Lou D'Agostino

Owner/Instructor

Mission Statement:

Modern Samurai offers traditional martial arts training in a safe, comfortable, well-equipped facility, to students interested in becoming versatile martial artists. The goal of Modern Samurai is to provide a curriculum that meets the demanding needs of today's society.

In recent years martial arts, and Taekwondo in particular, have become very popular and mainstream in their appeal. There are many reasons why one should begin martial arts practice and study. Discipline, self-respect, physical conditioning, (including, toning, increased, strength and flexibility), hand eye coordination, stress reduction, improved balance and most importantly, self defense techniques and mindset are all to be gained.

Finding a martial arts school these days is not very difficult. Finding one that lives up to its advertised claims, however, is not so easy. Most parents are enrolling their children in Taekwondo classes to reinforce the discipline that they impart at home. Assuring that their children can also practice self-defense also plays a big part in their decision.

Some people are under the impression that students enrolled in Taekwondo classes will get into more fights. In fact, the opposite is true. With practice, under qualified instruction, come respect and humility. Self-defense instruction should impart methods and concepts to help students successfully avert a violent confrontation. As the students mature, so should the potential role-playing examples be expanded. Introducing rape prevention concepts to a nine or ten year old would be considered inappropriate. On the other hand, it is certainly important to a young teenager who may be starting to have an occasional date and or taking public transportation.

Martial arts classes may very well give students the confidence they need to defuse a potentially dangerous situation, by exercising good awareness skills acquired through" Threat Assessment." Failing that, it's comforting to students, as well as to their loved ones, to know that they have prepared for the time when their practice may save them pain and suffering of all sorts.

Rank Certifications

Dojo	Modern Samurai Dojo Shinkendo New York
Current Certifications	Shinkendo: Rank- Ji-e Toyama-ryu: Sandan Batto-do: Sandan WTF Taekwondo: 5th Dan
Current Instructor Rank	Licensed sword instructor (Chuden Renshi ) and New York shibucho ( branch leader) with the International Shinkendo Federation headed and founded by Toshishiro Obata Kaiso. Licensed by Obata Sensei to teach Toyama-ryu swordsmanship ( Renshi) in addition to the Shinkendo curriculum. Licensed kyokai or study group (shidoin) for the Aikido and Aikibujutsu of Obata So Shihan.
Martial Art Studies	Began Taekwondo training in 1989. Ad hoc training in Wing Chun, ju jutsu, Judo, Aikido ( five years) Began Shinkendo training with Obata Kaiso in 1999.
Other Martial Arts Experiance	Currently involved in learning Koryu Uchinadi Kempo Jutsu Five years study as a student and assistant instructor under Phil Messina in civilian Self-defense and P.D.T. (police defensive tactics) at Modern Warrior known for its multiple opponent combat curriculum.
Personal Background	Freelance musician, Drummer - performing various styles of music from Pop, rock, top 40, Jazz, big band, and advant garde ensembles as well as recording experience as a studio musician. Staff drummer for Jacques d'Amboise N.D.I. also performing percussion for annual M.S.Q. performances. Performance major (percussion) Indiana University 1981-1983. Free lance playing while enrolled at I.U. including performing Jazz directors Dominic Sperra and David Baker in and out of school. Blue Note City Quintet. Honor of playing with Jazz masters on the current music scene, Joe Gillman, Robert Hurst and Chris Botti while enrolled at I. U. Left I.U. for a stint playing on SS Indepenence Cruise Ship -Hawaiian Islands 1984. Currrently perfroming with own jazz trio. Teaching experience: Original instructor staff instructor at “Drummers Collective” founded by Rick Kravitz. circa 1977-1980 currently known as D.C.I. music / video. Brooklyn Conservatory of Music – Brooklyn and Queens branch. Circa 1977-1980 Long Island Institute of Music ( same as above)
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Motorcycle, car rides on country roads. Reading, history- current events, researching martial arts.

