Shotokan Karate Classes
Affordable Not-for-Profit Karate Training for our Youth
INSTRUCTORS
Sensei Ray
Godan, 5th Dan Rank
Sensei Ray serves as Head Instructor of the Thursday Night PAL class in Massapequa & Co-Head Instructor of the Levittown classes
Sensei Ray, Godan (5th Degree), began his Shotokan Karate training with Sensei Evelyn when he was 9 years old and has been studying for over 30 years. During that time he has trained with many instructors. He received his black belt at the age of 18 and has been teaching in Massapequa ever since.
Sensei Ray has graduated five black belts in the 20 years he's been teaching: Justin Hunt, Adam Krudo, Joe Posner, Andrea James, and Andrew Fisher.
He received an Executive Proclamation on May 12th, 2000 from Nassau County Executive, along with Senseis Evelyn and Chris Cizin, for their service to the Nassau County PAL and the community. He currently serves as the Director of Shotokan Karate for the Massapequa unit.
He believes that as martial artists, we are responsible for perpetually training our bodies and our minds to develop the warrior spirit, exceptional character, and leadership skills. Sensei Ray believes that kata is the foundation of our art and that its exploration and interpretation leads us to proficiency in all aspects of the discipline. He encourages his students to read and investigate as much as possible the philosophies, histories and traditions upon which Shotokan Karate is built.
Sensei Ray’s Shotokan training background includes Nassau County PAL, the American Karate Council, and the Tozai school. He has also studied Choy Lay Fut Kung Fu at Chan Tai San’s school.
Sensei Joe
Yondan, 4th Dan Rank
Sensei Joe serves as Head Instructor of the Monday Night PAL class in Massapequa.
Sensei Joe, Yondan (4th degree) started training in 1995 under Sensei Ray R. and has been a Massapequa PAL Karate Instructor since 2000. He also taught Karate for Boston University from 1997-1998, where he served as the Secretary for the BU Karate Club and later elected to serve as President.
Sensei Joe earned numerous medals while competing in NECKC Tournaments and was asked to perform Karate demonstrations and self-defense seminars during his time there. After college Sensei Joe lived abroad in Japan for 6 months.
Outside of Shotokan, Sensei Joe has trained in Judo, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Okinawan Kempo, Nido Ichi Shito Ryu and Krav Maga as well.
Sensei Joe holds an MA in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and works as the Director of Human Resources for New Visions for Public Schools, a non-profit in NYC. He also performs Human Resources consulting on a limited basis in his spare time.
Sensei Joe has supported a number of non-profits over the years, including having served on the Executive Committee of United Way of NYC's Young Leaders Council and on the Junior Advisory Board for Inwood House.
Sensei Evelyn
Schichidan, 7th Dan Rank
Sensei Evelyn serves as Head Instructor of the Wednesday Night PAL class in Massapequa.
Sensei Andrew
Shodan, 2nd Dan Rank
Sensei Andrew is Co-Head Instructor of the Tuesday Night PAL class in Rockville Centre/East Rockaway
Sensei Ed
Yondan, 4th Dan Rank
Sensei Ed serves as Co-Head Instructor of the Levittown classes & Instructs in Massapequa as well
Sensei Ed, Yondan (4th Degree), began studying Shotokan karate in 1979 in the first karate class offered by the PAL. Sensei Ed was one of the first two students to earn his Shodan (black belt) from PAL karate. Sensei Ed teaches in Levittown and Massapequa.
Over the years, Sensei Ed has studied with most of the Sensei associated with the PAL and has forged long lasting friendships. Sensei Ed organized a kick-a-thon that benefitted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He has also served as the NCPAL Shotokan Karate Tournament Director for the last four years and organized the last five PAL karate barbeques.
Outside of Shotokan, Sensei Ed studied Judo and Seido Karate while in college. He also studied T'ai Ch'i with Sifu Herman Kauz in New York City and spent many years at the former Yanagi Martial Arts Center.
Sensei Joel
Sandan, 3rd Dan Rank
Sensei Joel serves as Head Instructor of the Friday Night PAL class in Massapequa.
Sensei Joel, Sandan (3rd Degree) started in the PAL program when he was 12 and studied under Sensei Dan J. until 1990. He returned in 2002 and trained under Sensei Dan J., Joe and Ray. Sensei Joel received his Shodan (Blackbelt) in January of 2009. He currently holds the rank of Nidan and serves as Head Instructor of the Friday Night PAL class in Massapequa.
Sensei Joel also had previously taught for several years alongside Sensei Dan, Joe & Ray across the PAL classes and as Head Instructor of the former PAL Teen Class at East Lake Elementary. Sensei Joel is involved in the organization of special events & recruitment and in the development of the web and Facebook sites.
Sensei Joel received his bachelor in business degree from Binghamton University, earned his MBA from New York University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Joel is Financial Planning Specialist and Advisor as part of a unique advisory team in Manhattan.
Sensei Dan B
Sandan, 3rd Dan Rank
Sensei Dan is an Instructor at various PAL classes
Sensei Jonathan
Shodan, 2nd Dan Rank
Sensei Jonathan is Co-Head Instructor of the Tuesday Night PAL class in Rockville Centre/East Rockaway
Sensei Anthony
Shodan, 1st Dan Rank