User:Long Island Martial Arts/Mark Staniszewski

Biography
Mark Staniszewski was born August 19, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York to parents Joan and Thaddeus Staniszewski. They moved the family to East Meadow, New York where Mark would spend his school years alongside his sister Jan and brother Michael. Mark's parents introduced him to martial arts at the age of 5, enrolling him in various styles of karate, as well as teaching him the fundamentals of boxing, a sport in which his father was versed. At age 10 he began training in Tae Kwon Do under 1988 Olympic coach Y.H. Park. At age 13 he began wrestling for under coach Mike Nastri, and in High School was named team Captain under coach John Hamilton. An all county wrestler at 177 lbs, Mark was a member of the 1990 section 8 Championship Team. He went on to wrestle at Cortland State under Olympic alternate Gene Neiman and as a freshman earned a staring position on the dual meet national team in the 167 lb weight class. Later that summer Mark would suffer a devastating knee injury during the finals of tournament and would be carried off the mat. After surgery, he spent the next six month in a cast before returning wrestling. That season Mark sustained a second and career ending injury to the same knee.

Judo
With a strong desire to compete again, a determined Staniszewski would rehabilitate his knee before re-finding a sport he had tried in the past, Judo. With it's similarities to collegiate and greico roman styles of wrestling, Mark quickly excelled. Over the next decade Staniszewski would go on to win State, National, Pan American and World titles in the sport. He is currently on USA Judo's Elite Athlete point list and is ranked in the top 10 athletes in America. Staniszewski holds a 3rd degree black belt certified by USA Judo, the United States Judo Federation and Kodokan Judo Headquarters in Japan. []

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
In 1996, Staniszewski would be introduced to the grappling art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by childhood friend Matt Serra. A sport derived from Kodokan Judo, Mark began to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments as well. In 2004 he won the New York State Championships and is currently a four time Pan American Gold medalist in no-gi competition. A second home in Arizona would afforded Mark the opportunity to experience both east-coast and west-coast jiu-jitsu styles. With a appreciation for both, Mark was given the chance to test for black belt under 8th degree Grandmaster Joe Moreira. In 2010, Staniszewski was promoted to black belt in the Moreira system and is certified through the United States Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the IBJJF (Confederation de Brasil). 

Notable Accompishments
In 2009, Mark Staniszewski became the first athlete in Martial Arts history to win Pan American Championships in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Staniszewski is currently a nominee for the 2010 Martial Arts Hall of Fame. 

Grappling Credentials
4 x Pan American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gold Medalist

2 x World Masters Judo Medalist & Team USA Captain

Pan American Judo Champion and Team USA medalist

12 x NAGA Champion (11 x Medalist)

FC #4 Superfight Champion

5 x USA Judo National Champion (Masters & Open Divisions), 5 x Medalist

2 x Empire State Games Champion (4 x Medalist)

2 x East Coast Champion (4 x Medalist)

Warrior Challenge MMA Tournament Champion

4 x Liberty Bell Games Medalist

Grapplers Quest National Champion

NYS Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion