Beloved Sensei Gerry Blanck will host the 43rd Anniversary of his dojo at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at the Santa Monica Hilton. Palisades honorary co-mayors Gigi Rice and Ted McGinley will be on hand to help with the “From Fire to Future” festivities.
Ted McGinley and Gigi Rice attend the gala. Photo by Greg Grudt/UPI
There will be dinner and music. A silent and live auction will be available, and awards will be made.
Blanck’s dojo offers group classes as well as private instruction in Yoshukai Karate, Kick Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Self Defense. His space, located on Marquez Avenue, burned during the January 7 fires.
He has temporarily relocated to 1828 Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica at the MuDo Dojo.
Blanck, a former WKA world kickboxing champion, an 8th degree black belt, was a major martial arts force in Pacific Palisades.
Tamar Springer, who has worked out in Blanck’s dojo for 18 years, said ‘Gerry is a hero in Pacific Palisades. He has helped countless children and families with the many benefits of martial arts, including mental, emotional and physical well-being. He is as friendly as can be and real light in our community.
“We need to help him rebuild and stay in business so he can continue doing what only he can do,” Springer said. “It’s magical.”
After initially teaching in five different clubs at 881 Alma Real, La Sante, Tech Fitness, Pritikin, Century and Pacific Athletic Club – which moved to Sunset and PCH), he and Emily Kay Tillman of Fancy Feet Dance Studio, in 1994, took the lower level spaces that had been occupied by health clubs. They added flooring and mirrors for dance and martial arts. In March 2022, Blanck moved to his dojo to Marquez Avenue.
“For over four decades, Gerry Blanck’s Martial Arts Center has instilled discipline, confidence, and resilience in our children. The fire may have taken our training space, but it could never take away our spirit. Seeing the dojo reopen is a powerful reminder of our community’s strength and unity—our kids are finally coming home,” said Alan Savoian, father of 10-year-old Eden, a bronze medalist in an international karate tournament in Las Vegas in February—just weeks after losing her home.
Blanck’s message to students is simple: “Discipline. Focus. No excuses.”
He has always been active in the community, routinely marching in the July 4 parade with his students, giving exhibitions at events and annually sponsoring a Pacific Palisades Baseball Association team.
In March, the MuDo Dojo, and Ace Aikido communities, joined Blanck for a fire relief and community rebuilding event.
Now residents have a chance to support him by attending the gala. Call (310) 428-0110. For tickets, click here.