Our Instructors & Staff Members Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Kenpo and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.
Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of Tokyo Joe's Studios of Self Defense Salisbury, MA's instructors and other staff members, starting with:
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Kendall Buhl (Sensei, Director) Sensei Kendall dabbled in various martial arts disciplines starting in college, in Michigan and Beijing, and while he lived as a radio reporter in Hong Kong and Taipei. But it wasn't until his involvement in Tokyo Joe's Studios of Self Defense that "dabbling" became devotion. Still, even after he became a teacher under Tashi's Mark Warner and Deborah Mahoney, he resisted their suggestions that he start his own school. That changed one day at one of the Tokyo Joe's System legendary Black Belt tests. . “I had always loved watching people get excited about the martial arts, and the progress that they made,” he says. “And then, the first time I watched a student I had introduced to the Tokyo Joe’s System achieve Black Belt, I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life.” He told his wife Caroline and his own teachers that day, and the Salisbury Tokyo Joe's was in the works. Sensei Kendall was awarded the rank of Third Degree Black Belt in November of 2008. In addition, Sensei Kendall is a husband and father of two, a part-time news anchor on WBZ, and a call firefighter and EMT in Ipswich. |
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Joe Copello (Sensei, Chief Instructor) Sensei Joe began training with Grand Master Lamattina and Kyoshi Dave Lamattina when he was eight years old, and received his black belt at the age of 15. In November of 2008 Sensei Joe received his Third Degree Black Belt. That same year, he was KRANE’s national champion in sparring. Sensei Joe is a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, having served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to. A self-described “lifelong student”, Joe holds an Associate’s Degree degree in criminal justice and a B.A. in secondary education and history |
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Caroline Buhl (Sensei) Sensei Caroline is a former middle and high school educator. During her nine years teaching English she was known for her enthusiasm, creativity, sense of humor and dedication to her students’ development. In 2005, Sensei Caroline found a whole new passion when she began kickboxing at Tokyo Joe’s. She and Sensei Kendall opened Tokyo Joe’s Studios is Salisbury later that year, and by 2011 Sensei Caroline and earned her Second Degree Black Belt. A true “citizen of the world,” Sensei Caroline has lived in England, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Taiwan and Hawaii as well as both the East and West coasts of the United States. She loves the outdoors, a good book, her husband, her two children, and their many, many animals. |
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Dan Lavigne (Sensei) Shodan Dan's extensive involvement with Tokyo Joe's started with him watching his wife and sons' lessons. It wasn't long, though, before this self-described "couch potato" jumped in himself, and with both feet. Dan became known very quickly for his tireless dedication and hard work, and before too long for his excellent ability to help fellow students learn their techniques. Dan received his First Degree Black Belt in November of 2008, and is an integral part of the Tokyo Joe's staff. |
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Colleen Poulin (Shodan) |
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Henry Brewster (Shodan) |
For more information about the Tokyo Joe's Studios of Self Defense Salisbury, MA staff or training programs, please contact us at 978-499-8800 or by clicking here.