Biography of Sensei Gerard (Jerry) Weis

I was born in Ulysses, Kansas on August 13, 1955. I started practicing the Martial Arts when I was nine, while living with my sister in Dodge City, Kansas. I continued to study the arts where-ever I found myself. The Arts have been a way of life for me and have helped me accomplish most of my goals.

Over the years I have studied many different forms; Judo, Karate, Aikido, Ju Jitsu, and Kung Fu, to mention a few. When I was nine my sister enrolled me in a Judo course at the local Y.M.C.A. There I meant my first Instructor....Robert Douglas, now a seventh Dan teaching Judo in the Boston area. Under Sensei Douglas I attained the level of a green Belt, in just under 2 years.

I moved my senior year in high school and started on my second and third forms...Aikido/Ju Jist Su, from Sensei James Gardner of Enid, Oklahoma, attaining my green belt in both.

When I Graduated from High School, I left for California, to continue my education at the college level. At this time I was fortunate enough to train under Dale Cobb, a Seventh Degree of Loa Ki Laos, a Sixth Degree in Wu Shu and a Sixth Degree of White Crane Kung Fu, and his brother Don who was also a Black Belt in Loa Ki Laos, and White Crane and a Third degree black belt in Shalon Five Animal Form. I stayed with their school for 10 years and attained Black Belt Fourth Degree.

In 1983 the Air Force saw fit to send me to Korea; there I found Master Ko and studied with him till leaving in 1984. Master Ko inducted me into the Circle of Masters and bestowed upon me my Fifth Degree in Loa Ki Laos Kung Fu.

After leaving Korea the Air Force Stationed Me here in Alamogordo, NM. and for eight years I practiced on my own. In 1993 My Sons, Joseph and Christopher started taking Lessons at the Way of Japan, School of Karate, under Sensei Herman Luette. I soon caught the bug again and started formal lessons myself.

After 4 years of hard practice and work I have attained my second Black Belt, I bought the Way of Japan School from Sensei Luette, and ran the Way of Japan for two years. I closed the school in 1999. The reasons for this were my personal health as well as family problems. Closing it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I felt as if I was letting my students down, over 130 of them, but it was for the best.

I have continued to practice, to study and to learn since then. I have attained my 3rd Dan in Shotokan Karate.

Now I am detailing my diverse learning's my previous instructors have given me and will try to combine it into this manual for all. Now I am again opening a new school that will be much more diverse and incorporate all the different forms I have previously learned into a more comprehensive method for self defense.

I have set my standards high and am hoping that you, my future students, will benefit from and enjoy this school .. The Complete Martial Arts.

Sensei Gerard M. Weis , Sandan Shotokan Karate