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Japan Karate Association of Montville
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"The martial way is open to all with the resolve and inclination to walk it.  The martial way requires moral stamina, demands social consciousness, as well as physical endurance.  The individual embarking on this way must be brave and virtuous, and must possess a sense of commitment and a sensitivity to the values of the past." - Dave Lowry
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Andrew Bakoledis(50), 5th Dan
Chief Instructor, 30 years training

Began -1990   Shodan -1993   Nidan -1995   Sandan -1998   Yondan -2004  Godan -2015
JKA certified B Level Instructor, B level Judge. C level examiner. Graduated Master Mori's A Level Instructor Training program in New York City in 2006. Began training JKA
at the UConn Karate Club with Sensei Robert Jacobs(7th Dan) and Margaret Thomas (6th Dan).   3-time selection for the U.S. National JKA Team, competing at the 9th, 10th, and 11th Funakoshi Gichin World Cup Karate Championships in 2004(Japan), 2006(Australia), and 2011(Thailand) and was an alternate for the 2014 Team competed in Tokyo.  As captain of the Men's Team Kata National Champions, he, Mike Jacobs, and Joseph Vincente were finalists at the 2011 Funakoshi World Cup in Thailand.  He was an assistant coach for the 2017 U.S. World Cup team in Ireland, working with the Junior Team and now a 2020 National team member, senior division ages 50-54.  Sensei is a Senior Men's National Kata champion and has training in the arts of Judo, Jiu Jitsu, and Aikido. 
​Mr. Bakoledis has a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Mathematical Sciences from UConn and Master's Degree in Education from Sacred Heart University.  He recently completed education and training for Educational Leadership in School Administration. ​He has 24 years of teaching in Connecticut schools grades 6-12. He taught mathematics at Westbrook High School for 9 years where he coached the soccer, state championship baseball team, and the math team. He has taught math for 13 years in the Montville district, 6 years at Tyl Middle School and 7 at Montville High School where he is coach of the Math Team, 3rd place among CT small pubic schools at the 2019 state competition.

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Abby Barrera(38), 4th Dan -  Instructor, 20 years martial arts training
Began - 2003   Shodan - 2005   Nidan - 2007   Sandan - 2010   Yondan - 2017
JKA certified C Level Instructor, C Level Judge, D level examiner. Graduated Master Mori's B Level Instructor Training Program in New York City in 
2012 and is now enrolled in the A level course.  Began training JKA at UConn in 2003.  4-time selection for the U.S. National JKA Team, competing at the 10th-13th Funakoshi Gichin World Cup Karate Championships in 2011(Thailand), 2014(Japan), 2017(Ireland), and 2020(Japan).  Abby also has several years training experience in the art of Kung Fu.

Mrs. Barrera
has a Bachelor's Degree in Molecular Cell Biology and Spanish from UConn and a Masters degree in Molecular Cell Biology from Quinnipiac University.  She has worked in pharmaceuticals for over 5 years at Pfizer and at Neurogen Corp.  Additionally, she has a Bachelors Degree in Nursing and works as a registered nurse at Hartford Hospital.

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John Listorti(52), 3rd Dan -  Instructor, 32 years martial arts training
Began - 1986   Shodan - 1991   Nidan - 1994   Sandan - 2000
John began his training at UConn in 1986.  He has been regularly teaching karate for 20 years. Additionally, sensei is accomplished with the long bo/staff and has training in the art of fencing.
Mr. Listorti has a Master's Degree from UConn and is a science teacher at Killingly High School with
27 years of teaching experience in the high school classroom. He is a practicing clarinet player for a local orchestra which performs regionally.

Mehrdad Haghpassand(51), 2nd Dan - Assistant Instructor, 21 years training
Began - 1999   Shodan - 2003   Nidan - 2007
Mehrdad is a chemist with a friendly demeanor whose effort to focus in the dojo is only overshadowed by his effort to balance life's responsibilities.

Luisito Nopal(47), 1st Dan - Assistant Instructor, 7 years training
Began - 2013   Shodan - 2018
Lu is an internet technologist working in internet security whose passion is family and karate.
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Bob Randall(56), 1st Dan - Assistant Instructor, 13 years training
Began - 2002   Shodan - 2006
Bob is a computer scientist who exhibits good discipline both in and out of the dojo.

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Nancy Randall(54), 1st Dan - Assistant Instructor, 13 years training
Began - 2003   Shodan - 2010
​Nancy works in healthcare and always exhibits great training spirit. She is also a Martial Fitness instructor and refuses to act her age.

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