Dan McConnell
With over 52 years of martial arts experience and as the HMAC’s founder and chief instructor in both Aikido and United Modern Arnis, Dan McConnell brings a wealth of knowledge to his students. He advocates the blending of martial arts and adapting techniques to work for the individual and the situation. He is a Lakan Anim (6th degree black belt) NSI/Modern Arnis, Full Instructor Level 2 in Professor Kelly Worden's Renegade Jeet Kune Do and a Godan (5th dan) in Aikido with Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. His background also includes training in Tae Kwon Do, Bando/Jeet Kune Do, Pencak Silat Mande Muda, Marcial Tirada Kali, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and Iaido. Grand Master McConnell has learned to appreciate the beauty and effectiveness of all martial arts. He strongly believes in cross training so that a student can become familiar with more than one way of moving and more than one approach, to enable the student to see the connection between different styles and systems. Grand Master McConnell has been fortunate to have been trained by the founders of two systems and world class teachers in others. In December of 2013 Master McConnell was inducted into the Remy A. Presas Modern Arnis Black Belt Hall of Fame. In 2021 Mr. McConnell was certified and recognized as Grandmaster of United Modern Arnis by Natural Spirit International, Professor Kelly Worden, Professor Bob Anderson and Professor Leonard Trigg.
With over 52 years of martial arts experience and as the HMAC’s founder and chief instructor in both Aikido and United Modern Arnis, Dan McConnell brings a wealth of knowledge to his students. He advocates the blending of martial arts and adapting techniques to work for the individual and the situation. He is a Lakan Anim (6th degree black belt) NSI/Modern Arnis, Full Instructor Level 2 in Professor Kelly Worden's Renegade Jeet Kune Do and a Godan (5th dan) in Aikido with Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. His background also includes training in Tae Kwon Do, Bando/Jeet Kune Do, Pencak Silat Mande Muda, Marcial Tirada Kali, Pekiti Tirsia Kali, and Iaido. Grand Master McConnell has learned to appreciate the beauty and effectiveness of all martial arts. He strongly believes in cross training so that a student can become familiar with more than one way of moving and more than one approach, to enable the student to see the connection between different styles and systems. Grand Master McConnell has been fortunate to have been trained by the founders of two systems and world class teachers in others. In December of 2013 Master McConnell was inducted into the Remy A. Presas Modern Arnis Black Belt Hall of Fame. In 2021 Mr. McConnell was certified and recognized as Grandmaster of United Modern Arnis by Natural Spirit International, Professor Kelly Worden, Professor Bob Anderson and Professor Leonard Trigg.
Doug Peelle
Doug was first exposed to Aikido 1982 and took the Aikido Physical Education course at Ohio State University for a few months. He took the art up again in 1986 when he joined the Cleveland Aikikai. After moving to Columbus in 1988, he joined the OSU club again under Frank Hreha, and followed Sensei Hreha to become among the first students of the Columbus Aikikai in 1989, where he has been ever since. He was awarded the rank of Godan in January 2017.
Doug was first exposed to Aikido 1982 and took the Aikido Physical Education course at Ohio State University for a few months. He took the art up again in 1986 when he joined the Cleveland Aikikai. After moving to Columbus in 1988, he joined the OSU club again under Frank Hreha, and followed Sensei Hreha to become among the first students of the Columbus Aikikai in 1989, where he has been ever since. He was awarded the rank of Godan in January 2017.
Bill Reed
Bill teaches Saturday morning adult Aikido classes at the Columbus Aikikai and also teaches many of the youth Aikido classes. He has studied Aikido since 1992, and joined the Columbus Aikikai in 1993 as a student of Shihan Frank Hreha. In the fall of 1995, Bill was given the opportunity to lead the teaching of the Aikido for Children class. Since then, he has begun Advanced Aikido for Children, Aikido for Teens, and weekly Aikido for Children classes at the Columbus St. Joseph Montessori School.
