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Jack Stern was born in November of 1929 during the height of our country’s great depression (his first bad break in life). Coming from a poor family, he started working at a very early age shining shoes and running errands. He tried to enlist in the service during World War II, but was returned to school because he was too young. During his senior year in high school at the age of 16 he successfully enlisted in the army by forging his mother’s approval.
During Basic Training in Texas, Stern was confronted by the army. During the process of official discharge, his mother approved his enlistment, thereby allowing him to serve a three-year stint beginning in 1947. After Basic Training he entered the airborne units. After his qualifying jumps, he was assigned to occupation duty in Asia.
In those days, all personnel assigned overseas traveled by boat. After 31 days at sea with stops all over the Pacific, Stern was assigned to the 11th Airborne unit, stationed in Korea. It was there, in the beautiful country of “Kimchee” and honey buckets that he became interested in the ancient art of Judo, the gentle way of self defense. In the small village of Chinhae, Korea, he met his life-long friend Kun Lee Chu, a young Korean boy in the R.O.K forces. Chu is currently the liaison for the K.Y.A.
Chu and Jack studied together under Master Tae Ju Chung (deceased). In the middle of 1948, Jackie’s unit was moved out after one year of duty in Korea, one year being the required tour length at the time. The unit moved to Clark Field, in northern Luzon in the Philippines, where Jackie spent 2 years playing war games and learning some Philippine “stick fighting” from a Filipino scout named Bernabe Paragas. Bernabe, too, became a life-long friend, and now resides in California.
In late 1949, Stern’s unit was ready for stateside duty. They were relocated to Okinawa awaiting their return to the U.S. (and Stern’s discharge). After 8 uncomfortable months on Okinawa, during which time he trained with the Grandmaster O-Sensei Yamaguchi Gogen in Goju Karate, and with a fixed return date of June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea. All troops were “frozen,” and the 11th Airborne was redeployed to Japan.
After 2 weeks of heavy training, Stern’s unit was grouped with the 187th Airborne Regimental combat team. He went from the replacement depot in Yokohama to southern Japan and into Korea. In 1953, the war ended. Stern re-enlisted for duty in Japan. During this two-year tour, he went back to the brown belt (and the “drawing board”). He also studied Kyokushinkai Karate three nights a week in the main Hombu in Tokyo under Master Mas Oyama, who (happily) recognized Goju ranks from Okinawa.
In 1956, Stern was discharged from the military and lived in Tokyo with the Otani family, whom he met while he was stationed at Tachikawa. In 1958, he returned to the United States for family reasons, where he continued study in the martial arts in St. Louis under Bong Yui Shin and Sung Jae Park. In Connecticut, he continued his studies under In Soo Hwang. In 1960 he opened the famous Paja Dojo school, which has hosted in its 27 years O-Sensei Mas Oyama while on his visit to the United States, Robert Trias, the Korean Olympic team while en route to the Pan American games, and a host of others. In 1964, he was performing two shows daily at the New York World’s Fair in the Japanese pavilion.
Today Stern holds titles as Grandmaster, Soke, Hanshi, Kyoshi Shihan, but most of all, he wants to be called “Sensei,” or “Pappasan”. He holds many honors and over 10 Hall of Fames, and most recently received the martial arts medallion medal of honor.
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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
The Paja Dojo was founded in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York in the Marlboro Housing Projects. It was here that some of the world greatest martial artists taught, studied and were taught, and this led to the formation of the KYHA (Originally called KYA but later to include a "H" so as to incorporate a wider variety of styles and systems).
1963:
Hosted Grandmaster Mas. Oyama. A private visit in preparation for his event at Madison Square Gardens in New York. Grandmaster Jack Stern received a plaque from Grandmaster Oyama on this visit.
1964:
Hosted Grandmaster Mas. Oyama for his tournament. Grandmaster Jack Stern had the pleasure of having Grandmaster Oyama as a guest in his house on this visit.
Hosted Grandmaster Robert Trias (Founder of the US Karate Association).
1964 - 1965:
Grandmaster Jack Stern received a letter of commendation for appearing at the New York Worlds Fair in the Japanese Pavillion under Grandmaster Naraki Hara.
1965:
Hosted & trained with the Korean Olympic team (From the Korean Yudo College in Korea) as they were en route to South America for the Pan American games.
Grandmaster Jack Stern received a letter of commendation from Congressman Spark Matsunaga for outstanding contribution to Martial Arts.
1968:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was awarded the first "Singer Award" memorial trophy in memory of Rabbi Morton Singer (US Army chaplin & student at the Paja Dojo) who was killed in action in Chu Lai, Vietnam in Dec. 1968.
1970:
Grandmaster Jack Stern acted as personal bodyguard to the son of the Consulate General of Finland and also taught him at the Paja Dojo. Grandmaster Jack Stern received a letter of commendation for his actions.
1995:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the Christian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Golden Life Achievement Award).
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the World Head of Family Soke Council (Instructor of the Year Award).
World Head of Family Soke Council (Martial Arts Pioneer Award).
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the Eastern USA Hall of Fame (Special Recognition Award).
1996:
World Head of Family Soke Council (Grandmaster of the Year Award).
