OUR INSTRUCTORS

Sensei Robert Underhill, 2^nd dan, of Danbury, CT, started training in 1981 under Hanshi Manny Matias. At the time, Hanshi's dojo was part of the Kyokushin Karate Organization, following the teachings of the great Master Shigeru Oyama who was then Saiko Shihan of the organization. When Shigeru Oyama separated from Kyokushin to form World Oyama Karate, Hanshi Manny and Sensei Bob both loyally followed him until he stepped down as Director of the organization in 2004.

As president of the World Kanreikai Organization, Sensei Robert Underhill worked with Hanshi Manny Matias, Chief instructor, and Sensei Denis Cordeiro of Montreal, Canada, to structure a new approach to operating a Karate organization. Along with instructing daily classes at the Danbury Dojo, "Sensei Bob" has founded and served as president and CEO of several successful corporations. His passion for karate, combined with his business expertise provided him with the vision to create an organization that could better serve its schools and help establish and maintain high karate teaching standards. Sensei Bob along with Hanshi Manny, Sensei Denis and many others have developed an organization that promotes high quality teaching as well as tournaments and numerous events focusing on Traditional Japanese Contact Karate.

Sensei Daniel Lachance, 3^rd dan, has been training with Hanshi Manny Matias at the Danbury dojo since 1986. As a former business partner with Hanshi Manny in the World Oyama Karate Organization, Sensei Dan has played an active role as a manager and instructor at the Danbury dojo since the early 90's. Sensei Lachance has served on our Knockdown team both as a fighter and a trainer for several years. He is very present at the dojo, teaching and training champion fighters.

Sensei Mariusz Janicki, 2^nd dan

Sensei Gary London, 2^nd dan

Senpai Moriaki Ichikawa, 1^st dan

Master Luigi Mondelli is the chief instructor of Best Way Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / American Top Team Connecticut. He is also the MMA Team Manager. With over 15 years of practice, Sensei Luigi is a certified black belt with many titles and lots of experience training amateur and professional fighters. In addition to be a great teacher appreciated by all his students, young and older, Luigi still takes part in high level competition. He has won numerous BJJ championships in South America and North America and has been World Champion in 2002 and 2008.