Mark Staniszewski

Mark Staniszewski; also known as Mark Stan and "Judo-Mark" (born August 1973) is an American born martial artist who is considered one of the most experienced grapplers in America. He is the first athlete to win Pan American Championships in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo;[2] and he is a Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee.[3]

Mark Staniszewski
Born (1973-08-19) August 19, 1973
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Other names"Mark Stan" "Judo-Mark"
NationalityAmerican
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight230 lb (100 kg; 16 st)[1]
StyleJudo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling

Biography

Staniszewski was born August 19, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York to parents Thaddeus and Joan Staniszewski. He moved at an early age to East Meadow on Long Island, where he was raised alongside his siblings Michael and Jan. Staniszewski was first introduced into the martial arts at the age of 5, studying various styles of karate; and Tae Kwon Do under 1988 Olympic coach Yeon Hee Park. Staniszewski began his grappling career wrestling in Junior High School, going undefeated while in middle school. An All-County wrestler at East Meadow High School, Staniszewski was named co-team captain by Hall of Fame Coach John Hamilton. In addition to wrestling, Staniszewski played varsity football and track and field for the East Meadow High School Jets. Staniszewski went on to wrestle at Cortland State under Olympic alternate Gene Neiman, earning a starting position as a freshman on the dual-meet national team. Staniszewski's wrestling career was cut short due to two separate season ending knee injuries sustained during matches. After surgeries and rehabilitation, Staniszewski returned to competitive sports by securing a starting position as "left prop" for an all-English rugby team while studying abroad at the University of North London, England. There, he was introduced to the sport of judo by one of his teammates. He graduated with a degree in Sociology as a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta national honor society. After college, Staniszewski continued practicing judo and in 1996, he began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the garage of childhood friend and former UFC champion Matt Serra. Finding them to be the perfect complement, Staniszewski trained and competed in both disciplines for over two decades. His innovative and unique grappling style has earned him international accolades in Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Grappling and Wrestling. He is widely regarded as one of the most experienced grapplers in America.[4][5][6]

Personal life

Tragedy struck in February 2013, when Staniszewski's 14 month old son Jake was diagnosed with a rare pediatric cancer (Stage 4 Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma). The martial arts community rallied around the Staniszewski family to lend their support. A series of seminars and events were held by elite athletes Joe D"Arce, Alex and Christopher Vamos, Matt Serra, Eddie "The Truck" Gordan, Steven Sciandra, Joe Scarola, Nick Kossor, Tony Sangimino, Brad Bolen, Hannah Martin, Mansher Khera, Danis Dillon and many more to support their friend and colleague. Celebrities, radio and television personalities like Glenn Beck, Tara Setmayer, John Theissen,Teddy Atlas and Jenny McCarthy also lended their support. The Staniszewski's fight for Jake took them from the United States to Germany and beyond in search of a novel and experimental treatment plan. During this plight, Staniszewski received news of his younger brother Michael's unexpected death due to a sudden illness. Less than nine months after his brother's death, Staniszewski's son Jake (age 2), died of cancer.,[7] Jake's Story

The Comeback

Staniszewski returned to competition in 2015, entering the Police and Fire World Championships. With over 12,000 athletes from 70 different countries, Staniszewski earned silver medals in both Judo and Submission Grappling. Later that year, Staniszewski suffered a life-threatening heart attack while teaching classes that would seemingly end his martial arts career; but in 2017, Staniszewski entered the Police and Fire World Games once again, earning a silver medal in judo and the Championship title in Submission Grappling. [1][2][8][9]

Judo Rank
  • Rank: Black Belt (4th degree) under USJF, Kodokan, USA Judo and IJF. .[10][11][12][13]

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Rank

Notable
  • International medalist in Judo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Grappling and Wrestling.
  • Formally ranked on USA Judo's elite top ten point list.
  • Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Most Outstanding Competitor).
  • First athlete to win Pan American Championships in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.[23][24][25][26]
  • Captain of Team USA at the 2009 World Judo Masters Championships. Led the US to a bronze medal (tied with Russia).[27]
  • The only athlete to medal in both the Elite and Masters divisions at the 2009 USA Judo Nationals and World Team Trials.
  • Gold medalist in both the Elite and Masters divisions at the 2009 East Coast Championships.[28]
  • USA Judo's Most Outstanding Masters Athlete for 2010.
  • Most notable technique: sode guruma jime (Ezekiel choke).
  • On Oct. 2, 2009, Staniszewski competed in a charity main event against undefeated 300 lb (140 kg) fighter Steve Quinn.[29] Staniszewski won by submission[30] and raised thousands of dollars for martial arts based charities including: The Blind Judo Foundation, Rusty Kanokogi Memorial Fund, Jeff R. Lorio Memorial Scholarship Fund.[31]

