INSTRUCTORS

TONY DeANGELO

began developing his interest in martial arts training as a teenager. He tried different types of martial arts, including boxing and Tae Kwon Do. In 1993 he became a student at Villari’s Self-Defense Center in North Haven, CT to begin his training in Kempo under Sensei Angelo Norman. After studying with Sensei Norman, Tony developed enough interest in the art to pursue the possibility of becoming an instructor and enrolled in the Villari Instructor’s College. Not long after, he started teaching as an Assistant Instructor at the Villari school in Windsor, CT.

After about two years of accelerated training at the College, both he and friend Wayne Bullock, now the Chief Instructor for Villari’s in North Haven, found that they were increasingly dissatisfied with their progress, and began to look elsewhere. Not far from the North Haven Villari branch, Master Steve DeMasco had opened a United Studios of Self Defense, where Ken Warner was the Chief Instructor. Tony and Wayne began their training with Ken and shortly thereafter resumed an accelerated training program under Master DeMasco’s accredited Instructor’s College. During this time, Tony, Wayne, Ken, and Ben Thomas all began working out together every day. Their practice sessions became increasingly strenuous, and all four started to rapidly improve in their abilities. Many of the experiences that the four shared became important building blocks for their teaching methods as well, and became the foundation of what would later be the Kempokan training philosophy. Also around this time, Tony was hired as an instructor in Trumbull, CT with Sensei Sally Cotton.

In 1996, Master DeMasco asked Tony if he would be willing to take over as Chief Instructor at the Clinton location of United Studios. Tony brought great prosperity to the school, both as a teacher and as a businessperson, turning a school that had very little excitement or money completely around into a school that had happy, excited students and was financially stable.

After two years of teaching in Clinton, though, he decided that it would be in his best interests to leave the school because he had developed some philosophical differences with Master DeMasco. He resumed his training with Ken and Ben in Glastonbury, and achieving Sensei in 1998, began teaching classes at the Glastonbury school for several months. In 2000, he earned his Sandan under the Kempokan guidelines.

In early 2003, he decided to open a new school in Clinton, CT. The school opened its doors in June of 2003, and has quickly grown, attracting many former students that were glad to have him teaching again. He currently trains in Kempo with Shihan Ben Thomas and Master Brian Hanson. In 2004, he earned his Yondan under the Kempo guidelines while learning wushu kung fu and grappling.

On July 23, 2007 Kempokan relocated to a new studio at 183 Route 81 in Killingworth, CT.

SENSEI DON WATROUS

is the senior instructor at The Kempokan and is certified by the Goshin Kempo Jujutsu Kai as a Sensei.

His martial arts experience began in 1978 with the Okinawan martial art, Goju Ryu.

Don began his Kempo training in Clinton, where Tony DeAngelo became the chief instructor in August of 1996. Don immediately became Tony's assistant instructor.

He attained the rank of Shodan in 1997, the rank of Nidan in 2003. He achieved Sensei in 2004 and earned his Sandan and Third Degree Black Belt in December 2005.

SENSEI COLLEEN TOPITZER

is the lead instructor at The Kempokan and is certified by the Goshin Kempo Jujutsu Kai as a Sensei in 2005.

Colleen began her training in the fall of 1997 with Tony. In the spring of 1999 she earned the rank of Shodan. She advanced to the rank of Nidan in 2003.

She earned the teaching status of Shidoin under the Goshin Kempo Jujutsu guidelines in January of 2004 and attained Sandan and her Third Degree Black Belt in March 2006.

SHIDOIN RYAN CARUFE

has been studying martial arts since 1999.

He joined The Kempokan of Clinton in September of 2003 and achieved the rank of Shodan in March 2004 and Nidan in 2006.

Ryan is a high honor student in the Region 4 School District and active in a variety of sports and junior scholar programs.

Currently, Ryan teaches a weapons class at The Kempokan Killingworth.

SHIDOIN PAT CARUFE

graduated from Canton College of Technology with an Associate degree in Applied Science in Construction Engineering.

Pat received a B.S. Degree in Construction Management from Utica College.

He began his Kempo training in 2000 and obtained the rank of Shodan in 2003 and attained Nidan in 2006.

MARTHA LUTHER

has studied martial arts since 1998 and started teaching in 2003.

She was promoted to the rank of Shodan in 2001 and Nidan in 2004.

In addition, Martha is a registered nurse and earned her Masters Degree in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University.

CATHY DeANGELO

graduated from Albertus Magnus College with a degree in Art and Psychology and also holds a Masters Degree in Human Service Administration from Antioch University.

Cathy received her Shodan in 2001 from Sensei Wayne Bullock and attained Nidan in 2004.