NEWBURYPORT – Seven Crane Karate Academy students won medals in the Spooky Spectacular IPPONE Tournament Oct. 19 in South Portland, ME.
The medal-winners included Gessica Santos – 1st place, kata, Jacqueline Hogan – 1st place, kata, Aengus Hogan – 4th place, kata, Matt Hogan – 2nd place kata, 3rd place sparring, Julian Mello – 4th sparring, 4th kata
“I’m immensely proud of how everyone did,” said sensei Matt Hogan, the founder of Crane Karate Academy.
Hogan, who has 35 years of experience training in martial arts starting with Okinawan Shorin Ryu, took up martial arts in his early teens to overcome a troubled home life and being a victim of bullying.
“I started training at the age of 13,” Hogan wrote. “My parents refused to pay, so I took a job working at a Chinese restaurant to pay for the classes.”
Under Hanshi Lawrence Vellucci, Matt holds the rank of Yondan (4th degree black) in Matsumura Orthodox Shorin Ryu and Nidan (2nd degree black) in Hakutsuru (White Crane). Under Hanshi Michael Panuccio, he also achieved the rank of Sandan (3rd degree black).
He trained with the same teacher, Sensei Michael Panuccio, for 10 years before moving away for work after college. As a result of his martial arts training, he gained confidence, acquired self-discipline and became physically and mentally healthy.
In return for what he has received from martial arts, he opened the studio at 12 Maple St. in Newburyport in hopes of passing on what he has learned and to give back to society.
The Crane Karate Academy shares traditional Okinawan karate’s physical, spiritual and mental benefits. There is no yearly commitment or contract required for classes or enrollment, and classes are offered on a sliding scale to ensure that everyone has access to them.
For more information about Crane Karate Academy, contact Matt Hogan at cranekaratedojo@gmail.com or visit http://cranekarateacademy.com.
