This page is dedicated to the memory of those Yudansha that have passed on from this life. Their spirit remains eternal in the hearts of all who walk the path of Goshin-Do Karate-Do DeFelice-Ryu. Despite the thousands of people who walked through the Dojo, only twenty-five have walked through the “Doorway To Doom” and earned a Black Belt rank. They are Sensei – they are more than mere human;
SENSEI PAUL RECCHIA (May 14, 1915 to April 10, 2003)
Memorial Poem: Overtaken by darkness I will lodge under the boughs of a tree. Flowers alone host me tonight. (See Note 1 below)
Sensei Paul Recchia was one of the strongest Black Belts in the Goshin-Do Karate Dojo. In the photograph below, we can bear witness to his prowess in the art of Tamashiwari (breaking). He broke six concrete blocks, without the aid of spacers, with one Karate strike. The photo is from 1974 when Sensei was almost 60 years old!
Sensei Paul’s thunderous Tamashiwari.
I like to think that when we hear the thunder in the heavens above, Sensei Paul is once again practicing his Tamashiwari.
SENSEI NICK D’ANTUONO (Jan. 5, 1926 to September 13, 2010)
Memorial Poem: Clear sky – the way came by once, I now go back by. (See Note 2 below)
Sensei Nick was the Chief Instructor for the Junior Division of the Academy Of Goshin-Do Karate-Do. In this capacity he was a guiding force in the lives of thousands of young men and women in Bergen County, New Jersey. Sensei was demanding, but fair; stern, but caring. In essence, he was a “Sensei”. Should a student fail to perform to the best of their ability, Sensei Nick would refer to such failure as being a “Pork-chop”. Perhaps then one can best encapsulate Sensei’s profound and enduring effect upon thousands of others with the following – While God reserved for Himself the province of turning water into wine, He bestowed upon Sensei Nick the ability to turn “Pork-chops” into Men. God bless Sensei, Heaven’s Angels are now your “Pork-chops“.
Sensei Paul Recchia & Sensei Nick D’Antuono.Memorial Honor Roll:
SENSEI JEFF TYNE (April 11th, 2015)
MEMORIAL HONOR ROLL:
Sensei Tony Ferrante
Notes:
1. Death poem (found in his quiver) of the Samurai Taira-NoTadanori killed in battle by Okabe Tadazumi.
2. Composed by the Daimyo-poet Takahama Kyoshi.
Goshin-Do Karate DeFelice-Ryu 
Way back when I was about 12 years old in 1968-69, I attended Saturday classes with Sensei Nick D’Antuono at the Memorial House in Englewood. Seems it was kind of a “satellite” program for lower income kids. “Sensie Nick” was, in fact, stern but fair. I guess I was the best in our class as he took me under his wing and even brought be over to the Palisades Park studio where I met Sensei DeFelice, who once or twice “guested” at the Memorial House in place of Sensei Nick. This experience was one where a smallish, shy kid like me gained some confidence and self-esteem.
I’ll never forget my Goshin-Do experience and still remember what I learned! RIP Sensei Nick.
Mark de Chabert (now age 56)
Hello Mark:
Thank-you for your comment & visiting our blog. I too began my training in Goshin-Do under Sensei Nick in 1971 in the Junior Division. I am of a similar experience where a shy kid was turned into a man. Sensei Nick was a positive influence on many people. We are all the better for having known & trained under him.
Thanks again for visiting the blog. Please feel welcome to check back often for new updates, articles and videos (some are on our Kata page).
My best,
Sensei John Szmitkowski