Tom Allen 6th degree Professor Tom Allen began martial arts training in Kenpo karate at Middletown Kenpo Karate Studio with Professor Lee Lowery in 1980. In December of 1985 Tom earned his Black Belt under Professor Lee Lowery, followed by earning a 3rd Degree Black Belt from the IKKA under Master Ed Parker in1990. Professor Tom currently holds the rank of 6th Degree Black Belt under Professor Lee Lowery, and was promoted to Black Belt (Lakan) in Modern Arnis under Master Brian Zawilinski on 2008
Joe Vecchitto 5th degree Under Professor Lee Lowery.
Bill Boisvert 5th degree Sifu Bill Boisvert is a 5th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, receiving his black belt in 1986 from Professor Lee Lowery. Sifu Bill also earned a probationary black belt in Parker Kenpo system. Sifu Bill teaches the day classes at MKKS on Tuesday and Thursday at noon, and also helps Sifu Tom Cushing teach Wednesday nights Arnis classes. In addition to his Kenpo, Sifu Bill holds a black belt in Arnis, Lakan Tatlo, from Grand Master Remy Presas. Additionally, Sifu Bill has been studying Tai Chi for three years with Master Zahn.
Lynnette Hurlburt 5th degree Sifu Lynnette began training with Professor Lee Lowery in 1992. She is currently the Manager / Head Instructor of MKKS. Sifu Lynnette is very involved with community youth programs in Middletown and her hometown of Manchester. Her way of life is doing what needs to be done to improve as a person as well as an athlete. She emphasizes her focus on fitness, skills, and competition. Sifu Lynnette trains hard in Kenpo, dabbles in other martial arts styles, but enjoys the high energy and excitement that is found in the flashy side of the martial arts.
Jay Preisner 5th degree Sifu Jay began training in Kenpo in October 1989 with Professor Lee Lowery. Sifu Jay achieved his Black belt on April 14th, 1997. Sifu Jay’s favorite part of Kenpo training is teaching students how to breaking down the techniques and katas, into smaller parts for a better understanding. Sifu Jay loves the Sparring class and the great feeling that it leaves at the end…being exhausted but satisfied that he put in 100%.Sifu Jay also studies Modern Arnis under Master Brian Zawilinski, and has held a black belt since 2002, and is now has a 2nd degree (Lakan Dalawa). Sifu Jay is intrigued by the concept of “Flow” that Arnis has teaches how it relates to similar concepts in other martial art styles, which has helped Sifu Jay realize in Kenpo training how to make a minor but quick change in a technique to triumph over the opponent.
Judi Satagaj 4th degree Sifu Judi started her Martial Arts Journey at Middletown Kenpo Karate in 1991 under the instruction on Professor Lee Lowery; at which time her plans were to join for a 6 week summer program, since she was working full-time during the day and planned to attend Nursing School that fall. After the summer program was over she earned her Yellow Belt and signed up for life, always finding the time to make it to classes and train. Once she earned her Brown Belt, she found it difficult to find the time to attend the Advance Adult Classes, and made the difficult decision to leave MKKS to train with Sifu Tony Silverio, earning her Black Belt in 1994. Sifu Judi continued to train with Sifu Silverio and teach classes, until winter of 1998 when she left to have a baby. Her daughter was born in February 1999; even though she was enjoying the best time of her life, she missed the Martial Arts. In Spring of 1999 she returned home to MKKS to assist Professor Lowery with the Little Dragon Program, and eventually took the program over from him. Over the years, Sifu Judi has had the honor of training with Grandmaster Remi Presas in Modern Arnis, attending many of his seminars and classes. Other seminars attended include awesome Martial Artists such as Jeff Speakman, Frank Dux, Bill “Superfoot” Wallace, and most recently Daniel Sterling. She has also taught many Women & Children Self Defense Seminars with other Black Belts from MKKS. Currently you can find Sifu Judi at MKKS teaching the Little Dragon & Pre Dragon and Dragon classes. She is also assisting Sifu Lena with the Cobra Demo Team.