1997:
International Circle of Masters Hall of Fame (Martial Arts Medallion Medal of Honor)Awardedby founder Soke Daniel McEddy in New Jersey.
1998:
Grandmaster Jack Stern returned from a visit from Korea on which he renewed a bond of friendship. Grandmaster Jack Stern was promoted to 8th Dan at this time also.from Master Kang,Dong Koo.
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the World Jug-Tai Association Hall of Fame (Greece) and received the Golden Dragon Award.
1999:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the United Sokeship Alliance Hall of Fame (Grandmaster of the Year Award).
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame (Contribution to Martial Arts Award).
World Martial Arts League & World Combat Arts Federation Hall of Fame inducted Grandmaster Jack Stern with "Martial Arts Pioneer Award"
2000:
Grandmaster Jack Stern visited Saudi Arabia, on a personal invitation from His Royal Prince Fahad & Royal Sheik Ali-Al Atiq. Grandmaster Jack Stern was honored at banquets and received the Medal of Millennium from Prince Fahad and "Living Legend" plaques.
United Sokeship Alliance Hall of Fame (Pioneer Award).
2001:
United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Grandmaster of the Year Award).
Grandmaster Jack Stern received an award from Grandmaster & Captain Boodram of the Defense Forces of Tobago, Trinidad & the West Indies for outstanding contribution to the KYHA/WOMA.
Induction into the World Ildokwan Federation Hall of Fame (England).
Induction into the Ildokwan Soke & Head of Family Sokeship Council (England).
2002:
January - Grandmaster Jack Stern in Costa Rica in Central America promoting KYHA.
March - Grandmaster Jack Stern invited to Turkey to visit the Goshinkaikan Hombu in Ankara. Trained under Grandmaster Yigit and finished off the visit with TV appearances and an awards banquet dinner.
Inducted into the Brazilian Kickboxing Hall of Fame
Inducted into the World Wide Martial Arts Hall of Fame (category of Legendary Pioneer Award)
Grand Master Stern on the front cover of "World Alliance Martial Arts magazine".
Inducted into Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame and awarded the
"Living Legend Award".
Awarded the prestigious Honorary title of Doctor PH.D. MA for the studies of Asian & Middle Eastern cultures relating to Martial Arts.
(from Trinity College in Delaware, U.S.A.)
US Martial Arts Association. Hall of Fame: awarded Supreme Grandmaster of the Year for 2002.
International Combat Martial Arts Unions Association (Latvia) inducted Grandmaster Jack Stern with a Lifetime Membership and into their Hall of Fame as "A WORLD LEADER IN MARTIAL ARTS".
2003:
January: Grandmaster Stern inducted into the "World Wide Alliance of Martial Artists" receiving the coveted award of Grandmaster of the Year & Martial Arts Pioneer Award. Also to appear in the "who's Who in the world of Martial arts international magazine.
July: United States Martial Artist Assn. Hall of Fame in Maryland awarded Grandmaster Jack "Pappasan" Stern the Platinum Life Achievement award for his years of practice and teachings.
August: Soke Dave Shelton (founder of the Matsumura Seito Society) appointed Grandmaster Jack "Pappasan" Stern as a Senior Advisor to his association.
Dec.13,2003 in the closeing of the year Grandmaster Jack "Pappasan" Stern was honored to receive the new title of "Ichiban Shogan",which means Number One Shogan.
December 30,Ju Jitsu Federation (INDIA) in Mumbai,India. The "Asian Grandmaster Society" confered upon Soke Jack Stern the title of"WORLD KNIGHT IN MARTIAL ARTS".
THE FOLLOWING IS SPECIAL RECOGNITION FROM WORLD ORGANIZER OF MARTIAL ARTS (WOMA)
2004:
January: awarded a plaque of "Honor" from the prestigious BILALIAN RYU JU JITSU ASSN. at there annual Masters of the Martial Arts Exhibition in Bronx, N.Y.
April: Awarded at the U.S.A.Martial Arts Hall of Fame (N.Y.C.)"The Outstanding "Soke" of the year.
May:(Memorial day weekend)Grandmaster Stern awarded in Tampa,Florida at the U.S.A.Martial Arts Hall of Fame the "PioneerAward"
July: First Gathering of the Warriors (Newark,New Jersey awardedfrom the World Assn.of People with Disabilities.And the WOMA plaque for founder.
August: Los Angeles,California awarded "Pioneeer award" by Dr.Jim Thomas founder of the USA Martial Arts Karate Hall of Fame.
2005:
January : was awarded at the 8th Annual Bilalian Masters Gathering. A beautiful medal and a plaque for dedication to the martial arts.
February: A beautiful plaque and certificate of honor was sent from Master Zubiari (Pakistan WOMA representative) and a tournament will be held in honor of "Pappasan.
March: Sang Kim's Celebrity Hall of Fame (Lubbock,Texas) inducted as "LIVING LEGEND GRANDMASTER".
July: New York City. The First Budo Magazine Hall of Fame,inducted as "living Legend Grandmaster"
Sept: Baltimore,Md. Legend's Champion Hall Of Fame awarded AMERICAN PIONEER award.
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