Dave Mancuso

Dojo	Shinkendo New York @ Modern Samurai NY and Manhattan Kokai
Current Skill Rank	Shinkendo – Goho Mokoroku Aikido (Aiki-Buken --ABTK) – Ikkyu Toyama-Ryu – Shodan
Current Instructor Rank	Shinkendo – Kenshuin
Years of Shinkendo Study	Met and began training with Obata sensei at the Honbu dojo in 2001. I trained at the Shinkendo Honbu dojo regularly from 2001 through 2003, and at the Suigetsukan dojo (then Shinkendo/Aikido affiliate) in Oakland for 6 months in 2004-5 before returning to NYC.
Other Martial Arts Experience	During my travels I had briefly studied Vee-Arnis Ju-jitsu, and some preliminary Aikido at the NY Aikikai before meeting Obata sensei in LA. Also some ad hoc ‘Sticky Hands’ Tai Chi.
Personal Background	Originally from Providence, RI. Bachelor of Music Performance from Oberlin Conservatory (1993), Master of Music from Temple University (1995). Performed worldwide as orchestral, small ensemble and solo percussioninst (Spoleto Festival, Sarasota Opera, New World Symphony, etc.). Worked as touring percussionist/Assistant Conductor with Disney’s ‘Lion King’ (LA, Chicago, San Francisco). Also served as production supervisor (percussion) for the Amsterdam, Sydney (Australia), and Hamburg (Germany) productions. A bit of acting on the side (studied 3 years at HB Studios, NYC), and obligatory professional culinary experience to pay the bills during school…
Current Vocation	Percussionist and Assistant Conductor with the Broadway production of Monty Python’s ‘Spamalot’.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Eastern philosophy (esp. Tibetan Buddhism), current science (theoretical physics, nanotech…cool stuff!), cooking for friends, audiophile/home theater, SCUBA diving.

Tats Kawamura

Dojo:	Modern Samurai
Skill Rank	Shinkendo – Hyakui Aikido (Aiki-Bujutsu Tanrenkenkyukai --ABTK) – Ikkyu Bojutsu – Sankyu Toyama-Ryu – Sankyu
Current Instructor Rank	Shinkendo – Shidoin
Martial Art Experience	Started training with Giles sensei at the Ki Ken Tai dojo, GA in Jan. 2008. Studied Shinkendo, Toyama-Ryu, Aikibujutsu, & Bo jutsu. Moved to NYC and joined Modern Samurai dojo in Sept. 2010. 2 Years of Kyokushin karate back in Japan
Personal Background	Born in Gifu, Japan, Received Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems from Midwestern State University, TX (2007). Currently is working as IT Network Engineer.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Self training, Reading novels, Karaoke, Research IT things I don't know about, Working on PC stuffs, Cooking, Horse riding, Counting how many clouds are in the sky under the TX sunshine.

Rajendra Jugait

Dojo:	Modern Samurai
Taekwondo Rank	WTF 1st Dan Black Belt (Taekwondo) Santen (Shinkendo)
Current Instructor Rank	Assistant
Martial Art Experience	6 years at Modern Samurai dojo for Taekwondo 1 year at Modern Samurai dojo for Shinkendo
Personal Background	Current sophomore at Saint Francis Prep
Other Interests	Math, electronics, music, art, bmx.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Playing outside, riding bikes, being with my family and my friends.

Richard Postelnik

Dojo:	Modern Samurai
Taekwondo Rank	WTF 1st Dan Black Belt (Taekwondo) Ichimonji (Shinkendo)
Current Instructor Rank	Assistant
Martial Art Experience	6 years at Modern Samurai dojo for Taekwondo 1 year at Modern Samurai dojo for Shinkendo
Personal Background	Born and raised in Queens, NY. BS in Financial Economics (2007) and MA in Economics and Finance (2008) from Binghamton University. Currently studying for financial engineering.
Current Vocation	Business Strategy Analyst for Merrill Lynch.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Working on my car, playing drums, cooking, brewing beer.

Amandeep Singh Jaswal (AJ)

Dojo:	Modern Samurai
Taekwondo Rank	WTF 1st Dan Black Belt (Taekwondo)
Current Instructor Rank	Assistant
Martial Art Experience	3.5 years at Modern Samurai dojo for Taekwondo
Personal Background	2011-Archbishop Molloy High School Graduate. Current Freshmen at New York University.
Other Interests	Science, history, electronics, cars, and current events.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Playing outside, reading articles, being with my family and my friends.

Alex Spillane

Dojo:	Modern Samurai
Taekwondo Rank	Shiho Shinkendo
Current Instructor Rank	Shinkendo- Kenshuin
Martial Art Experience	Alex started training in Shinkendo with Lou Sensei at Modern Samurai in May of 2010 and have been training diligently ever since. 4 and a half years training of Kyokushin karate
Personal Background	Born and raised in Queens New York. A life long artist currently studying graphic design also an adept cartoonist/ comic book artist.
Current Vocation	Studying graphic design at the Art Institutes of New York.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Relaxing with friends, drawing, watching a good movie or training on my own.

Anthony Maroutsis

Dojo:	Modern Samurai
Taekwondo Rank	2nd Dan Black Belt
Current Instructor Rank	Assistant
Martial Art Experience	5.5 years of Tae Kwon Do, and 1.5 years of Shinkendo/Aikido.
Personal Background	Currently a sophomore at Archbishop Molloy high school.
Other Interests	Sports, cars, history, and video games.
What I enjoy most when off the mat	Playing baseball, and Football, working out, hanging out with friends,and family, and eating good food.