Instructors and Staff

American Martial Arts Institute Staff

Some black belts in the American Martial Arts Institute may choose to take on some additional responsibilites, and, as a result, they are certifed each year to teach the American Eagle Style. When you earn your black belt, you may request in writing to be considered for the instructors' program. If accepted, you are required to do a minimum six-month internship.

Instructors wear the instructor's patch on a black top. They have students directly responsible to them, and they work directly with Grandmaster Crandall regarding these students regarding their development and testings.

New learning experiences that face students that wish to teach include:

Learning to workout on their own for regular fitness and technique skills.

There is the option to attend an instructor's class once a month. These classes are held once a month. The class is one-hour in length. These one-hour classes are not to teach the instructors how to teach, but rather this is a class in which the instructors workout and train just as the students they teach with the full format of the class.

Staff meetings are held for instructors which includes class teaching assignments for the entire school plus the learning of new methods of teaching and areas that are being added or enhanced in the style. This meeting may last two hours and allows for questions and input from the instructors.

The instructors are allowed to use the school facilities at any time and can obtain a key to any of the main locations. Fitness equipment exists in the main location for instructors' use only.

Titled Instructors

Active Instructors

This website lists the Active Black Belt Instructors and Staff of the American Martial Arts Institute. Instructors are recertified every year by Grandmaster Crandall by demonstrating the standards of training, instructional skills, and fundamental knowledge for the American Eagle Style. These individuals must also teach classes regularly. An Active instructor in the school must meet at least one of the following requirements: they must teach classes at least once per week regularly, or they must be in direct contact with Grandmaster Crandall at least once per month to remain informed and further their training. Active instructors receive monthly updates regarding the school's continued growth from the main office and Grandmaster Crandall.

Special Note

Instructors that are listed on our website are actively teaching in our school. We would like those that check our website to know that there have been many great people who have shared their lives with us as black belt instructors and because of family demands, job changes, or health can no longer help. There are many and we wish them continued success and thank them for all they have done. Many others stay in regular contact with our school, although life's demands do not allow them to be active instructors.

Saddly, some instructors have passed away while in active service to the school. They will be long remembered for the difference they made in the lives of the students. When an active instructor passes away, a short remembrance is posted in the press release section of the website for that year.

When an active Master Instructor passes away, they are remembered here:
Master Jill Crandall (2002).

Grandmaster of
the American Martial Arts Institute

Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr.

Grandmaster Crandall is certified as a 10th Degree Black Belt and is the Head of the American Martial Arts Institute.

Titled Instructors

There are two administrative titles within our organization: Senior Instructor and Chief Instructor.

These two titles are not earned but rather appointments by the Grandmaster of the school to people who are taking on administrative responsibilities. These appointments are not permanent and may be removed and shifted to others based on school needs.

There is a Master Instructor status which is added to an individual's name if they pass the 7th Degree exam. This person is referred to as a Master in the style. Similar to earning their black belt this title is theirs forever. At this time four individuals have earned this distinction, Master Cheryl Freleigh, Master Nicholas Chuff, Master Nathan Morris, and Master Eric Stalloch

There is no limit to the number of people who may hold the title Master Instructor, and a 7th degree black belt may one day test for the rank of 8th degree black belt, the last level of black belt for which there is a testing in American Eagle Style. The rank of 9th degree may be held by only one individual, appointed by the Grandmaster. There may be only one 10th degre black belt, the highest rank in American Eagle Style; this person is the Grandmaster, a title which passes to the current Grandmaster's designated successor. The title of Grandmaster and 10th degree are passed together. At this time, Grandmaster Crandall has not publicly identified a sucessor.

The title of Master may exist in one other context in American Eagle Style. The title of Master OF the Style. This title may only be held by one individual, and they are the designated sucessor to the Grandmaster. This individual's belt no longer possess red tips to indicate rank, rather their belt is embroidered with the name and the title Master. At this time, no one holds the title Master OF the Style; however, as indicated above, Master Cheryl Freleigh has earned the rank Master IN the Style, and therefore is a Master Instructor.

Speak with your instructor if you have any questions regarding these titles, ranks, and positions. The head of the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style is Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr., who is the founder of the school and style. This title and rank was bestowed to him by a council of Grandmaster's. For more information speak with your instructor and read the section of this website about Grandmaster Crandall.

Master Cheryl Freleigh
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Instructs classes at Utica. Master Freleigh is the co-author of the Superkick Workbook. The title of Master Instructor in American Eagle Style is earned and added to the instructor's name at the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt. This is not an appointed title and is permanent. Certified Director of the Superkick program. Secure Living Online board member.

