The Academy of Traditional Karate employs internationally certified karate instructors who have achieved certified teaching ranks from Shidokan International.
Team Elite – The Academy’s Internationally Certified Karate Instructors & Staff
The Academy of Traditional Karate’s Team Elite members are highly dedicated and hard-working professional instructors who are on the cutting edge of teaching methods, curriculum development, and business strategy in the industry. Team Elite members possess the skills necessary to teach martial arts as well as character development and goal setting. They are a world class group of individuals who are constantly striving to have the greatest possible impact on their students while sharing the art of karate.
Hanshi
Todd J. Keane
- 9th Degree Black Belt (Kudan) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan) in Okinawan Kobudo (Weaponry)
- Hanshi has also trained in Yang Tai Chi, Chi Kung, Goju-Ryu Karate, Fencing, Shotokan Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Kendo, Iaido, and Shiatsu, Various Philipino Martial Arts, Traveled to Okinawa, Japan to meet and train with Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine.
- Started training in the martial arts in 1979, starting the study of Karate in 1983
- MBA, Bentley College
- BS in Computer Information Systems, Bentley College
- Certified in CPR and First Aid
- Previous Professional Experience – Owned and operated a small business, Systems Analyst for Hewlett Packard Company
- Accomplishments –Raising two wonderful children
- Interests – History; Asian Studies; Personal Development, particularly peak performance and team building consistent with positive values; playing with my son and daughter.
Shidoshi
Kristen A. Keane
- Assistant Managing Director
- 7th Degree Black Belt (Rokyudan) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- 1st Degree Black Belt (Shodan) in Okinawan Kobudo (Weaponry)
- Former Instructor of the Year
- Started training at the Academy Of Traditional Karate in 1990
- Martial Arts Background: Kobudo Shodan, Tai Chi- Yang Style Short Form, Co-Chair USA-NKF Massachusetts for 1 year, Tournament Director, Traveled to Okinawa, Japan to meet and train with Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine, Fencing, Level 1 Shiatsu
- BS Business Admin. – Merrimack College
- CPR & First Aid Certified
- Interests other than Karate: her family, her friends, gardening, cooking.
- Other accomplishments: 2 Children with a wonderful husband, helping to develop the students of ATK and assist them in reaching their goals, helped to raise thousands of dollars for MDA.
Renshi
Anthony Alessandro
- 4th Degree Black Belt (Yondan) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- Former Instructor of the Year
- Bachelor of Arts Degree from Stonehill College, double majored in Elementary Education and American Studies
- Licensed Massachusetts State Teacher
- First aid Certified, CPR Certified
- Full Time Program Director at the Academy
- Has been training at the Academy since 7 years old
Shihan
Steve Kalkwarf
- 5th Degree Black Belt (Rokyudan) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- 1st Degree Black Belt (Shodan) in Okinawan Kobudo (Weaponry)
- Former Adult Instructor of the Year
- Senior Software Engineer
- Certified in CPR
- Interests: Tinkering with vintage vacuum tube audio; Listening to instrumental surf music (among other genres); Solving interesting technical problems; Reading almost anything.
Sensei
Arianna Crawford
- Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- Oldest of 9 children
- CPR/first aid certified
- Black Belt in Kobudo (hard weapons)
- Former Instructor of the Year
- Training since 12 years old
- Ari loves helping others and working with teens and children
Sensei
Dean Velozo
- 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan ) Matsubayashi Karate Do
- 3rd Degree Black Belt (Sandan) Shotokan Karate
- Former Instructor of the year
- Started training in martial arts in 1980
- Previous Training: Judo, Mauy Thai, Shotokan Karate, Kickboxing, Boxing
- 3 Children, 3 Grandchildren
- Other interests include: Skiing around the country, Fishing, Golf
Sensei
MJ Scaramozzino
- Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- Black Belt in Kobudo (Weapons)
- Reached 8th degree junior Black Belt in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- UMass Lowell Alumni
- Currently working in graphic design
- CRP Certified, 1st aid certified
- Started Karate at age 4
- MJ enjoys seeing students improve and bring them from the younger ages to the older classes
Sensei
CJ Anderson
- 2nd Degree Black Belt (Nidan) in Matsubayashi Karate-Do
- Graduated from Merrimack College
- Enjoys working with children
- Former Instructor of the Year
- Training since age 4
- Currently a real estate paralegal when not teaching in the dojo
- Always happy to help others
- CRP and 1st aid certified
Sensei
Peter Mottolo
- Training since 4 years old
- Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt)
- Trains with brother and dad (also a Black Belt)
- Enjoys gaming
- Peter enjoys working with all different types of students to help them get the best out of themselves
Sensei
Ethan Karnesky
- Training since 9 years old
- Training with his sister and father since 2010
- Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt)
- Ethan enjoys passing down the things that he has learned over the years to the next generation
Sensei
Ela Karnesky
- Training since 7 years old
- Nidan (Second degree black belt)
- Attends Umass Lowell for biomedical engineering
- Trains with brother and father
- Ela enjoys working with kids and helping with growing their confidence, just like it has helped her own confidence grow
Sempai
Domenic Guisti
- Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)
- Has been training since 8 years of age
- Enjoys making YouTube videos, bike riding, spending time with family, and most importantly, training at karate.
- Dom enjoys helping people along their path in karate and seeing students work their way up to Black Belt
Sempai
Aedan Mady
- Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)
- Trains alongside 2 of his sisters (one of 5 kids in his family)
- Enjoys drawing and dungeons and dragons
- Aedan likes helping people and watching then grow
Sempai
Anja Mehmedagic
- Joshu Niban (2nd Degree Jr Black Belt)
- Enjoys rock climbing and skiing
- Anja likes to work with students and see them progress. She also enjoys passing down Karate skills to other people, just like her instructors did for her.
Sempai
Aarav Shah
- Joshu Yonban (4th degree junior black belt)
- Training since at 7 years old
- Play sax in Wilmington band
- Participates in robotics team
- Enjoys passing on knowledge to younger students and being able to be there for them if they need help
Sempai
Ari Donn
- Shodan
- Training since 5 years old
- Plays tenor sax in the Wilmington Band
- Participates in the model UN club at school
- Enjoys seeing students actively learning and making progress in their karate
Sempai
Juliet Shinn
- Joshu Niban (2nd Degree Junior Black Belt)
- Started training at age 8
- Participates in school band (plays Oboe)
- Enjoys drawing and art
- Really enjoys seeing students grow and achieve goals along their karate journey
Shidoin
Josh Turner
- Ikkyu
- Training since 10 years old
- Play cello in Strings in Wilmington
- Participates in robotics club
- Enjoy seeing students grow as karate students and as people
Shidoin
Luke D’Andrea
- Joshu Shoban (1st Degree Junior Black Belt)
- Started training at age 4
- Participates in baseball and drama at school
- Enjoys acting
- Really enjoys being a person that a student can go to when they need help
