Ismael Aguilar, Jr.
JMAANY Founder / Chief Instructor

Ismael Aguilar, Jr. started his formal martial arts training in the early 80's with Sensei Arron M. Frazier (deceased), who was an instructor in Shotokan Karate-do, Tae Kwon do and Kung-fu. He attained a black belt from Sensei Frazier in 1988. He also has trained under Tae Kwon do Grandmaster Henry S. Cho and Saiko Shihan Shigeru Oyama when he was part of the Kyokushinkai in the mid 80's. Throughout his martial arts career he has trained with a number of other martial artists from various arts such as kobudo, jujitsu and Korean karate. In the summer of 2002 he obtained a masters degree in Education from Brooklyn College (CUNY).

He started training in Motobu-Ha Shito Ryu in 1997 under Sensei Julio Ramirez and was awarded a black belt in 2004. He has mainly been concentrating on instructing in the art of Shito Ryu and is a national kata competitor. He also co-founded the New York Karate-do Nippon Shito Ryu Association with Sensei Ramirez to propagate the art of Shito Ryu. In 2005 in response to a growing need to expose traditional karate to underprivileged youth and adults he founded the Japan Martial Arts Association of New York a non-for-profit that would also help gather funds to develop a community center for the Sunset Park district of Brooklyn, New York. Beside Shito Ryu Mr. Aguilar is pursing training in the areas of in Okinawan Kobudo, Kempo, Kyosho and Jeet Kune Do.

Mr. Aguilar is currently working under the mentorship and supervision of Sensei Rafael Perez and Sensei Ruben Jauregui who were of the East Coast JKA Karate Association and now formed the Kokudo Traditonal Karate-do Association. In 2006 Mr. Aguilar was re-issued his 1st Dan and awarded his 2nd Dan by the East Coast JKA Karate Association. Mr. Aguilar is also the New York state regional representative of the International Seishinkai Karate Union (ISKU) and a certified member of the prestigious Dai Nippon Butokukai (DNBK). As a member of Dai Nippon Butokukai, the oldest martial arts association in Japan. This association is sanctioned by the Japan Ministry of Education and the Imperial Family of Japan. This is among the highest order of recognition a Karate practitioner can receive. Mr. Aguilar has been involved with martial arts for a total of 20 years.

Anthony Torres
JMAANY  Co-Founder / Head Director and Community Liaison

Anthony Torres a native of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Torres has always been involved with community affairs. A graduate of Bishop Ford High School and a student of Long Island University in which he majored in business management, accounting and psychology. He is an experienced mentor and little league baseball coach for St. Agatha's church and the Brooklyn Angel Baseball organization which are both located in Brooklyn. A father and husband, he presently works for HSBC Bank USA N.A. and owns a small business.

Diane McPhail
JMAANY Co-Director / General Secretary

Diane McPhail is an Associate Pastor of the Holy City Ministries in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York.

Sempai Tehillah McPhail
Sempai Byron Carabajo
Sempai Christain Cautlal
Sempai Danny Pederedo
Sempai Yasmeen Abuhammoud
Sempai Lionel Rojas
Sempai Laura Olaya