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Shihan Chris Martingilio is an award-winning martial arts educator (ARC 2022) who personally teaches every class and every student in his school. See his bio.
The martial arts program is similar to a private school, with limited class sizes, and individualized student attention from a devoted instructor. Students who meet Shihan Chris’ high expectations are rewarded with self-confidence, mental toughness, and lifelong skills in self-defense. Creating long term relationships with students and developing supportive training groups is of the utmost importance.
Our martial arts programs are intended to educate, create new skills, and understanding of the arts. We teach pressure-point techniques and joint locks that will increase the effectiveness of any style of martial art. All of our programs include this method of self defense.
Ours is a School of Education. Not Recreation.
Nick DoughertyFebruary 12, 2024Excellent and detailed training of classical martial arts. Best in the area. Warm atmosphere and very welcoming.
TmFebruary 12, 2024This guy is a really good instructor, highly recommended!
MrFebruary 12, 2024Excellent instruction! Very professional!
Dave LeannahFebruary 11, 2024I have trained with Grandmaster Chris for many years. Martingilio Marts Arts dojo, led by Grandmaster Chris, epitomizes excellence in teaching. His compassionate approach and personalized instruction have shaped students into both skilled martial artists and exemplary individuals. He fosters a supportive atmosphere where students thrive both in technique and character development. Highly recommended for those seeking quality martial arts instruction and personal growth.
Kevin NevilleFebruary 11, 2024Martingilio Martial Arts is the real deal!! Master Chris is excellent at teaching & explaining all styles. The best parts of his teachings is real world application for the techniques. Hands down the best martial arts around just spend a little time with master Chris and you will understand. Highly recommend Martingilio martial Arts you won’t regret it!
Tejaswini ManivannanFebruary 10, 2024I love this dojo and it’s very cool. Christopher Martingilio is an awesome instructor.
ChrisFebruary 10, 2024Master Chris is a great instructor with a deep passion, care and understanding for what he teaches. He cares about his students learning, growth and their safety. It's really hard to find someone with the knowledge, skillset and patience like him which I'm very grateful for. Get the kids involved and they'll carry a great set of skills with them forever.
Jeff SpanosFebruary 10, 2024My daughter was a student of Sensei Martingilio at an age where girls go through a lot of change. His foundation of teaching awareness, confidence and skills helped her respond more effectively to the world around her. Not only is he a mentor for Martial Arts, but a life coach as well. I highly recommend anyone to take lessons and learn from sensei Martingilio.
Will HigginbothamFebruary 10, 2024Grand Master Martingilio is a well trained and very skilled instructor. His school is well organized and clean.
Bio
Bio
Master Chris has turned a lifelong passion for teaching others into a Martial Arts Dojo like no other. Sensei Chris began his formal training of the martial arts in 1989, and taught at 3 dojos before deciding he needed to make a change. Bothered by the commercialization of the martial arts and seeing more and more black belts awarded to people who had simply “put in the time” without mastery, Master Chris opened Martingilio Martial Arts. Established in 2004, Martingilio Martial Arts has continued to grow into his vision of integrity, credibility, and research in martial arts.
Training under many of the greatest martial artists in the world has helped Master Chris to become a highly skilled fighter as well as a great teacher. He has taught courses in the US and Europe, and his instruction is in demand at various dojos around the country. He regularly teaches in public schools, colleges, businesses, and police academies.
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Bio
After earning a Bachelor’s Degree from UW Madison in Bio-Chemistry, Diana trained extensively under the instruction of Master Chris and Master Jeff Burhop. Two years after her martial arts training began, she desired to go back to UW to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. Diana’s hard work in both the martial arts and her medical career has paid off. At night, Diana is an Emergency Room Nurse and in the mornings she teaches both Ryukyu Kempo and Kickboxing classes. Her focus and attention to detail has helped her to become a very effective fighter and a charge nurse in the emergency room.
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Bio
Ryan is employed in community corrections and enjoys teaching/ training Kempo.
He is a great trainer and leader in the class.
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Bio
Teju started taking classes at the age of 8. After a few years of training and never missing a single class,
Teju was asked to lead the class. She accepted and struggled through the drills she was leading. In tears, after the class,
Teju approached her teacher and said that “teaching was very hard.” She wiped off her tears and asked if she could lead again.
The more she taught, the easier it became. Teju now participates and teaches in every single class at Martingilio Martial Arts.
With 1000’s of hours of training under her belt, Teju continues to lead, teach and learn in all of the kids and Adult classes and is respected
By everyone that she has worked with.
They teach regular classes and seminars at my school, and have been my instructors for many years. Grandmaster Chris and Professor Ken have taught all over the United States and Europe, and both are first generation students of Grandmaster George Dillman, Prof. Wally Jay and Prof. Remy Presas.
CHRIS THOMAS
Bio
Bio
Chris Thomas began studying martial arts in 1970, and forgot to quit. He has become a world renowned master instructor of pressure point method (kyusho-jitsu), classical Okinawan martial arts (Ryukyu kempo, Isshin-ryu karate, kobu-jitsu), and classical Chinese kung fu (taijiquan).
GM Chris Thomas is regarded so highly that martial arts practitioners regularly travel hundreds, even thousands of miles to study with him.
He is also a widely published writer, whose articles and essays on martial arts have been published around the world. Chris Thomas and his teacher, George Dillman, have written the definitive books on pressure point fighting.
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Bio
Sensei Ken is an extremely skilled and knowledgeable martial artist, and separates himself from other instructors by his ability to teach and help his students understand both basic and complicated techniques.
Sensei Ken trained with Grandmaster Remy A. Presas, founder and creator of Modern Arnis. Grandmaster Presas promoted Ken Smith to the level of Master of Tapi-Tapi, the highest level of achievement in Modern Arnis.
He continues to pass on Professor’s art, traveling all over the United States, France, England, Germany and Canada.
Master Ken Smith is an active leader of the International Modern Arnis Federation, and teaches at his dojo in Illinois
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