Our Instructors

John Eccles Sensei began his training in Goju-Ryu karate in Mount Kisco, New York in the dojo of Master Seikichi Toguchi's Shorei-Kan in 1972 under the tutelage of his more notable students, Toshio Tomano Sensei, and Kazkuni Miyagi Sensei. Sensei John had an extensive tournament career throughout the 70's and 80's, competing and demonstrating regionally and nationally both independently, and with the AAU. In the late 90's Sensei John began taking instruction with Dai-Sensei Kowloon Ong. He now trains with Masaji Taira Sensei, and other senior members of the Kenkyukai. Sensei John currently holds the rank of 6th degree black belt (Rokudan), and is a certified instructor of Goju-Ryu Karate having received his teaching license in the Kenkyukai directly from Masaji Taira Sensei.
 

Nancy Eccles Sensei began training in Tang Soo Do (a Korean martial art) in 1995, after observing her children's karate classes. Within months, she was an assistant instructor. She trained in Tang Soo Do for ten years, achieving the rank of second degree black belt, and senior instructor. Sensei Nancy also competed in dozens of tournaments and holds grand championships in kata, sparring and weapons. She is an experienced tournament judge, and brings over 30 years of public school teaching experience to her unique style of martial arts teaching.

She began training in Goju-Ryu in 2005, started again from white belt, and now holds the rank of 5th degree black belt (Godan) in Goju-Ryu. Sensei Nancy is also a master instructor, one of only two women world-wide to be awarded a teaching license, in the Kenkyukai by Masaji Taira Sensei.