Home Page of GrandMaster Kerofsky, MA
My Home Page!
Home Page of Grand Master Kerofsky, MA
Here is my story:
My name is Timothy L. Kerofsky
AKA Tymon, Sky, Ski
and I am a 26-year navy veteran
I was a Boatswainsmate, Cook, and Master at Arms.
Then later a Lieutenant in the Sea Cadets as a Training Officer.
I served in Lebanon, Philippine Coup Attempt, Gulf, Bosnia,
and Iraq.
The best command to me was
the Battleship New Jersey BB-62.
I did 7 West Pacs, 1 Mediterranean cruise,
2 Caribbean Cruises,
did an expedition to the arctic circle,
and spent 2 weeks in Antarctica.
I got injured and retired and am now a DAV veteran.
After rehab I gradually got back into the martial arts
and taught private classes.
Now I volunteer and do some tutoring.
As a child at age 8 I played biddy basketball.
At age 9 I did some gymnastics.
And at 10 years old I started my karate journey.
I have been studying the martial arts for over 40 years
and am now a Grandmaster.
At age 12 I did an Archery competition and won first place.
I was in the Boy Scouts up until HS, earned the Arrow of Light,
won first place in the Pinewood Derby,
and the skills I learned helped in my Naval career.
The Navy and the Martial Arts
have been the two biggest factors of my life.
I overcame many obstacles:
At age 2 I fell down the stairs and broke my left ankle
which still kinda sticks out today.
I had a hernia operation as a kid.
I lacked arm and eye coordination.
I was bullied and picked on.
And at the last year of my High School I came down with
an unknown virus and was in the hospital for a while.
In spite of this I still graduated with art honors.
None of this compares to the loss of my son Ken
who fell through the ice on the Rock River in December 2016 and drowned,
and now dealing with a fire at our home.
None of this stopped me from excelling in my Naval Career
or my Martial arts Journey.
A martial arts journey of Shuri Ryu Karate, Shuri Te, Jujitsu
Hung Gar, American Kenpo, Tae Kwon Do,
and Shorinji Ryu Kempo.
A lifetime of studies as well in Sociology. Philosophy,
and Arts.
On my last tour of duty in the Navy I got knocked down a ladderwell by a cabinet
(captains bed) causing me
stenosis of the spine, nerve damage, tendinitis,
tingling, shaking, chronic pain,
and an equilibrium imbalance.
Update:
Today (in 2024) I walk with a walking stick and sometimes a walker,
because of a TBI - Traumatic Brain Injury - I have been diagnosed with.
It causes my balance to be off, headaches, and sometimes a stutter.
On my bad days I still do exercises and tai chi sitting in my walker.
I will never give up.
I have two choices...
I can sit around and feel sorry,
or I can keep moving.
I choose the latter.
Do not give up. Keep striving in life.
And fulfill your dreams.
Grandmaster Kerofsky, MA
About Me
My College Experience
I graduated from Regina University having majored with a
Masters in Arts in Sociology and minored with a BA in Theology.
I also earned a BA Art at Western Illinois University,
a AA Business Management from American Inter-Continental University,
a AAS General Education from the Community College of Rhode Island,
and a AS Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University.
Also have certificates in Security Science, as a Teacher Aid,
and in Relaxation Therapy from Stratford Career Institute.
My Karate Journey
Training since 1976, started out in Shuri Te under Sensei Jess Mills (1940-2011) at the Quad Cities School of Karate in Moline IL, after joining the Navy in 1984 I got into American Kenpo under the tutelage of Grandmaster Ed Parker (1931 - 1990) under the instruction of Ed Booze in Long Beach CA earning a first degree black belt, trained under Grandmaster Zenkoshi (1904 - 2002) in Tokyo Japan while in the shipyards in 1987, met and trained under Master Lo Wong (1898 - 1996) in Hung Gar while on a deployment; later in 1990 I went to Hong Kong and trained with him earning my Red Sash, then in 1994 while on leave finally got promoted to my Shodan in Shuri Te. Two years earlier I started creating my own system of Tiger Ryu while in Seattle Washington and taught karate to my friend Chase Larson. In 1995 - 1998 I trained in WTF Tae Kwon Do under Master Sun Yong Lee earning a red belt, then in 1998 that same year I got promoted to my second dan in Karate Do at the Newport Karate Club and in 2000 got promoted to my 3rd dan at the Newport Karate Club,at the same time I was teaching karate to children at the base, then in 2002 while stationed on the Belleauwood I taught self defense to a security team known as the Ships Self Defense Force, then in 2004 I got promoted to my 4th dan before getting a major injury; but it did not slow me down. After the accident on a ladderwell and having to go through a deployment I finally went to Great Lakes. I went through 18 months of rehab and in 2009 I got into the VA system and went through several more rehabs on my neck, shoulder, spine, and knees. After the rehabs I taught karate for a few years at my in house dojo - the Kerofsky Family Dojo. I got honorary promoted to 5th dan in 2011 at a martial arts ceremony I attended. There I met Master Stevens who also trained under Sensei Jess Mills; he was inspired by my journey and I told him there is no more Shuri Te / Shuri Ryu in the QCA and that I want to make Master one day. He started training me in Shorinji Ryu Kempo (he taught a mix of Shuri Te karate, jujitsu, and Kempo); however I was going through VA rehab again at the time after falling on ice injuring my shoulder again. After intensive rehab and intense training I got promoted to my 6th, 7th, and 8th dans under Master Stevens who I trained with until 2016. Then I got injured again falling on the ice tearing up my knee, Went back to physical therapy for rehab. Then this year (2018) I was honorarily promoted to Master after the board read my story, my journey in the martial arts, and all the struggles I overcame.
Now on April 4th, 2024, the board voted 6/3
to promote me to Grandmaster.
Now I do not teach full time anymore, but stay active with my tai chi class at physical therapy, swimming and bikeriding.
I keep moving and do not give up in life.
Grandmaster K, MA.
My Passions
Since I do not do karate much anymore my physical activities are mostly
Tai Chi and Plum Blossom form, swimming at the YMCA,
and biking on the River Trails
along with roller skating.
I also enjoy a variety of arts from painting to drawing.
I also like the out doors and camping.
The sounds of nature and my music. And Cooking!