American Martial Arts Institute

08/07/2026

This year’s summer funshop was held on July 29th from 9 am to 5 pm for our students ages 6 through 12. The funshop was overseen by Headmaster Stalloch with assistance from school staff and one red top class assistant. Activities and classes this year included 9 takedowns, 10 self-defense techniques, an obstacle course that spanned three rooms, kata, sparring, whack-a-doo karate, follow the ninja, axe-throwing, karate-man-says, chess, flying and jump kicks, information about our school and brown belt testings, and even more! It was an incredibly active, fun, and educational day. The Winter Funshop will be held in February of 2027. More photos and a full write-up with descriptions of each activity are on our website at AMAI-EagleStyle.com under News for 2026.

08/06/2026

Camp Abilities is an empowering youth development program for children and teens who are blind or visually impaired. It is organized by the Central Association for the Blind or Visually Impaired (CABVI) in Utica, New York. This year’s summer session was held at Utica University. The program allows kids ages 8-15 with low vision to experience traditional camp activities in a fun and safe environment.

This year Headmaster Eric Stalloch taught self-defense and awareness to two groups on July 28th. He was assisted by instructors Paul Lilley, Mary Margaret Krukonis, Alivia Franz and red top Josey Bauer.

Headmaster Stalloch has been teaching men, women, teens and children who are blind or who have low vision for nearly 20 years with Grandmaster Crandall. These programs were developed by Grandmaster Crandall with assistance from Headmaster Stalloch through SecureLiving.org

This year’s Camp Abilities self-defense seminars included a short presentation about awareness, safety factors, and the power of the mind and knowledge. The majority of the sessions were participatory with campers learning how to use their white canes for exercise, stretching, and self-defense techniques. Other skills learned and practiced included punches from a horse stance on a shield, blocks, and self-defense techniques against common grabs without the use of sight. The groups were very energetic and their excitement was contagious with lots of laughing and smiling. Many of the campers had thoughtful questions and time was taken to answer them and work with every camper individually. WKTV covered camp abilities and the American Martial Arts Institute’s self-defense sessions were one of the featured topics.

Thank you to Kathy Beaver, Senior Vice President of Rehabilitation for CABVI for inviting us to share our knowledge and skills with the campers. Thank you to Lynn Colburn, Teacher of the Visually Impaired at CABVI who oversaw Camp Abilities this year. Thank you to all the Camp Abilities counselors and staff for welcoming us to teach two groups of exceptionally positive and excited teens and children.

More photos and the link to the WKTV coverage are on our website at AMAI-EagleStyle.com

07/30/2026

Camp Abilities is a week-long educational sports camp for children and teens who have visual impairments and it is hosted by CABVI (central association for the blind and visually impaired). It was held at Utica University and we are proud to have taight two groups of children. The self-defense class was taught by Headmaster Stalloch with assistance from Instructors Franz, Lilley, and Krukonis, and Red Top helper Josey. WKTV covered the event on Tuesday. The link to the video is below. More photos and info soon.

Children who are blind or visually impaired spent the week building confidence, independence, and athletic skills at Camp Abilities.

07/12/2026

More board breaking at our Saturday morning cane class. Practicing overhead twirls into swing strokes on free standing boards.

07/10/2026

Community Cane Class!
The Kirkland Town library sponsored a cane self-defense class that was free and open to the community on Thursday, July 9th. Headmaster Stalloch taught the class with assistance from Sensei Quintal and Sensei Silvestri.

The patrons learned some of basic kata, one, fundamental blocks and strikes, basic forms and partner self-defense. Time was taken to answer questions.

It was a fun and informative event.

06/25/2026

A Special Father’s Day Class! On June 22, 33 students shared their martial arts training with their fathers and grandfathers in an exciting one-hour class. Everyone earned their “Father’s Day Belt,” a white belt with a red stripe. This special belt is only worn at our Mother’s Day or Father’s Day classes with the red representing love and family bonding. The purpose of the class was to have fun and build memories through martial arts training. Everyone received pictures with their family members. The class included punches, kicks, basic forms, kata, and self-defense. The students taught their fathers some of their highest kata, and they got to use padded “whackers” for blocks and shields for punches and kicks together. The event was organized and run by Headmaster Eric Stalloch with assistance in teaching by several of our school’s adult, black belt instructors. For more pictures and details, visit AMAI-EagleStyle.Com.

06/16/2026

The Iaido class on June 10, 2026, experienced substantial growth, as Gisella Stalloch was promoted to Renshi. Head Master Crandall presented her patch, signifying her rank on the uniform to be worn on the right shoulder, after a thorough evaluation and presentation of information spanning several months. Congratulations to Gisella on this accomplishment.

06/11/2026

Another exciting morning at the training hall with the 8:30 am “Black and Blue Aerobics” class led by Grandmaster Crandall. 30-minutes of non-stop martial arts techniques, strength training, and traditional aerobics set to music.

06/10/2026

Congratulations to Kay Silvestri who was presented with her black uniform top and instructor’s patch by Grandmaster Crandall and Headmaster Stalloch for the American Eagle Cane Style on Saturday, June 6, 2026. The American Martial Arts Institute offers four separate styles of martial arts, each with their own students and instructors. In the American Eagle Cane Style, you must be an adult, 18 years of age or older, and a black belt before you may request to join the staff and instructional/educational branch of the Art. If accepted, these individuals first spend four months to two-years as an assistant instructor, wearing an assistant instructor’s patch on their white uniform top. While an assistant instructor, they undergo an apprenticeship to learn how to teach the style, but they can also continue to participate in regular classes. As a full instructor, these individuals wear a black uniform top, a blue instructor’s patch on their sleeve, and their cane style logo patch. Kay will continue her training as she now begins to teach under Headmaster Stalloch and Grandmaster Crandall’s direction.

06/09/2026

Congratulations to Sensei Jason Nellis who was presented with his instructor’s patch on Tuesday, June 2, by Grandmaster Crandall. In the American Martial Arts Institute only adult (18+) black belts can request to become an instructor. If accepted, they undergo an apprenticeship to learn how to teach and pass on the style. Instructors are re-certified annually by the Grandmaster through continued training, attending staff meetings, and evaluations by Master Instructors.