Paul Drechsler-Martell 3rd degree Sifu Paul has been training at Middletown Kenpo Karate for 19 years, since he was 4 years old. He has taught classes of all ages and ranks, performed for the Teen Demo Team, and assisted the Cobra Demo Team. Sifu Paul’s goals in life are constantly changing and evolving, but he has done a lot of work in film and television, including a local stunt team he formed, named Hyphen Movies. You can see more at www.hyphenmovies.com .
Tom Cushing 3rd degree Sifu Tom holds 3rd degree black belts in Kenpo Karate and Modern Arnis. He also trains in Bagua, Xing-yi and Tai Chi (the 3 internal forms) and enjoys sharing the similarities of all these arts with students in an effort to give them a more comprehensive understanding of their Kenpo forms and techniques. Sifu Tom believes that, while the martial arts are a serious pursuit, instructors need to make it fun.
Bob Kenefick 2nd degree Sifu Bob has been a student of Karate at Middletown Kenpo since 1992; and as well as having a Black Belt in Kenpo Karate he is also studying Modern Arnis. Sifu Bob enjoys teaching, and is delighted when a student learns a new technique and that student 'gets it'. Sifu Bob feels the most important lesson taught to our students, especially the younger students, are not the techniques or katas but values: to be courteous, respectful, honorable, act in a safe manner; but most of all to be a good citizen. “Middletown Kenpo is like family to me and I very proud to be part of that family.”
Jose Pacheco 2nd degree Sifu Jose began training in the martial arts at the age of five, and is currently teaching an extreme kicking class called Just Kicks; and is the leader of Team Phoenix, MKKS’s advanced demo team. Sifu Jose earned his 2nd degree black belt under Professor Lee lowery in Kenpo Karate, and has his Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Jose is a certified Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor under Roy Harris. Jose also has four years of wrestling in high school and was captain of the team for three years. Sifu Jose also has three years of ballroom dance experience.
Lena Harwood 2nd degree I began training Kenpo Karate when I was only 6 years old - my parents signed me up because they were worried about the amount of bullying that goes on in schools. At the time I knew nothing about the martial arts: I had no idea heading into my first class that this would become a lifelong passion. I performed as a member of the Cobra Demo Team from 1996 – 2001, and then Team Phoenix teen demo team from 2002-2006. I earned my Black Belt in May of 2005, and currently have my second degree. My favorite part of the martial arts is building my mental and kinesthetic awareness - learning to be in total control of my mind and body. It doesn't matter to me what training method I am using, I love kata, sparring, and everything in between. What is important to me is that I practice absolute focus. This makes my posture more aligned during katas, my combinations more fluid in sparring, and ultimately gives me the confidence to carry myself confidently through the world.
Jen Curran 1st degree Sifu Jen began as a student at MKKS in October of 2001, at the age of 37, and earned a black belt in April of 2006. In addition Sifu Jen has also trained in Arnis, Tai Chi, and International Kenpo Karate (in France). Sifu Jen works for Wesleyan University’s Graduate Liberal Studies Program and lives in Middletown with her husband and children.
Scott Thompson Scott started training at Middletown Kenpo Karate School in the fall of 2000, at 8 years old, and progressed through the ranks and a black belt on June 9th 2008. Scott assissted classes for two years now teaches the dragon classes as well as a few teen and adult classes. Scott over the years has found a passion for kata, and enjoys competing in traditional forms. He also likes to create his own forms. Recently Sifu Scott has started to train and condition for wood and cement brakes, which he finds a lot of fun.
Mike Tanasi Sifu Mike began training in Kenpo Karate in 2000 (I actually joined so that I could have a Karate birthday party) and received his black belt in 2008. Sifu Mike’s hobbies (other than martial arts) are video-games and reading. Sifu Mike is entering into his second year at Central Connecticut State University. Favorite Foods: Steak, Pasta, Lobster, Shrimp, Watermelon, Corn on the Cob, Ribs.
Bryce Graskoski Sifu Bryce has been training in the martial arts since 1998, and received his Kenpo black belt in January 2009. He currently helps teach on Thursdays: Junior Black Belts and Adult Sparring. Sifu Bryce enjoys sparring, and martial philosophy, more than any other aspects of the arts. Sifu Bryce enjoys weapons, MMA, and pretty much any Kung-Fu movie or books on other styles.