Sensei Josh Blockus
Sensei Joshua Blockus is the instructor of Mushin Budo Karatedo and Python Jujitsu Team in Nanticoke, Pa. He has been studying all forms of wrestling for the past 20 years and instructed Jujitsu for 2 years at Rogers Martial arts. Sensei Blockus is a 1995 graduate of Wyoming Valley West High School and former varsity wrestling stand out. He is a former assistant varsity wrestling coach at Pittston Area High School and a former assistant Junior High wrestling coach at the Wyoming Valley West Middle School. In high school Blockus' wrestling team was one of the best in the state and enjoyed several undefeated seasons. As a coach at Pittston Area, the team he assisted was undefeated three years in a row and had several wrestlers garnering PIAA state medals and continuing their collegiate careers in Division 1 wrestling programs. Sensei Blockus was also accepted to be a Division 1 wrestler at Wilkes University in 1995 but declined the opportunity.
Sensei Blockus currently holds a Shodan in karate under Nidai Soke Matthew Durant, and is recognized as a Shodan in karate by Master Alan Shen Cheung. He currently trains for Nidan in karate with Master Alan Cheung and is also a member of his national karate team, Team CMC. Sensei Blockus is also affiliated with Rick Rogers Martial Arts Association in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Sensei Blockus currently holds a Shodan in the Japanese sword styles of Toyama Ryu/ Nakamura Ryu Battodo Happo Giri & Mushin Budo Iai Jutsu under Nidai Soke Matthew Durant. He also holds a Shodan in Ryu Sei Ken Kenjitsu under Soke Mitsuhiro Saruta under the direction of Master Matthew Durant. He also is currently ranked Shodan-ho in the Rick Rogers Martial Arts Assoc. system.
Sensei Blockus has also attended private classes with Grand Master Sifu John Kinkead of American Fighting Arts located in Erie,Pa. for increased knowledge of Indonesian Cun Tao and Kung Fu. He has also attended seminars on Self Defense & Aiki Jutsu directed by Master Larry Roiz and Soke William Cavalier the founder of Tatsu Do Karate.
Sensei Blockus is also a certified Level 1 Reiki Practitioner under Master Renee Arledge. Master Arledge's Reiki lineage can be traced back 100 years ago to the founder of Reiki, Master Mikao Usui.
Sensei Blockus is a member of The International Battodo Shizan Association and is also a member of USA Judo. He is also an assistant coach and member of Team CMC Wilkes-Barre. Sensei Blockus is available for private wrestling practices to aide in the success and development of young wrestlers that want to improve their game. He is also available for judo, jujitsu, karate and grappling seminars.
The Old Ways
"I listen to how everyone that trains in karate says it's tough. Well .....karate isn't for everyone...neither is wrestling...or jujitsu. My martial arts instructors tell me old war stories of how ...." we used to land on hardwood floors"...or..."there was no heat and we were freezing". Well my road wasn't much different. The wrestling program that I was a part of in high school was extremely tough. If you made it through practice you could make it through anything."
"The wrestling room was 110 degrees and full of wrestlers from different schools that came to train with us daily. It used to get so hot in the room that the windows would sweat and the condensation on the ceiling would fall like rain. We would drill for three hours straight...or sprint for an hour and a half. People would throw up from practice on a daily basis.....and we would push ourselves to exhaustion. Not to mention twenty rounds of live wrestling for 1 minute periods...or the dreaded 15 minute rounds."
"Or how about getting the crap kicked out of you by the coaches? Practice then could be considered torture to what it is now. You had to be a good wrestler in that wrestling room other wise you got pounded on. It was a psycho head game ...and resistance was futile...but we all managed to be the best."
"Both wrestling and karate both have their war stories.....the moral of the story was that nothing could happen outside that could be worse than what you were being subjected to inside. It taught you how to adapt to stress and be resilient and resourceful. And never quit.....never ever quit. When you quit ....you fail yourself. Even when the odds are against you....never quit. The harder you work ..the sweeter the reward. This is how I was brought up in the grappling world. So.....there is no "I'm tired" or "I think I'm going to be sick" . Just get up and wrestle. Push yourself. Both in the "martial world" and the "grappling world". And reap the rewards."
- Sensei Blockus