Bill teaches Saturday morning adult Aikido classes at the Columbus Aikikai and also teaches many of the youth Aikido classes. He has studied Aikido since 1992, and joined the Columbus Aikikai in 1993 as a student of Shihan Frank Hreha. In the fall of 1995, Bill was given the opportunity to lead the teaching of the Aikido for Children class. Since then, he has begun Advanced Aikido for Children, Aikido for Teens, and weekly Aikido for Children classes at the Columbus St. Joseph Montessori School.
Zach Villars
In Aikido, Zach has found an art that combines the best aspects of his previous martial arts research. Zach was awarded the rank of shodan, first degree black belt, in aikido in 2016 and enjoys the perspectives of the Yudansha focused under the guidance of Master Dan McConnell. In working directly with the children's Aikido class, Zach works to pass on the enthusiasm and confidence inherent in martial arts training that he gained as a youth learning Judo. Zach has previously attained Shodan rank in Judo and studied the Yang style Tai Chi, Chinese boxing and Tai Chi Push Hands.
In Aikido, Zach has found an art that combines the best aspects of his previous martial arts research. Zach was awarded the rank of shodan, first degree black belt, in aikido in 2016 and enjoys the perspectives of the Yudansha focused under the guidance of Master Dan McConnell. In working directly with the children's Aikido class, Zach works to pass on the enthusiasm and confidence inherent in martial arts training that he gained as a youth learning Judo. Zach has previously attained Shodan rank in Judo and studied the Yang style Tai Chi, Chinese boxing and Tai Chi Push Hands.
Brian Jones
Brian has trained in the Martial Arts for over thirty years. He holds a 3rd degree black belt in American Kenpo, and first degree black belts in Shotokan and Tae Kwon Do. He began training at HMAC under Grand Master Dan McConnell in 2006 and currently holds the rank of Lakan Anim (sixth degree Black Belt) in United Modern Arnis.
Brian has trained in the Martial Arts for over thirty years. He holds a 3rd degree black belt in American Kenpo, and first degree black belts in Shotokan and Tae Kwon Do. He began training at HMAC under Grand Master Dan McConnell in 2006 and currently holds the rank of Lakan Anim (sixth degree Black Belt) in United Modern Arnis.
Josh Comston
Prior to joining the HMAC Josh trained in Haganah, an Israeli martial art as well as in Mixed Martial Arts. Josh started training in United Modern Arnis under Grand Master Dan McConnell in 2006. He is currently ranked Lakan Anim (sixth Degree Black Belt) in United Modern Arnis and Trainer Level I in Renegade Jeet Kune Do with Datu Kelly Worden’s NSI. Josh also holds the rank of nikkyu in Aikido.
Prior to joining the HMAC Josh trained in Haganah, an Israeli martial art as well as in Mixed Martial Arts. Josh started training in United Modern Arnis under Grand Master Dan McConnell in 2006. He is currently ranked Lakan Anim (sixth Degree Black Belt) in United Modern Arnis and Trainer Level I in Renegade Jeet Kune Do with Datu Kelly Worden’s NSI. Josh also holds the rank of nikkyu in Aikido.
Greg Gregoriades
Greg Gregoriades has been studying Modern Arnis under Master Dan McConnell since 2011, and has a background in Tae Kwon Do and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Outside the dojo, Greg is a mechanical engineer at a local research organization. He enjoys windsurfing, scuba, tinkering with old motorcycles and traveling abroad with his wife.
Greg Gregoriades has been studying Modern Arnis under Master Dan McConnell since 2011, and has a background in Tae Kwon Do and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Outside the dojo, Greg is a mechanical engineer at a local research organization. He enjoys windsurfing, scuba, tinkering with old motorcycles and traveling abroad with his wife.
Steve Hartono
Texas Representative for United Modern Arnis
Steve teaches in Austin Texas. He has many years of martial arts experience. Steve has a background in Kyokushin Karate, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and has been training in United Modern Arnis for 26 years so far, and holds the rank of sixth degree black belt (Lakan Anim).
