Mark Staniszewski
Encyclopedia
Mark Staniszewski; also known as Mark Stan (b. Aug. 1973) is Long Island's first dual black belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
and Judo
; and a Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee.
, and Tae Kwon Do under 1988 Olympic coach Y.H. Park. An East Meadow High School wrestling team captain under Hall of Famer John Hamilton, Staniszewski went on to wrestle for Cortland State under Olympic alternate Gene Neiman. While in college he discovered the Olympic sport of judo
. In 1996, Staniszewski was introduced to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
by childhood friend UFC veteran Matt Serra
. Finding them to be perfect complements to each other, Staniszewski trained and competed in both disciplines under world renowned practitioners and instructors. His unique style has been influenced by legendary martial artists and friends: John Lucas, UFC veteran Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie
and Joe Moreira
. Staniszewski has earned State, National, Pan American and World Championships.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
and Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
; and a Martial Arts Hall of Fame inductee.
Biography
Staniszewski was introduced into the martial arts at the age of 5, studying various styles of karateKarate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, and Tae Kwon Do under 1988 Olympic coach Y.H. Park. An East Meadow High School wrestling team captain under Hall of Famer John Hamilton, Staniszewski went on to wrestle for Cortland State under Olympic alternate Gene Neiman. While in college he discovered the Olympic sport of judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. In 1996, Staniszewski was introduced to the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art, combat sport, and a self defense system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting...
by childhood friend UFC veteran Matt Serra
Matt Serra
Matthew John Serra is an American mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. He is a former UFC Welterweight Champion and an ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship silver medalist. He began practicing martial arts at an early age, first studying kung fu...
. Finding them to be perfect complements to each other, Staniszewski trained and competed in both disciplines under world renowned practitioners and instructors. His unique style has been influenced by legendary martial artists and friends: John Lucas, UFC veteran Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie
Renzo Gracie is a Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr. and a former mixed martial arts competitor in the Ultimate Fighting Championship . He is member of the Gracie family of Brazil. He is the son of Robson Gracie, grandson of Carlos Gracie, nephew of Carlos...
and Joe Moreira
Joe Moreira
Jose Carlos Moreira is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and a former mixed martial artist.-Early life and career:Joe was born inside a taxicab in front of a Rio de Janeiro hospital...
. Staniszewski has earned State, National, Pan American and World Championships.
Judo
- Rank: Black Belt (3rd degree).
- Certifications: USA Judo, United States Judo Federation, Kodokan
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Rank: Black Belt
- Certifications: IBJJF, USBJJF, United States Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu).
Notable Accomplishments
- First athlete in history to win Pan American Championships in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
- Captain of Team USA at the 2009 World Judo Masters Championships where he led the US to a bronze medal (tied with Russia).
- The only US athlete to medal in both the Elite and Masters divisions at the 2009 USA Judo Nationals and World Team Trials.
- Won both the Elite and Masters divisions at the 2009 East Coast Championships.
- Ranked in USA Judo's Top 10 Elite Athletes in America in 2009 and 2010.
- Voted USA Judo's Most Outstanding Masters Athlete for 2010.
- Finished the 2005 NAGA grappling season ranked #1 in the nation. Nationally ranked 2003,04',05',06',08',09',2010
- Known in competition for his devastating sode guruma jime (Ezekiel choke). He utilized an Ezekiel choke to defeat Jim Hannan in the finals of the (no-gi) Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships; he beat undefeated submission grappler Steve Quinn in a charity Heavyweight Championship bout at Fight Club #4; and he defeated Nicholas Gohn by Ezekiel to advance to the medal round at the 2009 USA Judo National Championships and World Team Trials.
- On Oct. 2, 2009, Staniszewski competed in a charity main event against undefeated 300 lb (136.1 kg) fighter Steve Quinn. Staniszewski won by submission 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, and Sloan Kettering Cancer Research.
