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

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1 THE HISTORY OF MASTER JERRY OTTO Hanshi 8 th 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 1 st Degree Black belt and 2 years later was promoted to the 2 nd Degree Black belt under this system. Master Otto also credits black belt instructors: Paul Ortino, now 9 th 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. 1 P age

2 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 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 2 P age

3 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 5 th 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 (4 th Dan) in the art of Chi Ling Pai under the instruction of Master Denis Decker and master (4 th 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 wellknown 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 3 P age

4 States and Canada. Master Otto entered his first National Karate Competition at Master Dennis Brown s U.S. Capital Classics, in Washington, DC. In 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 1 st 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 3 rd 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. 4 P age

5 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 P age

6 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 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 10 th 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 9 th degree black belts directly under Judan Shugoro Nakazato. 6 P age

7 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 6 th 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 7 P age

8 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. 8 P age

9 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 10 th Degree Grand Master, Edward J. Hartzell promoted Master Otto to the rank of Hachi-Dan 8 th 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 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 9 P age

10 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 National Competitor of the Year US Karate Kempo Assoc Ranked 3 rd Place in U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1987 Ranked 3 rd Place U.S. & Canada North Amer. Sport Karate Association 1987 Ranked 1 st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1988 Senior Blackbelt Forms Ranked 1 st Place U.S. & Canada North Amer. Sport Karate Association 1988 Senior Blackbelt Forms Ranked 1 st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1988 Senior Blackbelt Weapons Ranked 1 st Place U.S. & Canada North Amer. Sport Karate Association 1988 Senior Blackbelt Weapons Hall Of Fame Professional Karate League 1988 Ranked 1 st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1989 Undefeated in Forms Ranked 1 st Place U.S. & Canada Professional Karate League 1989 Undefeated in Weapons Elected to Executive Committee Profession Karate League 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 P age

11 LINEAGE OF SHORIN-RYU KARATE KUSUNKU (Ch uan Fa) PEICHIN TAKAHORA (Okinawa-Te) SATSUNUKU TODE SAKUGAWA ( ) SOKON BUSHI MATSUMURA ( ) YASUTUNE ANKOH ITOTSU ( ) CHOSIN CHIBANA ( ) SHUORO NAKAZATO DENIS DECKER (Chi Ling Pai) ( ) ALICK SMITH EDWARD HARTZELL TADASHI YAMASHITA EBERHARD G. WELCH 10 TH DEGREE 10 TH DEGREE 10 TH DEGREE 9 TH DEGREE Shorin-ryu/ Shin Ju Ryu Kenpo Chinese Kempo JERRY OTTO 8 TH DEGREE Grand Master Shen Dragon Karate Dojo Hanshi Paul Ortino 9 th Degree Okinawa Kenpo 11 P age

12 ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS Charter Member, Yamashita International System. Since 1988 Mayor s Citizen for Community Interest Award, Phillipsburg, N.J, 1985 Security for the 14 th Dalai Lamas during his visit to the Labsum Shedrup Ling, Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center, Montana Mountain, Washington, NJ, Private Body Guard for local Corporate Executives, as well as for other Executives during international travel. Featured Speaker at PKL Annual Awards Banquet and 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, Board Chairman, Committee for Family Disaster Relief, Subject of feature articles in national and international martial arts magazines, as well as stories carried by local newspapers and television stations. 12 P age

13 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) 13 P age

14 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 P age

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

16 Christine Bannon, Ho-Sun Pak, Yo-Sun Pak, Mike Barnardo, Jerry Otto, Michael Dietrich 16 P age

17 Master Jerry Otto Diamond Nationals Master Jerry Otto Capital Classics, Washington D.C. 17 P age

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19 MASTER JERRY OTTO Shen Dragon Karate Dojo, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands 19 P age