KYHA Awards & Recognition
The Paja Dojo was founded in 1960 in Brooklyn, New York in the Marlboro Housing Projects. It was here that some of the world greatest martial artists taught, studied and were taught, and this led to the formation of the KYHA (Originally called KYA but later to include a "H" so as to incorporate a wider variety of styles and systems).
1963:
Hosted Grandmaster Mas. Oyama. A private visit in preparation for his event at
Madison Square Gardens in New York. Grandmaster Jack Stern received a plaque from
Grandmaster Oyama on this visit.
1964:
Hosted Grandmaster Mas. Oyama for his tournament. Grandmaster Jack Stern had the
pleasure of having Grandmaster Oyama as a guest in his house on this visit.
1964:
Hosted Grandmaster Robert Trias (Founder of the US Karate Association).
1964 - 1965:
Grandmaster Jack Stern received a letter of commendation for appearing at the New York
Worlds Fair in the Japanese Pavillion under Grandmaster Naraki Hara.
1965:
Hosted & trained with the Korean Olympic team (From the Korean Yudo College in Korea)
as they were en route to South America for the Pan American games.
1965:
Grandmaster Jack Stern received a letter of commendation from Congressman Spark Matsunaga
for outstanding contribution to Martial Arts.
1968:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was awarded the first "Singer Award" memorial trophy in
memory of Rabbi Morton Singer (US Army chaplin & student at the Paja Dojo) who was
killed in action in Chu Lai, Vietnam.
1970:
Grandmaster Jack Stern acted as personal bodyguard to the son of the Consulate General of
Finland and also taught him at the Paja Dojo. Grandmaster Jack Stern received a
letter of commendation for his actions.
1995:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the Christian Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Golden
Life Achievement Award).
1995:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the World Head of Family Soke Council (Instructor
of the Year Award).
1995:
World Head of Family Soke Council (Martial Arts Pioneer Award).
1995:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the Eastern USA Hall of Fame (Special Recognition
Award).
1996:
World Head of Family Soke Council (Grandmaster of the Year Award).
1997:
International Circle of Masters Hall of Fame (Martial Arts Medallion Medal of Honour).
1998:
Grandmaster Jack Stern returned from a visit from Korea on which he renewed a bond of
friendship. Grandmaster Jack Stern was promoted to 8th Dan at this time also.
1998:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the World Jug-Tai Association Hall of Fame
(Greece) and received the Golden Dragon Award.
1999:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the United Sokeship Alliance Hall of Fame
(Grandmaster of the Year Award).
1999:
Grandmaster Jack Stern was inducted into the Florida Hall of Fame (Contribution to Martial
Arts Award).
2000:
Grandmaster Jack Stern visited Saudi Arabia, on a personal invitation from His Royal
Prince Fahad & Royal Sheik Ali-Al Atiq. Grandmaster Jack Stern was honoured at
banquets and received the Medal of Millinium from Prince Fahad and "Living
Legend" plaques.
2000:
United Sokeship Alliance Hall of Fame (Pioneer Award).
2001:
United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame (Grandmaster of the Year Award).
2001:
Grandmaster Jack Stern received an award from Grandmaster & Captain Boodram of the
Defence Forces of Tobago, Trinidad & the West Indies for outstanding contribution to
the KYHA.
2001:
Induction into the World Ildokwan Federation Hall of Fame (England).
2001:
Induction into the Ildokwan Soke & Head of Family Sokeship Council (England).
2002:
January - Grandmaster Jack Stern in Costa Rica in Central America promoting KYHA.
March - Grandmaster Jack Stern invited to Turkey to visit the Goshinkaikan Hombu in
Ankara. Trained under Grandmaster Yigit and finished off the visit with TV
appearances and an awards banquet dinner.
2002:
Induction into the Hawaiian Martial Association Hall of Fame as a Grandmaster.