Master Nicholas Chuff
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Instructs classes at Utica. Co-producer of the instructional DVD: American Eagle Style Self-Defense, Volume 1. The title of Master Instructor in American Eagle Style is earned and added to the instructor's name at the rank of 7th Degree Black Belt. This is not an appointed title and is permanent.

Master Nathan Morris
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Instructs classes at Utica. Co-author of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido Workbook Text and Renshi in Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall school of Iaido. This is not an appointed title and is permanent.

Master Eric Stalloch
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Instructs classes at Utica. Proprietor of the Utica location. Certified Cane Master, American Cane System. Certified Superkick program instructor. Co-author of the book Be Safe Physically and Mentally with the Crandall System, co-producer of the instructional DVDs Practical Cane Self-Defense, Volume 1 and Cane-Fu: Moving Beyond Disabilities and the 8 instructional DVDs of the American Cane System Ranking Series. He is CEO of Secure Living Online. Mr. Stalloch has published articles in Taekwondo Times, Inside Kung Fu, Action Martial Arts Magazine, Combat, and others.

Miss Linda Möller
Chief Instructor, 6th Degree. Instructs classes at Albany. Co-author of Moving Beyond Disabilities with Grandmaster Crandall.

Mr. Steve Riley
Senior Instructor, 6th Degree. Instructs classes at Albany. Proprietor of Albany satelitte location. Certified Superkick program instructor.

Mrs. Gisella Stalloch
Senior Instructor, 5th Degree. Instructs classes at Utica. Certified Superkick program instructor.

Instructors

Mr. David Phillips
Instructor, 6th Degree.

Mrs. Lynn Jessee
Instructor, 6th Degree. Mrs. Lynn Jessee is also a certified Cane Master in the American Cane System. Co-producer ofthe instructional DVD Cane-Fu: Moving Beyond Disabilities. Secure Living Online board member.

Mr. Tim Cumings
Instructor, 5th Degree.

Dr. Bret Jessee
Staff, 5th Degree.

Mr. Dean Johnson
Instructor, 5th Degree.

Mr. Mark Sanson
Instructor. 5th Degree.

Mr. Arturo Santiago
Instructor, 5th Degree.

Mrs. Marilyn Stalloch
Instructor, 5th Degree.

Mr. Tim Stalloch
Instructor, 5th Degree.

Mrs. Christie Catera
Instructor, 4th Degree.

Mr. Paul Lilley
Instructor, 4th Degree.

Mr. Robert Pagano
Instructor, 4th Degree.

Miss Mary-Margaret Krukonis
Instructor, 4th Degree.

Mr. Mark Spiridigloizzi
Instructor, 3rd Degree.

Miss Amanda Peterson
Instructor, 4th Degree.

Mr. John Freleigh
Instructor, 2nd Degree.

Miss Sabrina Kowalski
Instructor, 2nd Degree.

Mr. William Walker
Instructor, 2nd Degree.

Staff

Mr. Travis Donley
Staff, 4th Degree.

Mrs. Daryl Eastwood
Instructor, 5th Degree.

Mr. Joe Wereszynski
Staff, 5th Degree.

Retiree Status

The American Martial Arts Institute which teaches American Eagle Style has been doing so for many years. It is proud of its staff and the professional teaching and martial arts skills they demonstrate. In recognition of the years of dedication by many individuals not only to their personal training but also their commitment to passing on this beautiful and traditional art form our school recognizes the position of retiree. There are many possible reasons that an instructor may choose retiring such as health, family, job, or simply time, but their desire to retire from the demands of teaching and weekly commitments to classes does not mean they have changed in their love of the art or our school.

A retiree is an individual who has earned the rank of Fifth Degree and has been an instructor for at least the last four years of their involvement with the school. They are required to attend a minimum of two of the four staff meetings each year after their retirement. Their uniform consists of all white pants, a white tee shirt, and a white top trimmed in black.

Some aspects of this position are: Retirees do not teach or help on the training floor. They may come to watch or help organize events (such as the FunShop, Adult Seminar Day, Teenaged Seminar Day, Weapons Competition, Sparring Competition, and Instructors Classes), help in the office if they wish, participate in any seminars for staff that the school may have. They are welcome to any of the Black & Brown Belt Luncheons. They may come in and train with their instructor so as to maintain their skills and forms although they will no longer be testing for additional rank. They are also welcome to participate in any school trips.

The following individuals have chosen to remain involved in the American Martial Arts Institute as Retired Instructors:

Mr. Don Brown
Retired Instructor, 5th Degree.

American Eagle Style