Meet The Founder

Rev. Dr. J. Kovacs, Soke, was born in Newark, New Jersey, in October 1960. Soke Kovacs' parents fled the Russian invasion of Hungary in 1956, making him the first in his family to be born in the United States. His father, Janos, was his first martial arts teacher and sparked a lifelong passion. Before coming to America, Janos Kovacs, senior, practiced judo, boxing, and saber fencing. After relocating to the U.S., Kovacs senior trained throughout the 1960s with some of New Jersey’s martial arts legends, including Grandmaster Peter Urban of USA Goju, Grandmaster Don Nagel of Isshin-Ryu, Son Duk Son of Tae Kwon Do, and was friends with and a student of Master Harold Schaeffer, who was business partners with the legendary James (Jimmy) Cheatham of Chito-Ryu Karate.

Soke began training under his father around age 4, focusing on the fundamentals of his father’s system. It was a blend of everything he had learned and continued to refine throughout his life. He was taught to adapt the arts to suit his own physical traits. Long before terms like “eclectic,” “hybrid,” or “mixed martial arts” became common, Janos Sr. advised his son to be a seeker and innovator, not a robot or a slave to any method, system, way, or doctrine. This thirst for knowledge has remained unbroken to this day. Soke Kovacs always sees himself first as a student, occasionally as a teacher. He has been inducted into numerous Martial Arts Hall of Fames and recognized both nationally and internationally as the founder of his system, “Yishendo Escrima Ju-Jutsu.” Analyzing, dissecting, and experimenting are the guiding principles for Yishendo as he walks the path as Warrior, Scholar, and Mystic.

Other influences on the ongoing evolution of Yishendo include the refinement and distillation of many outstanding systems and teachers, such as Prof. Florendo Visitacion, Shinan Antonio Pereira, and the renowned WWII close-combat instructor Mr. Charles Nelson. Many other factors have contributed to Yishendo's development, including Prof. Wally Jay, Koncho Shigeru Oyama, Prof. Mat Marinas, Prof. Moses Powell, and fencing Maestros Csaba Eltes and Ramon Martinez. The teachings of GM Ed Parker’s Kenpo system continue to inspire Yishendo’s growth. He traveled to Milan, Italy, and taught what he called “Renaissance Jujutsu,” focusing on old-style Italian dagger fighting. In Western Martial Arts, Kovacs Soke was among the few researching Western-based martial arts as they gained popularity.

The Yishendo method is not limited to Asian martial arts but also includes practical elements from Western martial arts. Being close friends with Master Carl Cestari and Master Charles Nelson helped him understand the deeper aspects of WWII close-quarter combat. Smyth Soke also consulted with Prof. Rex Applegate on various questions about close-quarter combat techniques. Prof. Florendo Visitacion is credited with helping Soke not just learn but also understand how to formulate and think about martial arts, essentially teaching himself. Various Yoga teachers, such as Jivamukti Founder David Life and many from both the Iyengar and Sivananda traditions, helped clarify the philosophical and physical aspects of Yoga.

Soke Kovacs has also obtained teaching licenses and instructor certifications in T’ai Chi Ch’uan and Yoga. His T’ai Chi training included traveling to China to experience the art as it is practiced in its homeland. While serving in the U.S. Navy, he encountered many martial arts and religious practices in the Far East. Additionally, Soke Kovacs holds a degree in Physical Therapy, as well as B.A. and M.A. degrees in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a trained Gestalt therapist and has studied various body/mind/spirit paradigms. These studies have explored different paths in shamanism, Sufism, and Christian mysticism. He has met and experienced teachings and empowerment in various Buddhist traditions, including those of the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. Furthermore, Soke Kovacs is a published author, has appeared in multiple videos, and conducts workshops across the country and internationally within his system.

On June 2nd, 2012, the title of Soke was awarded to Mr. Kovacs by the prestigious “World Head of Family Sokeship Council” in Orlando, Florida. This recognition acknowledged his Yishendo Escrima Ju-Jutsu as a legitimate martial arts system, with him as the founder, or “Soke.” He currently holds a Master of Divinity from Regent University and is pursuing a Doctor of Divinity at Liberty University. He is the founder of the Sickle and Vine Ministries website. Now living in Stedman, North Carolina, with his spouse of over ten years and his two spoiled dogs, he is “Sometimes the teacher but always the student.”

Soke has an extensive exploration of various spiritual traditions. As a young child, he read the "Buddhist Catechism." This set the stage for a lifelong pursuit of various spiritual paths. More to come on this journey....stay tuned.