Steve Banchick
Massachusetts, USA

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Biography

After graduating from Brockton High school in 1968 Steve went directly to junior college but it didn't take long to realize that the timing wasn't right.  With the Viet Nam war at full strength and the draft plucking his friends away from the neighborhood Steve decided to enlist in the US Air Force for 4 years. After completing military training school as a medical specialist Steve's first assignment was Minot North Dakota. Being an energetic and highly motivated individual always involved in sports, Steve looked for a karate school to help keep fit as well as pass the time while away from home. Steve started training in the Japanese art of ShitoRyu Karate do. This training continued until he received orders to ship out overseas. Steve was sent to Taiwan where he was assigned to the medical group that supported wounded Vietnam vets.

Although these were very busy times there was still spare time in which to pursue personal interests and hobbies. While many of Steve's acquaintances chose the bar scene Steve's first priority was to seek out a martial arts school to continue his training. The base gym offered many martial arts programs. After carefully evaluating them, Steve was allowed into the Kempo school on base and quickly asked to come train at the main dojo in downtown Taichung.  This training was reserved mostly for locals and only students from the base program that the sensei thought to be serious students.

The war was winding down and orders were issued for a major cut back overseas and Steve was shipped back to the states to Pease AF Base, NH. While stationed at Pease, Steve had the opportunity to train with many people in Goju Karate, Aikido, TKD, Bando and traditional Okinawan weapons. The diversity of people returning from overseas offered a wealth of knowledge for those with common interests, fortunate to have found each other.

After returning home it didn't take Steve long to find his way to the local Mattson Academy of Karate, Uechi ryu. Three weeks into training he invited his friend Peggy Hess to join a class and they soon became training partners and regulars in any class they were allowed to train in. This was the beginning of the association with Jack Summers, owner/director of the Mattson Academy of Brockton, MA.  Having a degree in physical education, Steve began teaching a karate program at a local gymnastic school which eventually led to the development and opening of the Okinawan Karate Club in Stoughton MA.  Many years, three moves and many black belt students later, the OKC as it is known, still flourishes under Steve's supervision.

Several trips to Okinawa and countless camps and seminars helped Steve develop a relationship with Okinawa and senior teachers in Okinawa.  Although looking back, Steve says the beginning was somewhat shaky and difficult, perseverance got him through any hard times that fell at his feet. The one thing he says he learned from his experiences is that anything is possible if you point yourself in the right direction and have the right people around you. Steve says he continues to train and teach, not so much for himself anymore but out of respect for those that have come before him and those that have had the confidence in him to guide them in their journey in Shohei/Uechi ryu karate do.

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Questions:

At what age did you begin to study karate?
21

Why did you choose to study karate?
Being in the military and away from home and family I started ShitoRyu Karate Do in Minot ND for health and fitness. I was not into the bar scene and wanted a healthy activity to use up my spare time. I had friends back home already proficient in Uechi karate and always had the interest.

Was there a reason why you chose to study Uechi Ryu?
Upon returning home from serving my tour of duty in the Air Force 1973, I joined the school that my friends were affiliated with which happened to be Uechi Ryu. This was my first contact with Jack Summers and the rest is history.

What does this tour to Okinawa mean to you?
Because of the nature of the tour and it being inspired and developed by the person closest to me in Shohei Uechi Ryu I give this my fullest support. For my women students who will be participating in this adventure I feel so happy and proud to have been there watching them grow and to now be able to take their training to a higher level and see them travel to the "mother land" of martial arts.

How has your martial arts study affected or changed your life?
Having been faced with many obstacles during my 30 year involvement in karate I have seen myself meet and beat challenges placed at my feet. I have developed an inner strength which has helped me get past issues which I have seen stop the average person. My love for teaching and loyalty to those who have come before me has kept me going for 30 years now, never once thinking that I made the wrong choice in making sacrifices to keep my dojo and affiliations alive.