Rank: 8th Dan
School: Bayonne AOKA Inc
Dr. Michael A. Wanko was promoted to Black Belt by Grand Master, Don Nagle, in 1967. He trained at the famous Mercer Street Dojo in Jersey City, New Jersey three nights a week and on Sunday afternoons. Mike competed during the late sixties fighting in tournaments from the metropolitan area to Washington, D.C. One of the highlights of Shihan Wankos karate career was when he had the opportunity to train with Grand Master Tatuso Shimabuku in 1967 at Shihan Nagles Dojo. Mike headed the Parent Information Class (PIC) for the Bayonne Dojo in 1996. This was a free service for parents of all children enrolled at the dojo. The classes were designed to help parents with their children-s karate training without additional financial burden. The instructors covered terminology and protocol of the dojo and demonstrated and instructed parents in the basic movements and exercises. On February 20, 1997, Grand Master Don Nagle appointed Mike as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Okinawan Karate Association, Inc. Dr. Wanko wrote the Requirements for Advancement Handbook in 1993, which is still used by many as the guide for student promotions. He also authored The Katas of Isshinryu in 1994, which contains information on the eight hand katas of Isshinryu, and was approved by Grand Master Nagle as the official document for the organization. His article, “Visualization To Enhance Training,” appeared in Sport Karate International, Issue 34 (March/April, 1992).
Dr. Wanko took a hiatus from karate during the late seventies while he concentrated on his career. During that time he served as a teacher, coach and administrator. In 1981 he was appointed as principal of one of the largest high schools in New Jersey - Bayonne High School, a position he held until 2001. Currently, he is the principal of Piscataway High School in New Jersey, a school of over 2100 students speaking 67 different languages.
During his tenure he received many awards including: the Golden Lamp Award from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) for Excellence in Educational Leadership; the prestigious Silver Medallion from the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ) as well as their Good Neighbor Award; the ARC Angel Award from the Hudson County Chapter of the Association of Retarded Citizens; the Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award from the American Jaycees; the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and MetLife State Principal of the Year; and the New Jersey State Department of Education (NJDOE) and Geraldine Dodge Foundation Principal of the Year Rewarding Visionary Leadership.
While principal of BHS he led the school to many awards such as: its selection as one of New Jersey-s Outstanding High Schools by New Jersey Magazine; NJDOE Star School - a designation awarded to schools on the cutting edge of education; four Best Practices Awards from the NJDOE; designation as a Grammy Signature School; and selection by USA Weekend Magazine as the National Model of a Safe and Supportive School.In 2002 he accepted the position as principal of Piscataway High School in New Jersey. Under his leadership, PHS was designated as a Governor-s School of Excellence, received a NJDOE Best Practices Award, received an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) grant, and was designated as a Senior Year Option School by the NJDOE. He will be overseeing the construction of $25,000,000 building project at the school beginning in the summer of 2004.
Dr. Wanko has held various positions such as: President of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association; National Chair of the Larger Secondary Schools Committee of NASSP; President of the Hudson County Principals Association; State Coordinator for NASSP; Adjunct Graduate Professor in Administration and Supervision at New Jersey City University and St. Peter-s College; President of St. Peter & Paul Church. He has been a member of the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts, the YWCA, NCCJ, Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association, St. John-s Society, and the Carpathian Club.
He is the author of Safe Schools: Crisis Prevention and Response, Scarecrow Education Press, Inc. Lanham, Maryland, and London 2001, available from Barnes&Noble.com and Amazon.com. Over the past decade he has presented programs at national conclaves for groups such as the National Association of Secondary Principals, The Association for Curriculum Development, and the American Association of School Administrators. He has written numerous articles dealing with education and stress that have appeared in national publications such as The NASSP, High School Magazine, The Education Digest and The Journal of Educational Public Relations.
Dr. Wanko created the Bayonne High School Karate League over a decade ago with his cousin, Shihan J. G. Wanko. He served as its advisor until he took the position in Piscataway. When he arrived in Piscataway, he formed a Karate Club at that school as well. Mike also sits on the Board of Directors of the American Okinawan Karate Association, Inc. He has organized the Annual Don Nagel Open Karate Tournament since 1991. In September of 1997, Mike was inducted into the AOKA Hall of Fame by Grand Master Nagle and awarded the Master Instructor Award and the Outstanding Contribution to the Martial Arts Award. Grand Master Edward McGrath awarded to Master Wanko the Pioneer in Martial Arts Award in 2000. Action Martial Arts Magazine inducted Shihan Wanko into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 2002, as a Master Instructor. He is married to the former Justine Dworzanski of Bayonne; they have one son, Jason, who is a fourth degree Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate and a teacher at Hoboken High School in New Jersey. Shihan Wanko currently holds the rank of Hachi Dan (8th Degree Black Belt).