Texas Representative for United Modern Arnis
Steve teaches in Austin Texas. He has many years of martial arts experience. Steve has a background in Kyokushin Karate, Kung Fu, Tai Chi and has been training in United Modern Arnis for 26 years so far, and holds the rank of sixth degree black belt (Lakan Anim).
Niko Ponto
Niko started training in martial arts at the tender age of 9 in 1982. He learned Northern Style Kung Fu from Sifu Kim Yen. Niko studied Pencak Silat Merpati Putih at the age of 14 under the guidance of mas (brother) Andre. A year later, mas Andre put him in the National Training Center (Pemusatan Latihan Nasional) in preparation for the National Pencak Silat Tournament. Niko was a finalist in a local full-contact fighting competition in a local High School in 1990. He won the same competition the following year. Niko leanred Tae Kwon Do at the age of 18, shortly before he left Indonesia for the United States in 1991. In 2019, Niko started training in United Modern Arnis under Grand Master Dan McConnell.
Outside the dojo, Niko is a software Engineer at a local Insurance Company. He also enjoys motorcycling, skiing, and long range shooting.
Niko started training in martial arts at the tender age of 9 in 1982. He learned Northern Style Kung Fu from Sifu Kim Yen. Niko studied Pencak Silat Merpati Putih at the age of 14 under the guidance of mas (brother) Andre. A year later, mas Andre put him in the National Training Center (Pemusatan Latihan Nasional) in preparation for the National Pencak Silat Tournament. Niko was a finalist in a local full-contact fighting competition in a local High School in 1990. He won the same competition the following year. Niko leanred Tae Kwon Do at the age of 18, shortly before he left Indonesia for the United States in 1991. In 2019, Niko started training in United Modern Arnis under Grand Master Dan McConnell.
Outside the dojo, Niko is a software Engineer at a local Insurance Company. He also enjoys motorcycling, skiing, and long range shooting.
Craig Wilson
Craig sensei started studying traditional “old school” Japanese martial arts, koryu, in March 1997. In May 2002, he enrolled into Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流). In November 2012, he became a student of Tetsutaka Sugawara Sensei. In November 2019, he received his kyoshi menkyo, instructor's license, from Sugawara Sensei. Craig is the chief instructor of the Shubukan which trains swordsmanship and other weapons in the art of Katori Shinto Ryu (KSR). The focus within the training is to become an effective swordsman and to grow a skillset. We affiliate with Sugawara Sensei and train under his auspice.
Along with studying the sword, Craig sensei began the study of Aikido in 1996 and Modern Arnis in 2006. He became a student of Grand Master Dan McConnell in both Aikido and Arnis, from 2006 to 2014, and earned the rank of Sandan in Aikido and Brown belt in Arnis under his leadership.
Currently, if not training in KSR, you can find him fishing or kayaking. Additionally, the school has many kayakers who train in KSR.
If you are interested in observing a class and training in KSR, please contact the school.
Craig sensei started studying traditional “old school” Japanese martial arts, koryu, in March 1997. In May 2002, he enrolled into Tenshin Shōden Katori Shintō-ryū (天真正伝香取神道流). In November 2012, he became a student of Tetsutaka Sugawara Sensei. In November 2019, he received his kyoshi menkyo, instructor's license, from Sugawara Sensei. Craig is the chief instructor of the Shubukan which trains swordsmanship and other weapons in the art of Katori Shinto Ryu (KSR). The focus within the training is to become an effective swordsman and to grow a skillset. We affiliate with Sugawara Sensei and train under his auspice.
Along with studying the sword, Craig sensei began the study of Aikido in 1996 and Modern Arnis in 2006. He became a student of Grand Master Dan McConnell in both Aikido and Arnis, from 2006 to 2014, and earned the rank of Sandan in Aikido and Brown belt in Arnis under his leadership.
Currently, if not training in KSR, you can find him fishing or kayaking. Additionally, the school has many kayakers who train in KSR.
If you are interested in observing a class and training in KSR, please contact the school.