John C. Blanks was Born in Erie, PA on August 18, 1967 from Isaac and Mablean Blanks. John attended Strong Vincent High School where he graduated in 1985. At Strong Vincent he played both basketball and football leading both teams to the following achievements: Basketball State Champion--qualifying as 2nd team All State Football—qualifying 1st team All State Personal High School Receiving Record (51) in one season John attended Gannon University where he graduated in […] M.A. in Child Development--Minor in Juvenile Justice. After graduating from Gannon University, John worked for 11 years for the City of Erie Juvenile Justice Department specifically with At Risk Youth. In this position John was responsible for: * Creating and implementing programs for troubled youth, age 7 to 17, in order to ease their transition back into both mainstream society and regular scholastic institutions (elementary, middle school and high school). * Working with Divine Ideas Programs for parents of troubled and/or at risk youth to provide help, counseling and support at home. * Managing and solving crisis situations with strong ability to understand and relate to both parents and at risk children. Concurrently, from 1987 to 1994, John held a position as Fitness Program Director at the Boys and Girls Club of America in Erie, PA, where he was responsible for: * Creating, implementing, managing and supervising physical education and recreational programs for youth, age 11 through 19, in several sports such as football, basketball and field hockey. * Organizing sports leagues and tournaments to create team spirit and collaboration among youth and to channel their energy into positive team spirit and competition. * Managing and supervising junior-counselors employed by the Boys and Girls Club center. During the 1995/1996 season John Blanks played football in Toronto (CFL)—practice squad. In 1998 John moved to Los Angeles California to train and work with older brother Billy Blanks, creator of TAE BO ®. While working at the Billy Blanks World Training Center, in Sherman Oaks, CA, John Blanks had the opportunity to train basketball icons such as James Worthy, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, football pros such as Chris Claiborne and Byron Chamberlain and heavy weight champion James Toney. John Blanks also trained Hollywood celebrities such as Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Catherine Bell, Monica Potter, Missy Pyle, Christina Milian, Kym Whitley, Lou Diamond-Phillips and singer Gene Simmons from Kiss. John has also trained young emerging athletes such as Michael Avery, first ever middle school basketball player to be drafted by a 4 year college (University of Kentucky) and Abi Olajuwon, currently playing at University of Oklahoma, daughter of former NBA pro Hakeem Olajuwon. In the past few years, John Blanks has redirected his career towards his main passion and commitment: coaching and working with kids and young adults to help them become better athletes, and above all better human beings. He currently holds a coaching position at Viewpoint High School, in Calabasas, Ca, for the following sports: Head football Coach for the Middle School Team Junior Varsity Head Basketball Coach Volley ball Head Coach for the 7th and 8th grade Volleyball team. Coach John Blanks is married, has a daughter Sherika and a stepdaughter Sofia, and currently lives in Westlake Village, Ca.