Steven Gancherov, chief instructor of the Southwest Karate and Aikido Center, was a member of the 1994 U.S. Karate team. He was instrumental in their taking the gold medal in Italy at the World Shotokan Karate Championships.

Steven Gancherov, (4th degree black belt) knows what it means to compete and the focus and dedication it requires. So far, he has spent half his life studying karate. He knows that competition isn’t the only thing martial arts is good for. It can help provide a moral compass in a world that sometimes offers little guidance.

With teaching techniques, he prefers to focus on the less well advertised aspects of the martial arts, the core values of respect for others, self-control, and social awareness.

In his classes he stresses cooperation and responsibility by having slightly more advanced students help newer ones with the basics of stance and movement.

He reminds the students to show gratitude to their parents for allowing them to come to class. And he helps them set priorities, noting that homework comes first.

In Steven Gancherov’s eyes, the good stuff in a martial arts lies in developing the mind and body, a spirit whose values lead to people of spirit who are aware, responsible and caring human beings.

In this case non-competitive karate is an oxymoron we can live with.

1994 U.S. Karate team, Gold Medal Winners