My Training

My name is Jessica. I'm 16 and have been studying martial arts for over 8 years. My first instructor was Sensei John Keefe (Shaolin Martial Arts Academy). I studied there for about 2 1/2 years in the art of Oki Ryu Kenpo. Sensei Keefe introduced me to my first weapon which were nunchucks, ever since then I have not stopped training in them. I have learned more weapons but my favorite is and will always be nunchucks. Sensei keefe held a fundraising karate tournament in 1995 which I competed at and ever since then I have loved to compete. I learned a lot there and all the instructors and students were very nice. My family ended up moving to Methuen Mass.

After we settled in, I soon started training at Eastern Freestyle Karate in Shotokan, located in Reading Mass. I only studied there for a brief time. I studied under Shihan Gary Meyer. I had to stop going there because the drive was to long and I didn't have a lot of time after school with homework in all.

So I joined the local M.K.A. (Methuen Karate Association) under Shihan Larry Giordano. I soon after joined their Demonstration Team. I enjoyed studying there and the instructors there were very nice. After 2 years of studying there in the art of Kyokushinkai.

I ended up moving again, this time to Manchester N.H where I joined American Hapkido Tae Kwon Do. Sa Bum Nim Keith Puglisi was a great instructor and was always motivating you to challenge yourself. I studied there for over 2 years and received my black belt there. I will miss everyone there. I had just started a Comp/Demo team to called "A.H.A Karate Team." I wish them the best in the future. I stopped studying there in September of 2000.

I'm training in Shaolin Kempo presently. I'm enjoying it and training very hard. I'm an assistant instructor there and one of my favorite things is teaching martial arts to the children.

TO ALL MY INSTRUCTORS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART FOR ALL THAT YOU TAUGHT ME IN LIFE and in the MARTIAL ARTS.