Sensei Lucas is the ranking instructor at the Smithtown Judo Club.  He started training in Judo at five years old, in 1963, under the guidance of Sensei John Brisbois.  During those early years, Sensei Lucas was part of the Smithtown Tournament Team and traveled all over the United States competing in the AAU National Championships and many other events.  Sensei Lucas became quite an accomplished junior competitor.  As he reached junior high age it was very natural to gravitate towards wrestling because of the similarities.  Sensei Lucas enjoyed a very successful high school career for Smithtown West High School, while still training in Judo.  After High School he went on to wrestle for the University of Buffalo where he was Captain of the team, All-Regional, All Conference, Honorable Mention All-American and received MVP "Wrestler of the Year".  Sensei Lucas's wrestling career wasn’t over after college due to his constant cross training with Judo; he was actually a better Olympic Freestyle wrestler.  Sensei Lucas qualified and made the U.S. National Freestyle Team and wrestled for team U.S.A, competing and medalling in many international events including the Montreal Open and International Clubs Cup Championships. 

Focusing on Judo always, and after having traveled all over the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan for both competition and training under great teachers, Sensei Lucas has taken this expertise and added that to his traditional Judo program to create a hybrid of sorts that over the years has been very successful on the competition circuit as well as developing a system of self defense that is truly effective in real life. 

Because of Sensei Lucas's accomplishments, in 1995 he was inducted into the Smithtown Sports Hall of Fame.  To this day, he is still training and competing and helping all the students become all they can be from the Little Tiger Program to our mature adult class. 

The philosophies of the club go back to the philosophies of Jigoro Kano (founder of Judo) and the philosophies of a lifetime of training.

“Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Effort”

The strong man is the humble man”

“Train the mind and the body together forever”

“Self confidence is self-defense”

Sensei Prizzi has been involved with Judo since 1968, when he started training with Sensei Lucas as kids under the guidance of the Sensei John Brisbois.  As assistant director to the club, Sensei Prizzi helps to monitor the other instructors and maintain our traditional curriculum.  He is a very accomplished competitor who has medalled at many top-level tournaments including the East Coast Champs, Empire State Games, U.S. Nationals and the Liberty Bell Classic.  Sensei Prizzi, pound for pound, at only 145 lbs is probably one of the quickest athletes ever to come through the program.  Many students are very impressed with his cat-like reflexes, speed and his incredible ability to off balance and throw much larger opponents.  Sensei Prizzi is a classic example of technique over power.

Career Highlights

• Bronze Medal US National Championships(Master's Division)
• East Coast Champion
• 3x Empire State Games Medalist

Sensei Brodsky also started under Sensei John Brisbois.  An accomplished wrestler both in High School and at Oneonta State, he is very good with our younger athletes.

Career Highlights

• Empire State Games Champion
• 5x Empire State Games Medalist

Sensei Mark Staniszewski   SanDan(3rd DAN)

Sensei Mark Staniszewski, an accomplished wrestler both in high school and Cortland State, spends a lot of his time not only competing in Judo but also on the grappling (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) circuit.  He is very helpful for our competitors wishing to gain that experience.

Career Highlights

3x US National Masters Champion
• 2x US National Masters Medalist
• 4x Empire State Games Medalist
• 4x NAGA World Champion
• Gold Medalist New York State Brazilian JiuJitsu Championship
• Gold Medalist North American Grappling Championships
• Currently "Ranked #1" in the U.S. by the North American Grappling  Association (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Rules)