AMERICAN MARTIAL ARTS INSTITUTE Current Students Call: 315-768-1859
OUR INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF
All classes are taught by our certified adult, black belt instructors. These men and women have chosen the path of teaching this traditional style, to pass it to the next generation in the same way in which they received it. Our instructors teach out of loyalty to the school and a personal desire to "complete" the circle by giving back to the school through their gift of time. Instructors are certified annually. 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.
GRANDMASTER AND SUCCESSOR
Meet our school's Founder, Grandmaster Crandall, and his Successor, Headmaster Eric Stalloch
Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr.
Grandmaster of the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style
Grandmaster Crandall is certified as a 10th Degree Black Belt and is the Head of the American Martial Arts Institute. He is a retired Superintendent of Schools and has been teaching martial arts more than 55 years. He is also the head of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall school of iaido and Americanized Eagle Kendo. He is a co-founder of the American Eagle Cane Style, and has published more than 50 books and DVDs in the field of martial arts. As host of the Martial Arts Today Show, he covered the martial arts in 22 countries.
Learn More about Grandmaster Crandall's background on our Founder's Page.
Headmaster Eric Stalloch
Master of the American Eagle Style and Headmaster of American Eagle Cane Style
Headmaster Eric Stalloch is Grandmaster Crandall's designated successor for the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style. He is certified as a 9th Degree Black Belt. In addition, he is the Headmaster, 10th Dan, of American Eagle Cane Style. Master Stalloch has been training under Grandmaster Crandall since 1989. He has co-authored five books and produced 11 instructional DVDS. He is also the co-founder of SecureLiving.org and a high school science teacher for 26 years specializing in Forensic Science and Anatomy and Physiology.
To learn more about Master Stalloch click here.
MASTER INSTRUCTORS
Master Instructors have earned 7th Degree Black Belt or greater in the American Eagle Style. For more information about Master Instructor Status CLICK HERE. Below are our school's Master Instructors.
Master Nathan Morris
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8th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Kyoshi, Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido -Successor
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He is the co-author of the Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido and Batto Style Textbook (out of print). He is co-instructor on the instructional DVDs Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido and Batto and Kumi Tachi.
Master Nicolas Chuff
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Kyoshi, Americanized Eagle Kendo -Successor
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He is the co-producer of American Eagle Style Self-Defense, Volume 1
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He was a member of the China-America Team in 1994
Master Cheryl Freleigh
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Advanced Status, Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
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Co-author of the American Martial Arts Institute American Eagle Style Superkick Workbook and American Martial Arts Institute Guidebook.
Master Linda Möller
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Tashi, Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
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Advanced Status, Americanized Eagle Kendo
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Co-author: Moving Beyond Disabilities with Grandmaster Crandall
Master Lynn Jessee
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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9th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Cane Style - Co-founder
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Co-author: American Eagle Cane Style Instructional Textbook
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Co-author: Women's Self-Defense and Awareness in a Changing World
Master Amanda Crandall
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Tashi, Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
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Author: Julia and Tiger Lily Adventure Series (Books 1, 2, and 3)
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Author: Reflections of a Grandmaster
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Trip coordinator: 2024 American Tour (Mount Rushmore)
Master Gisella Stalloch
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Tashi, Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
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Co-producer: Self-Defense Techniques and Awareness in a Changing World DVD with Grandmaster Crandall
Master Steve Riley
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7th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Intermediate Status, Americanized Eagle Kendo
CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
Every student is mentored by one of our certified, adult, black belt instructors. Learn more below.
Instructor Sabrina Crandall
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6th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Tashi Status, Americanized Eagle Kendo
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Illustrator for the Julia and Tiger Lily Adventure Series (Books 1, 2, and 3)
Instructor Paul Lilley
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Mary Margaret Krukonis
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Peter Hotvedt
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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1st Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Cane Style
Instructor Kyleigh Osborne
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Ryan Payne
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4th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Matthew Strachen
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4th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Advanced Grade - Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
Instructor Joseph DeTraglia Jr.
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3rd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Alivia Franz
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3rd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor John Freleigh
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3rd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Maria Quintal
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3rd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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2nd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Cane Style - Certified Instructor
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Advanced Grade - Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
Instructor Edna Rodriguez
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3rd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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1st Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Cane Style
Instructor Victor Chambers
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2nd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Adam Ellis
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2nd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Ed Salsberg
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2nd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Ryan Byrne
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2nd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
STAFF
Teaching is a skill. The first step to become a certified instructor with students is to be accepted into our staff. These individuals wear a black uniform top. They undergo an apprenticeship and student teaching program. Once certified, they will wear a blue instructor's patch on their uniform. While they are not yet instructors, students still refer to them as "instructor", "sensei", or "sabom".
Instructor Jason Nellis
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2nd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Staff
Instructor Aidan Uvanni
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3rd Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Staff
REMOTE INSTRUCTORS
Instructors who do not teach at our main location on a weekly basis are considered "remote instructors." This does not refer to a virtual, distance-learning, or computer-based form of instructor. Remote means they are located a geographic distance from the school and only teach when they are able to be in-person at the main location.
Instructor Bret Jessee
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6th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
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Advanced Grade, Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido
Instructor Arturo Santiago
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
Instructor Josef Byrne
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4th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor
EMERITUS INSTRUCTORS
These instructors no longer actively teach students and may not regularly attend classes, but they still attend staff meetings, are evaluated annually, and may assist the school. For more information about Emeritus Status see an instructor or our school's guidebook. They wear a black top and the Instructor Emeritus patch (with a silver background) on their sleeve.
Instructor Emeritus Don Brown
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Instructor Emeritus
DO YOU WANT TO BE AN INSTRUCTOR?
Speak with your instructor to learn more.
More information about instructor status can be found in our school's textbook.
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.