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 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.
GRANDMASTER AND SUCCESSOR
Grandmaster of the American Martial Arts Institute and American Eagle Style
Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr.
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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
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A Few Words from the Grandmaster:
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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.
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He is also Headmaster, 10th Dan of the American Eagle Cane Style.
MASTER INSTRUCTORS
Every student is mentored by one of our certified, adult, black belt instructors. Learn more below.
Masters in American Eagle Style and the Titled Instructors
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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,
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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.
CERTIFIED INSTRUCTORS
Every student is mentored by one of our certified, adult, black belt instructors. Learn more below.
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 Dean Johnson
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5th Degree Black Belt, American Eagle Style - Certified Instructor​
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:
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Learning to workout on their own for regular fitness and technique skills.
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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.