 500 competitors, and also features a special needs division. As opposed to charging for individual events, all access tickets are sold for $40 in an effort to make the event more affordable to the public.
What makes this year unique is the 50th anniversary celebration of the Isshinryu School of Karate that Nagle opened in the United States in 1957 when, as Passero says, "Karate was really brand new."
Nagle became a master of Isshinryu-meaning one's heart-after studying with a martial arts master on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Over 40,000 karate students in the country can trace their lineage to Nagle.
The Bayonne branch of Nagle's school has been in operation since 1966 and is the oldest karate school in Bayonne. Passero, who has been with the AOKA for 40 years, moved the school to the 805 Broadway location in 1995. He is also quite accomplished in martial arts, having been inducted into several karate halls of fame. He still honors the memory of Nagle, who passed away in 1999.
"I represent him," Passero said.
Passero has plenty to say about Nagle, with whom he was friends for 30 years. "I swear, he could jump off the gym floor and kick the basketball rim, bending it...People said, 'This is (continued below: http://aokainc.blogspot.com/2007/10/jersey-journal-of-teaching-martial-arts.html)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
By LAUREN BULL
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
An anniversary is good reason for getting some attention, but Ralph Passero, president and owner of Don Nagle's American Okinawan Karate Association, has seen what it's like when you reach the one that's golden.
"This phone has not stopped ringing in the past three weeks," he said at his desk last Monday.
On the other end of the line, people were asking about the annual Don Nagle World Open Karate Championship, which took place on Saturday at Marist High School. The tournament, open to all styles of martial arts, typically attracts between 300 and 500 competitors, and also features a special needs division. As opposed to charging for individual events, all access tickets are sold for $40 in an effort to make the event more affordable to the public.
What makes this year unique is the 50th anniversary celebration of the Isshinryu School of Karate that Nagle opened in the United States in 1957 when, as Passero says, "Karate was really brand new."
Nagle became a master of Isshinryu-meaning one's heart-after studying with a martial arts master on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Over 40,000 karate students in the country can trace their lineage to Nagle.
The Bayonne branch of Nagle's school has been in operation since 1966 and is the oldest karate school in Bayonne. Passero, who has been with the AOKA for 40 years, moved the school to the 805 Broadway location in 1995. He is also quite accomplished in martial arts, having been inducted into several karate halls of fame. He still honors the memory of Nagle, who passed away in 1999.
"I represent him," Passero said.
Passero has plenty to say about Nagle, with whom he was friends for 30 years. "I swear, he could jump off the gym floor and kick the basketball rim, bending it...People said, 'This is (continued below: http://aokainc.blogspot.com/2007/10/jersey-journal-of-teaching-martial-arts.html)
Jersey Journal - of teaching martial arts to local children
of teaching martial arts to local children
Thursday, September 27, 2007
like a circus performer.'" In addition to his circus-like feats, Nagle also challenged heavyweights and was even offered the opportunity to be Elvis Presley's bodyguard, though he declined. Making all of this even more impressive was Nagle's relatively small stature. "He was a bag of bones," Passero said.
Publish Post
Passero, a Bayonne resident for 45 years who retired from professional fighting in 1987, is now focused on being an instructor. When asked what he likes most about running the school, he said his greatest benefit was teaching the children, many of whom have gone on to achieve great success personally and professionally. He pointed proudly to the photos of past students that line the walls. "There's a story on all of them," he said.
And he is clearly teaching his students well.
"I'm fighting five-year olds, and they're winning," he said with a smile.
One aspect of the AOKA that Passero is particularly proud of is that in order to teach at the school, you have to have been a student there, as well. "Everyone who teaches on this floor is homegrown," he said.
Passero's school offers co-ed classes for children and adults. The AOKA does not allow the breaking of bricks or boards for testing, wanting to protect the students' fingers. Not that the classes are for the faint of heart. "If you get hit, you get hit," Passero said. "This is as real as it gets."
