MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS AND STAFF
All classes are taught by our certified adult, black belt instructors and staff. 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. These black belts have chosen to take on additional responsibilities; therefore, they are certified 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
Titled instructors are our school's administrators.
Grandmaster of the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style
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. Learn More about Grandmaster Crandall's background on our Founder's Page.
Master of American Eagle Style
Eric Stalloch
A Few Words from the Grandmaster:
What has been written about me gives the foundation and the direction of our school. To know the school’s future direction is to know something about Master Eric Stalloch. In August of 2013 I designated and certified Master Eric Stalloch as my successor.
To learn more about Master Stalloch click here.
He is also Headmaster, 10th Dan of the American Eagle Cane Style.
Masters in American Eagle Style and the Titled Instructors
There are two administrative titles within our organization: Senior Instructor and Chief Instructor. These two titles are not earned ranks; they are appointments by the Grandmaster 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.
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. There may be only one 10th degree 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. Grandmaster Crandall has identified Master Eric Stalloch as his successor,
The title of Master exists in one other context in American Eagle Style. The title Master OF the Style. This title may only be held by one individual, and they are the designated successor to the Grandmaster. This individual's belt no longer possess red tips to indicate rank, rather their belt is embroidered with their name and the title Master.
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. Master Freleigh is the co-author of the Superkick Workbook. Certified Director of the Superkick program. Secure Living Online board member.
Master Nicholas Chuff
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Co-producer of the instructional DVD: American Eagle Style Self-Defense, Volume 1. Co-author of the book: Kendo for Fun, Americanized Eagle Kendo.
Master Nathan Morris
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Co-author of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido Workbook Text and Kyoshi in Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall school of Iaido. Assisted in production of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido and Batto-do DVDs.
Master Linda Möller
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Co-author of Moving Beyond Disabilities with Grandmaster Crandall.
Master Lynn Jessee
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. She is also a Master Instructor in American Eagle Cane Style (9th Dan and a founder along with Grandmaster Crandall and Master Stalloch). She is a senior canemaster in the American Cane System. Co-producer of the instructional DVD Cane-Fu: Moving Beyond Disabilities. Secure Living Online board member. She is the co-author of the book Women's Self Defense in a Changing World.
Master Amanda Crandall
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style. Tashi in Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iadio. Author of Reflections of a Grandmaster, and the Tiger Lily and Julia Adventure Series of children's books including Down Block for Defense and others.
Master Gisella Stalloch
Master Instructor, 7th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style. Co-producers of the 2-hour instructional DVD, Self-Defense Techniques and Awareness in a Changing World.
Instructors
Instructor Sabrina Crandall
6th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Illustrator of the Tiger Lily and Julia Adventure Series of children's books including Down Block for Defense and others.
Instructor Steve Riley
6th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Paul Lilley
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Mark Spiridigloizzi
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor William Walker
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Mary-Margaret Krukonis
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Peter Hotvedt
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Kyleigh Hoyle
4th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Eve Mizgala
4th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor John Freleigh
3rd Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Victor Chambers
2nd Degree. Certified Instructor, American Eagle Style.
Instructor Alivia Franz
2nd Degree. Certified Instructor, American Eagle Style
Instructor Edna Rodriguez
3rd Degree. Certified Instructor, American Eagle Style
Instructor Matthew Strachen
2nd Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Maria Quintal
3rd Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style. Certified Instructor, American Eagle Cane Style (2nd Degree)
Instructor Adam Ellis
2nd Degree. Certified Instructor, American Eagle Style
Instructor Ed Salsberg
Instructor, 1st Degree.
Staff
Instructor Ryan Byrne
Staff, 1st Degree.
Instructor Aiden Uvanni
Staff, 3rd Degree
Adult black belt students, 18 years of age or older, who are interested in the instructors program, or becoming staff should speak with their instructor.
REMOTE INSTRUCTORS
Instructors who do not teach at the main location on a weekly basis. Remote 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
6th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Mark Sanson
6th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Dean Johnson
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Arturo Santiago
5th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
Instructor Josef Byrne
4th Degree. Certified Instructor, Amerian Eagle Style.
INSTRUCTOR EMERITUS
Instructors who have been 5th Degree or 6th Degree Black Belts for at least 3 years have the option to request Emeritus Status. These individuals remain active in the school, its classes, and some of its events but with reduced responsibilities. While they can still assist with teaching students, they no longer take on new students or may not have students assigned directly under their mentorship. They wear a small blue emeritus patch beneath their instructors patch on their black top.
Instructor Don Brown
5th Degree. Instructor Emeritus