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A mathematician by education but a martial artist, writer, and poet by heart, Sensei Joe Pagano has published hundreds of articles on the world wide web as well as well as the seminal collection Love Sonnets from Elysium under the pen name Sir Renaissance, a name used to evoke the golden age of romance. Joe is multilingual and has authored over a hundred poems in the beautiful Spanish language, the topics of which focus and center on love and relationships. As a teacher and tutor for many years, and having taught all levels from pre-kindergarten through college, Joe's articles have focused primarily on the mathematical and educational disciplines. Joe remains a a testament to the ancient concept of the "Warrior Poet."
As a dedicated martial artist known for his physical discipline and strength in the dojo, he reveals a contrasting depth of spirit through his writing. He penned his collection Love Sonnets from Elysium over a decade ago under the sobriquet Sir Renaissance, a name that harks back to a time when romance was an idyllic concept and love reigned supreme. Written long before the advent of AI tools and relying solely on the rhythmic pulse of love emanating from his own heart and mind, Love Sonnets from Elysium bridge the gap between the toughness of the fighter and the vulnerability of the lover, offering a unique perspective on the human condition that inspires readers and students alike.
In 2025, Joe published two martial arts books Vital Point Striking with the art of Vee Arnis Jitsu and Physics of Vee Arnis Jitsu: Impulse, Force, Torque, and other Concepts. The purpose of the first was to give interested readers and martial artists, who do not have years to learn self-defense, a way to learn "shut-down" areas of the body that a practitioner with proper execution could strike to stop an attacker dead in their tracks. The physics book was written because of Joe's frustration at searching the web and other sources and not being able to find relevant information on the science behind martial arts. In Physics of Vee Arnis Jitsu, Joe uses his extensive science background to explain in relatively simple terms---with specific numerical examples---the physics and science principles behind all martial arts. Both books are beautifully illustrated and together will provide the aspiring or even expert martial artist a new look into the inner workings of their art.
Book Review for Love Sonnets from Elysium
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Love Sonnets from Elysium by Sir Renaissance is an exquisite collection of sonnets with the timeless theme of love. These love sonnets explore every aspect of love with all its shades and facets. The fine use of words and imagery gives it a richness that will enhance your feelings towards love. A lot of emotions revolving around love are captured and expressed beautifully. The inner intensity of the poet's thoughts and feelings, and the artistic flair when it comes to expression, is noteworthy. The writing style and the rhyme scheme is effortless without sounding forced. These sonnets will tell readers that there is nothing to equal the driving power of love.
These poems cover the full range of emotions and connect well. Form poetry is always difficult to write, mainly due to its restrictive quality. The writer often has to be disciplined and use his words within the parameters pertaining to the form chosen. In this sonnet collection, we see the author's expertise in adhering to the iambic pentameter which is one of the requisites while writing sonnets. The love poems in this collection have a softness and give a feeling of grandeur in their simplicity. The warm images and the romantic momentum works well. The colors and the thoughts that resonate in the author's mind have been put down beautifully.
I liked the way the author has captured those little moments of love. The archaic usage of words in certain sonnets is reminiscent of the poems penned during Shakespearean times.
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