Lynner a martial arts expert for life

LYNN – Seventy-one-year-old Gerald Stanley just received his sixth-degree black belt and the elite title of Renshi when most people his age have settled into retirement.The title of Renshi is given to karate instructors who promote the art of karate in the most effective and ethical way.Stanley has been practicing martial arts since 1962 and has been teaching since 1965.He was first introduced to the sport by a co-worker.?He kept talking about it and he was a real clumsy guy,” said Stanley. “He showed me a move and he had great form. I was fascinated by it.”Intrigued by what he saw, Stanley started taking classes and his love affair with karate began.?It just went on and on and on from there,” said Stanley.?The two main reasons why I keep doing this is the health factor and teaching,” said Stanley.The karate instructor teaches at the Neves Karate Academy on 135 Essex St. and has been on and off since 1987.?When you reach my age it is easy to just sit back and watch TV. So, when you are teaching it gets you motivated to do well and you feel great afterward,” Stanley said about why he loves to teach.He is the head instructor at Neves and has been for the past year.Stanley is most inspired by the students he teaches with mental and physical disabilities.?It is great to see how they progress,” Stanley said.While Stanley is dedicated and passionate about karate, earning the title of Renshi was not an easy task. “It was a hard test,” Stanley admits.There were several steps Stanley had to complete in order to gain the title, including demonstrating special skills with fellow students and an extensive lengthy explanation about why he was doing it.Many are impressed that Stanley is an active member of the martial arts community at his age. However, there was a time when doctors encouraged him to stop doing karate after he was diagnosed with diabetes and suffered a heart attack.His doctors told him karate was too strenuous of an activity for Stanley. But Stanley refused to stop.?Now, the doctors keep telling me to keep doing it and never stop, that the exercise is good for me,” Stanley said.The one-time quality control manager for an electronics company is now enjoying retirement, but he still spends most of his free time teaching at Neves.?I don?t really look at it as a job,” said Stanley. “It is more of donating my time.”His family and friends are most impressed by what Stanley has accomplished.?My daughter spent $98 to mount the certificate,” Stanley said of his recent achievement.Stanley plans to continue practicing karate for as long as he can. “My life revolves around karate,” Stanley said.