Career highlights
GOLDSILVERBRONZE
2006 Empire State Games (Judo)2010 Empire State Games (Judo)2003 Empire State Games (Judo)
2007 Empire State Games (Judo)2005 Empire State Games (Judo)2002 Empire State Games (Judo)
2004 NYS BJJ Championships2004 Empire State Games (Judo)2001 Empire State Games (Judo)
2009 East Coast Judo Championships1999 East Coast Judo Championships2010 East Coast Masters Judo Championships
2009 East Coast Masters Judo Championships2010 East Coast Judo Championships2011 East Coast Judo Championships
2012 Hudson Judo Cup2011 East Coast Masters Judo Championships2009 Starrett Cup
2012 Starrett Cup - Masters2012 Starrett Cup2009 USA Judo National Championships
2010 USA Judo Masters National Championships2009 USA Judo Masters National Championships2005 USA Judo Masters National Championships
2008 USA Judo Masters National Championships2006 USA Judo Masters National Championships (open)2005 USA Judo Masters National Championships (open)
2008 USA Judo Masters National Championships (open)2002 Grapplers Quest World Championships2009 Pan American Judo Masters Championship (Team USA)
2007 USA Judo Masters National Championships2010 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi, absolute)2012 Western BJJ Championships (absolute)
2007 USA Judo Masters National Championships (open)2015 World Police/Fire Games (Submission Grappling)2009 USA Judo World Team Trials
2006 USA Judo Masters National Championships2015 World Police/Fire Games (Judo)2009 World Judo Masters Championships (Team USA)
2010 NAGA World Championships (expert)2009 World Judo Masters Championships
2009 NAGA World Championships (black/brown)2011 World Police/Fire Games (Greico Roman)
2008 NAGA World Championships (expert)
2006 NAGA World Championships (advanced)
2005 NAGA World Championships (advanced)
2004 North American Grappling Championships (expert)
2002 Grapplers Quest US Nationals
2012 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi)
2010 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi)
2009 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi)
2009 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi, absolute)
2008 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi)
2008 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi, absolute)
2009 Pan American Judo Masters Championships
2009 Pan American BJJ Championships (no-gi, absolute)
2012 Western BJJ Championships
2007 Warrior Challenge MMA Tournament
2009 Fight Club #4
2012 Wrestling Under The Lights
2017 Police/Fire World Games (Sub. Grappling)
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References
  1. "Matt Serra". Sherdog. Retrieved 2013-01-01.
  2. "News 12 Interview".
  3. "US Hall of Fame".
  4. "Local Judo athletes compete in Empire State Games". Massapequa Post. January 9, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  5. "World Masters Judo Association (Atlanta) – JudoForum.com – Page 4.33333333333". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  6. "2006 USA Masters". Judophotos.com. Archived from the original on October 15, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  7. https://www.facebook.com/LoveForJake
  8. http://greatneckrecord.com/staniszewski-is-a-winner/
  9. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/12/world-police-and-fire-games-2015-to-be-held-in-fai/
  10. "2009 USA Judo Senior National Championships | U.S. Olympic Events | USA Judo". Judo.teamusa.org. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  11. "Nationally Ranked". Nationally Ranked. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  12. "Usa Judo". Usjudo.org. March 9, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  13. "Masters National Rankings | USA Judo". Judo.teamusa.org. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  14. CombatJudo (March 8, 2011). "Martial Arts Masters From Around ths U.S. Meet in AZ (Judo, BJJ, Muay". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  15. "Mark Staniszewski Promoted to BJJ Black Belt". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
  16. "Judo and BJJ". JudoForum.com. October 11, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  17. "NAGA World Championships". JudoForum.com. April 13, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  18. "NAGA World Championships". JudoForum.com. April 13, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  19. "NAGC Championships". JudoForum.com. November 11, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  20. "Mark Staniszewski at NAGA, November 8, 2008". YouTube. November 9, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  21. "Combat Judo & BJJ – JudoForum.com – Page 2". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  22. "Feature Story NYMA Magazine". JudoForum.com. February 9, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  23. "Long Island Instructor Makes History". Monkeygripworld.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  24. CombatJudo (January 4, 2010). "Mark Staniszewski (LIMA Academy/Combat Judo)". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  25. "Mark "Stan-The-Man" Staniszewski". JudoForum.com. November 23, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  26. "Mark Staniszewski (Pan American Champion)". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  27. "Garden City's Staniszewski Captures Bronze at Judo Championships". Antonnews.com. September 11, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  28. CombatJudo. "Combat University". JudoForum.com. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  29. "Long Island News – Fight Club IV Comes to Uniondale | Long Island Press Releases". Longislandexchange.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  30. 28 juli 2009 (November 8, 2008). "NYFC4 Mark Staniszewski vs Steve Quinn [Bout 14]". YouTube. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
  31. "Judo and MMA". JudoForum.com. July 24, 2009. Retrieved March 20, 2010.
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