Instructor Bios
Unified Fighting Arts Association
Master Richard Dixon Master Carl Yacciano Sensei Sean O'Leary Sensei Kurt Amann Sensei Nicole Evans Sensei Will Brenton Sensei Dan Bednar | Master Richard Dixon Master Richard Dixon has been studying the martial arts for twenty two years, beginning his study with Master Gary Michak. During his time training, he has studied with some of the areas most eminant martial artists, such as Master Carl Long, Master David Sparks, Master Jeff Comiski, Master Chuck Yurkin, Master Joe Huntzinger, Sifu Allen David Ondash and Grandmaster James Martin. Master Dixon is a former partner and instructor of Sembach Martial Arts, the oldest martial arts school in the Wyoming Valley, which he departed from with its current owner in order to take the position as Chief Instructor of the Fudoshin Kai Martial Arts Association, where he remained and organized their curiculum for five years, running the bulk of the classes at the Hombu Dojo. In March of 2008, Master Dixon parted ways from Soke Sparks and developed the Unified Fighting Arts Association and Unified Fighting Arts Federation with the valued help of his most devoted black belt students. He still currently trains with area martial artists and other instructors in the effort to continue the cultivation of his martial arts knowledge.
MASTER DIXON DIRECTOR UNIFIED FIGHTING ARTS ASSOCIATION GO DAN UFAA KARATE YON DAN UFAA NO'BUSHI JUTSU SAN DAN AIKI JUTSU 3RD DEGREE BLACKBELT AMERICAN KENPO ________________________________________ Master Carl Yacciano
Master Yacciano began his training in 1987 with traditional Shito Ryu Karate Do and Hakkoryu Ju-Jitsu. By the 90's his interests matured and he began traning in other martial disciplines. He joined Fudoshin Kai in 1996 where he would continue his Karate practices and was introduced to Aiki Jutsu. He has also studied American Kenpo with in the TKKA and Fudoshin Kai Associations. American Kenpo and Kung Fu have become Master Yacciano's major interests. He curently teaches classes at the Mountaintop Karate Center on concept and fitness training.
Master Carl Yacciano Member Unified Fighting Arts Association Yondan UFAA Conceptual Martial Arts Sandan UFAA Karate 2nd Degree Black Belt American Kenpo Sandan UFAA No'bushi Jutsu Shodan Fudoshin Kai Aiki Jutsu
_________________________________________ Sensei Sean O'Leary Sean has been training and studying the martial arts since childhood. His traditional Karate training began at the House of Karate II in Staten Island, NY under Sensei Peter Tocco and Sensei John Curley in the style of Goju Ryu Karate. His family relocated to Melbourne, Florida when he was at the age of fifteen, and Sean was fortunate enough to locate and train with Sensei Jacqueline Pickard, who helped him continue to move forward in Goju Ryu. He also took the opportunity to train in Aikido, Daito Mushin Ryu Iaido and Kenjutsu at the Melbourne Aikikai in Indian Harbor Beach under the teaching of the late Sensei Anthony Graziano.
While working and living in NYC in the late 1990’s, Sean trained for about a year under Sensei Raul Perez in the style of Kyokushinkai. A few years after relocating to Northeast PA, he met Master Richard Dixon and began training with him in Karate and Jujutsu. Since then he has become partners with Master Dixon, establishing Back Mountain Martial Arts Center in late 2007 as its Chief Instructor, as well as assisting in the establishment of the Unified Fighting Arts Association in early 2008.
Since he began training in the martial arts, Sean has had the privilege to meet and train with many talented martial arts teachers and students who left long lasting and inspirational impressions on him. The tempering he has undergone throughout his martial arts journey, both mentally and physically, has served to help him in achieving his professional goals and finding harmony in his personal life.
Professionally involved in private sector security and investigation operations, Sean has had many opportunities to test his abilities against real threats and hostile encounters. He is a firm believer in minimal use of force and that fighting should always and only be a last resort when encountering a hostile situation. He specializes in training law enforcement and security professionals in defensive tactics, having also established and co-authored its course curriculum.
Sean hopes to serve his students well by not just teaching them how to fight, but by teaching them how to avoid encounters which can lead to violence or threats to personal safety. He believes strongly in helping others reach their goals in the martial arts. Member Unified Fighting Arts Association Sandan UFAA Karate Defensive Tactics Instructor _____________________________________________
Sensei Kurt Amann
Kurt Amman began his training in 1987 in Goju Ryu near Camden, New Jersey. He trained at his original location for almost ten years until moving to Pennsylvania. Since then he has visited many schools in Pa. and has a profound interest in Martial Arts of all types. He enjoys practicing Karate for fitness and self-defense. You can find him training and instructing at the Mountain Top Karate Center.
Sensei Kurt Amann Member Unified Fighting Arts Association Nidan UFAA Karate Shodan UFAA No'Bushi Jutsu Shodan Goju Ryu Karate
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Sensei Nicole Evans
Sensei Nicole started her training at Sembach Martial Arts in 2000 under Master Richard Dixon. In 2003, she was one of the first members of Mountaintop Martial Arts Center where she continued her studies of Karate and No'Bushi Jutsu under Master Richard Dixon.
Currently, she continues to train under Master Dixon at the Mountaintop Karate Center and assists with teaching classes at that location as well as at Back Mountain Martial Arts Center.
Sensei Nicole Evans Member Unified Fighting Arts Association Shodan UFAA Karate Shodan UFAA No'bushi Jutsu
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Sensei Will Brenton
Sensei Will Brenton started His Martial arts training in 1995 at Huntzingers Karate (Fudoshin Kai Makura-ho) under Master Joe Huntzinger, training there until 2002 when he achieved the rank of purple belt. Sensei Brenton would continue his training at Sembach Martial arts (Fudoshin Kai Budokan) under Joe Duda, and Richard Dixon. In 2003 Sensei Brenton followed Master Dixon when he opened Mountian Top Martial Arts Center (Fudoshin Kai Hombu). Sensei Brenton earned his Black Belt in December 2005. Sensei Brenton continues to train in and teach Karate at the university he currently attends.
Sensei Will Brenton Member Unified Fighting Arts Association Nidan UFAA Karate Nidan UFAA No'bushi Jutsu _________________________________________
Sensei Dan Bednar
Sensei Dan Bednar is an instructor of the Unified Fighting Arts Association having begun his martial arts training in his early teens and continued his practices of the martial arts after his service to the United States Marine Corps.
Sensei Bednar continues his pursuit of martial arts excellence in the state of California.
Shodan UFAA Karate
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Ó2008 Unified Fighting Arts Association