Today we’d like to introduce you to PAUL DEL SORDO.
Hi PAUL, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born into the automotive industry as a child growing up helping my dad at his service station in Mountainside, NJ. Graduated West Orange High School in 1975, took business courses at Seton Hall University, and then straight into technical school. Eventually owned and operated a gas station, a heavy truck center, and automotive repair facility simultaneously.
I taught continual education at West Orange High at night. During my time in the automotive industry I always maintained my health through exercise after work. Men’s fast pitch baseball went to softball, and eventually onto martial arts. Martial arts became a very important part of my life because it was consistently there (unlike seasonal sports), and it was for my own physical and spiritual growth.
In 1986 I found the best martial arts instructor on the East Coast, and joined his studio in Springfield, NJ. I trained 5 days a week, 2-3 hours a day, and assisted in all classes until later in the evenings. In short; I never took a break, not even to date. Eventually became the Technical Advisory Committee Administrator to the natiional organization, was elected to the board of directors for my Region, and finally became the successor to my instructror’s studio.
In the late 1990’s I was approached by the Saint Barnabas Medical Centers Pediatric Outpatient Rehabilitation Department. They asked if I could provide a martial arts program that would essentially allow children to attend classes under strict guidance of their Occupational and Physical Therapists. Essentially, the hospital’s patients met at my faciliity for therapy. Therapists worked alongside myself and my staff to provide a fun atmosphere, rather than the hospital setting. It was a learning experience to say the least, and I learned from the best ever. Eventualy my studio became the location where therapists had to train to aquire their licences. In essence, we were the last stop for their field training.
The program lasted several years under the auspices of the medical center, until it became a statistic on their books and became neglected by their administrators. Thats when I hired my own therapists and took the program over myself. Our staff includes a child psychologist, occupational therapist, special ed teachers, shadows and certified instructors.
Around the year 2000, I started Pediatric Martial Arts. PMA is a school based program wheras I teach children in special education schools. I teach group classes during the regular school day in conjunction with therapists that follows each child’s IEP (individualized education program). Prior to Covid I was teaching in 9 out of district schools across 6 counties, and now I service 4 schools in both Union and Somerset County.
A huge addition to our programs is Our House. Our House is a not-for-profit public agency that provides housing, employment and other social services to individuals with developmental disabilities. Adults from their day program attend my studio weekdays to work on balance, confidence, strength, self regulation and more!
I have since then opened other locations, eventually moving everything to my studio in Westfield, NJ in June 2028. We provide traditonal martial arts instruction for both children and adults of all ages. We service special needs students from Pre-K through adult in our program where we are also a provider for the State of NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities-(DDD). 1:1 private lessons are available, self contained classes, and inclusion too!
This is my 40th year training in the korean- Moo Duk Kwan discipline. They say all good things must come to an end, so I am now navigating retirement. I am hopeful to have this legacy continue under a qualified instrucror for many years to come!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Nothing is ever smooth, struggles are how we learn. Finding qualified staff is challenging. The juggle of school based programs, operating the studio itself, and raisning a family was progably the hardest thing I could have imagined.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Del Martial Arts & Pediatric Martial Arts?
I probably explained more than I should have in the previous pages. Without being redundant, I’ll be brief here.
Provide special needs programs for all ages.
40 years in the industry
Teach a traditional martial art called Soo Bahk Do-Moo Duk Kwan
Maintain traditional applications without falling into the commercialism associated with most martial arts.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m old school, so unfortunately it’s been trial and error for me. My advice would be to put your training and health first. Find a successful business person with the experience necessary to guide you to your goals. If you are considering working with the special needs population, just be caring and never give up.
Never give up, take on challenges and learn from them.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.delmartialarts.con and www.pediatricmartialarts.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delmartialarts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DelMartialArtsLLC/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-del-sordo-87734016/