Thursday, September 27, 2007
like a circus performer.'" In addition to his circus-like feats, Nagle also challenged heavyweights and was even offered the opportunity to be Elvis Presley's bodyguard, though he declined. Making all of this even more impressive was Nagle's relatively small stature. "He was a bag of bones," Passero said.
Publish Post
Passero, a Bayonne resident for 45 years who retired from professional fighting in 1987, is now focused on being an instructor. When asked what he likes most about running the school, he said his greatest benefit was teaching the children, many of whom have gone on to achieve great success personally and professionally. He pointed proudly to the photos of past students that line the walls. "There's a story on all of them," he said.
And he is clearly teaching his students well.
"I'm fighting five-year olds, and they're winning," he said with a smile.
One aspect of the AOKA that Passero is particularly proud of is that in order to teach at the school, you have to have been a student there, as well. "Everyone who teaches on this floor is homegrown," he said.
Passero's school offers co-ed classes for children and adults. The AOKA does not allow the breaking of bricks or boards for testing, wanting to protect the students' fingers. Not that the classes are for the faint of heart. "If you get hit, you get hit," Passero said. "This is as real as it gets."
Thanks for your support of the 2007 Don Nagle Tournament
October 1, 2007
Dear Friends,
This past September marked a milestone in Martial Arts History. The Don Nagle American Okinawan Karate Association, (AOKA) Inc. celebrated 50 years of Isshinryu Karate. On September 21, 2007, the AOKA honored over two hundred martial arts practitioners. These karate-kas were inducted into the Hall of Fame, witnessed by over 350 guests and friends. The following day we had almost 700 attendees at the annual tournament. All this occurred as part of our celebration honoring the half-century mark of the Don Nagle AOKA, Inc.
The Executive Board of the AOKA extends our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the inductees and participants. We truly witnessed the best that the martial arts have to offer at these two events.
The Board operates under the direction of late Grandmaster Don Nagle’s chosen leader, Grandmaster, Edward F. McGrath, 10th Dan. Ralph D. Passero, 9th Dan, President, and Dr. Michael A. Wanko, 8th Dan, CEO. However, the outstanding services rendered by all the Black Belts at the tournament must not go overlooked. Everyone present extended themselves to make the tournament run smoothly. Special thanks to Shihan Rick Norris and Shihan Dennis Hoare who made the tournament run seamlessly.
“The Legend of Don Nagle Lives On”
Grandmaster Edward F. McGrath
CEO Michael A. Wanko, Ph.D.
President Ralph D. Passero
Dear Friends,
This past September marked a milestone in Martial Arts History. The Don Nagle American Okinawan Karate Association, (AOKA) Inc. celebrated 50 years of Isshinryu Karate. On September 21, 2007, the AOKA honored over two hundred martial arts practitioners. These karate-kas were inducted into the Hall of Fame, witnessed by over 350 guests and friends. The following day we had almost 700 attendees at the annual tournament. All this occurred as part of our celebration honoring the half-century mark of the Don Nagle AOKA, Inc.
The Executive Board of the AOKA extends our sincere thanks and appreciation to all the inductees and participants. We truly witnessed the best that the martial arts have to offer at these two events.
The Board operates under the direction of late Grandmaster Don Nagle’s chosen leader, Grandmaster, Edward F. McGrath, 10th Dan. Ralph D. Passero, 9th Dan, President, and Dr. Michael A. Wanko, 8th Dan, CEO. However, the outstanding services rendered by all the Black Belts at the tournament must not go overlooked. Everyone present extended themselves to make the tournament run smoothly. Special thanks to Shihan Rick Norris and Shihan Dennis Hoare who made the tournament run seamlessly.
“The Legend of Don Nagle Lives On”
Grandmaster Edward F. McGrath
CEO Michael A. Wanko, Ph.D.
President Ralph D. Passero
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