KARATE

Andrew Bakoledis(38) is the owner and Chief Karate Instructor. He has been training for 18 years, beginning at the UConn Karate Club in 1990 with Sensei Robert Jacobs(6th Dan)and achieved his 4th Dan in July of 2004. Sensei is currently enrolled in Master Mori's "A Class" Instructor Training program in New York City, having already graduated from the B Course in 2001. Additionally, he has world wide Certification as JKA Instructor, JKA Examiner, and JKA Tournament Judge. Bako Sensei is a 2-time member of the U.S. National Karate-Do Team, competing at the 9th and 10th Funakoshi Gichin World Cup Karate Championships in 2004(Tokyo) and 2006(Sydney).

The head kickboxing instructor, Mr. Bakoledis has a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Math and Master's Degree in Education. He was a high school teacher for 11 years, 9 years in Westbrook where he coached the soccer, baseball and math teams. He is now a proud 2nd year math teacher at Tyl Middle School in Montville. He resides with his wife and daughter in Oakdale.

John Seifert(40) is our senior Instructor and has been training for 19 years. He began his training at UConn in 1989 where he is also an instrcutor, and achieved his 4th Dan in 2003. He is also an assistant instructor for Maragaret Thomas(5th Dan) at Karate Spirit in Mansfield. Sensei John is a 2-time member of the U.S. National Karate-Do team, competing at the 6th and 10th Funakoshi Gichin World Cup Karate Championships in 1996(Osaka) and in 2006(Sydney). He is a 6-time SKDI men's kumite champion. Sensei completed Master Mori's Instructor Training Program in NYC in 2007 and is now an "A Level" instructor. Mr. Seifert has a Bachelors Degree in Engineering from UConn and is a mechanical engineer in charge of automated systems for a large bio-medical company. He is also running his own consulting company.

Johnny Listorti(41) is a 3rd Dan assistant intructor. He has been training for 19 years and began his training at UConn in 1986. Sensei is a science teacher at Killingly High School with 15 years experience teaching. He is also a student of fencing.

Joe Vincente(23) is a 3rd Dan assistant instructor. He is a regional men's kata champion and an alternate on the U.S. National Karate-Do Team in 2006(Sydney). He has been training for 10 years, the last 5 years at the University of Connecticut where he earned a B.S. in Chemitry and a Masters in Education. Now a high school teacher in New York City, he is a part-time karate and kickboxing instructor at Karate Endeavors.

Mehrdad Hagpassand(42) is a 2nd Dan assistant instructor. He has been training for 9 years and is a chemist at Pfizer.

Allen Duplantier(42) is a 1st Dan assistant instructor. He has been training for 7 years and is a chemist at Pfizer.

Bako

John