This American School of Martial Arts is under the direction of Clifford C. Crandall, Jr., a full-time professional martial artist. He was inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine International Hall of Fame 2001 and the only American to be promoted to the title of instructor and 2nd-dan in traditional Iaido by Master Tsuneyoshi Matsuno. He has produced nine instructional video tapes and authored three books in the field of the martial arts. His tonfa book and tonfa instructional video tapes have made him known as the Tonfa Master throughout the world since 1984. As the host of the Martial Arts Today show he has represented the spirit and good will of the martial arts and American Martial Arts Institute throughout the United States, South America, Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Russia and Europe. The T.V. show grew over its 12 year existence to over 5 million homes in the United States and Canada.

As a retired Superintendent of Schools in the State of New York with classroom teaching experience plus the unusual combination of once being a principal of an elementary school, Kindergarten through fourth grades, and principal of a high school, Grand Master Crandall brings to this martial arts program an educational professionalism seldom seen in a martial arts school.

There is little doubt that Clifford C. Crandall, Jr. has had a real and positive impact on the world of martial arts and continues through his instruction of American Martial Arts Institute Black Belts to maintain the tradition and true meaning of the martial arts. At present, Grand Master Crandall oversees 3 full-time martial arts school locations plus special programs in many community locations through-out the United States. His over 35 years of martial arts training includes professional instruction in traditional Japanese and Chinese styles with his primary heritage in Korean (Tae Kwon Do). The style founded by him and taught by the American Martial Arts Institute is the "American Eagle Style."

His Education Certifications and Achievements Include:

• 1969, Educational B.A. Degree.
  
• 1974, Permanent N.Y.S. Teachers Certificate.
  
• 1975, Masters Degree in Educational Administration.
  
• 1975, Permanent N.Y.S. Administration and Supervision Certificate.
  
• 1976, School District Administrator N.Y.S. Permanent Certificate.
  
• 1978, Instructor in the use of PR#24.
  
• 1979, Law Enforcement Defensive Tactics instructor.
  
• 1991, Certified 6th Dan in American Kang Duk Won Association under Grandmaster Raymond P. Arndt.
  
• 1994, A New York State Legislative Resolution #55 passed on January 1995 honoring Grandmaster Crandall for improving international relations between The People's Republic of China and The United States.
  
• 1995, Certified Master Instructor Status by Grandmaster Raymond P. Arndt
  
• 1996, Internationally certified as a Grandmaster by the Grandmaster of the
  Tong Leong Gwo Shuh Goan International Organization.
  
• 1997, Certified with the title of Professor of Martial Arts by the International
  Martial Arts College by the Chairman of the Board in St. Petersburg, Russia.
  
• 1998, Guinness Book World Record Holder (June 18, 1998)
  
• 1999, The only American promoted to the title of Instructor and grade of 2nd-dan in the Iaido school of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno by the school Headmaster Instructor Tsuneyoshi Matsuno in Kobe, Japan.
  
• 2001, Inducted into the Action Martial Arts Magazine International Hall of Fame for "Outstanding Contributions to the Martial Arts by a Grandmaster."
  
• New York State Legislative Resolution #5333 passed on May 7th, honoring Grandmaster Crandall for his international service between the United States and Japan.
  
• 2002, A Senatorial Citation was passed on June 30, honoring Grandmaster Crandall for his international Goodwill Tour 2002
  
• 2005, With the passing of Headmaster Matsuno in February, Headmaster Crandall became the Headmaster of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall for the world.
  
• 2005, Grandmaster Crandall led the American team for the American-Australian Martial Arts Exchange to Australia to perform.
  
• 2006, TVshow host for the Safety and Awareness Today show which airs on ABC, Fox, and MyTV