Gold
| Year | Championship |
|---|---|
| 2010 | NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult-Heavyweight Expert) |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (M2, +100 kg,;) (5TH-International Open/World Team Trials) ---- (NO-GI) PAN AMERICAN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (Ultra-Heavy) |
|
| CLASSIC RULES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (M1 and M2 +100 kg) | |
| EMPIRE STATE GAMES QUALIFIER (Open) | |
| 2009 | (NO-GI)PAN AMERICAN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (Senior Heavyweight) |
| (NO-GI)PAN AMERICAN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (Absolute) | |
| PAN AMERICAN JUDO MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP (M1 and M2, +100 kg,) | |
| EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP (+100 kg; Senior Elite) | |
| EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP (+100 kg; M1 and M2) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Adult-Super Heavyweight Expert Brown/Black) | |
| FIGHT CLUB #4 (Heavyweight) | |
| 2008 | PAN AMERICAN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (Senior Heavyweight) |
| (NO-GI)PAN AMERICAN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (Absolute) | |
| NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult-Super Heavy Expert) | |
| NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Masters- Super Heavy Expert) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Adult-Super Heavy Expert) | |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (M1, +100 kg) | |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (M1, Open) | |
| 2007 | EMPIRE STATES GAMES (Elite Open) |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (M1, +100 kg) | |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (M1, Open) | |
| WARRIOR CHALLENGE MMA TOURNAMENT (Heavyweight) | |
| 2006 | USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS (M1, +100 kg) |
| EMPIRE STATES GAMES (Elite Open) | |
| EMPIRE STATE GAMES QUALIFIER (OPEN CLASS) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult No Gi-Heavyweight) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Masters-Super Heavyweight) | |
| 2005 | NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult-Heavyweight Expert) |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Masters-Heavyweight Expert) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Int. Heavyweight -No Gi) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Int. Heavyweight – Gi) | |
| 2004 | NYS BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (Hwt.) |
| NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Heavyweight Expert) | |
| 2003 | NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult-Int. No Gi) |
| NORTHEASTERN INVITATIONAL (98 kg) | |
| GRAPPLERS QUEST U.S. NATIONALS (Hwt. No-Gi) | |
| 2000 | S.I. INVITATIONAL (98 kg) |
Silver
| Year | Championship |
|---|---|
| 2010 | NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult-Super Heavyweight Expert) |
| CLASSIC RULES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Senior Elite Open) ---- PAN AMERICAN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIPS (No-Gi Absolute) ---- EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS (+100KG, M1 and M2 combined) ---- EMPIRE STATE GAMES (Open) |
|
| 2009 | USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (M2, +100 kg) |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Masters-Super Heavyweight Expert) | |
| 2008 | NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Masters-Super Heavy Expert) |
| 2006 | USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (M1, Open) |
| LIBERTY BELL GAMES (+100KG) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Masters- Super Heavy Expert) | |
| 2005 | EMPIRE STATE GAMES (Elite +100 kg) |
| LIBERTY BELL GAMES (+100KG) | |
| NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (No Gi-Masters Expert) | |
| NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Gi Masters Expert) | |
| 2004 | NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Int. Masters) |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Int. Adult) | |
| EMPIRE STATE GAMES (Elite +100 kg) | |
| 2002 | NORTHEASTERN INVITATIONAL (Elite 98 kg) |
| GRAPPLERS QUEST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Hwt. No-Gi) | |
| 1999 | EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP (Senior Elite +100KG) |
Bronze
| Year | Championship |
|---|---|
| 2010 | STARRETT CUP (+100 kg) ---- EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPION (+100 kg) |
| 2009 | WORLD JUDO MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP (+100 kg, M2 |
| WORLD JUDO MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP (Team USA) | |
| PAN AMERICAN JUDO MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP (Ne-waza) | |
| PAN AMERICAN JUDO MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIP (Team USA) | |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (+100 kg, Senior Elite) (3RD World Team Trials) |
|
| 2008 | EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP (Senior Elite +100KG) |
| 2007 | EAST COAST JUDO CHAMPIONSHIP (Senior Elite +100KG) |
| 2007-LIBERTY BELL GAMES (+100KG) | |
| 2005 | USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (M1, +100 kg) |
| USA JUDO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (M1, Open) | |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Int. Super Heavyweight – Gi) | |
| 2004 | NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Adult Heavyweight Expert) |
| 2003 | EMPIRE STATE GAMES (Elite 98 kg) |
| NAGA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Adult Int. Heavy) | |
| 2002 | NORTH AMERICAN GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP (Int. Adult.) |
| EMPIRE STATE GAMES (Elite 98 kg) | |
| 2001 | APA INVITATIONAL (Senior Elite 98 kg) |
| EMPIRE STATE GAMES (Elite 98 kg) | |
| NORTHEASTERN INVITATIONAL (Elite 98 kg) |