ShoDai Soke Emilio "Reno" Claudio Jr.

Soke: Founder of the  Hoteikan System of Martial Arts

With over fifty years in the Martial Arts, he is one of the original members of the U.S. Judo Association, a former member of the old Armed Forces Judo Association and former Head of the Korean Yudo (Judo) Association of N.Y. Dai Sensei Claudio competed against and coached Olympic hopefuls in the 60s and 70s. He is registered with the Sosuishi-Ryu Jujutsu Headquarters in Japan and has Performed Demos and Seminars throughout the U.S. Soke Claudio along with Soke Hasman founded the Hoteikan System in 1974. Highly respected by his peers in the Martial Arts world, he currently coaches the Army Judo Team at  West Point. He is also a retired member of the Army National Guard, an international Hall of Fame Member, recognized as SOKE with the World Combat Federation and on the advisory board of the Eastern USA Martial Arts Association.

Soke Santiago "Saint" Armstrong

Headmaster of the Hoteikan System

Sensei Armstrong is a retired Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves and holds the rank of Judan (10th dan) Grandmaster. Soke Armstrong is Headmaster of the Hoteikan System. He has over 43 years in the Martial Arts and holds Senior Black Belt Ranks in Judo, Shotokan Karate and Jujutsu. A National Judo competitor from 1965 – 1970, National and International Karate Champion 1974 – 2000, and a 2 time Karate World Champion. He has conducted seminars and demos throughout the U.S. and a trainer of Armed Forces and Law enforcement personnel. Soke Armstrong is also an International Hall of Fame member and was “Grandmaster of the Year” in 2003. Soke Armstrong has been accepted as a member of the "World Head of
Family Sokeship Council." This is a great honor, since only
Grandmasters with 40 plus years of martial arts experience and Leaders
or Founders of their respective Systems are allowed to join. Soke
Saint has recently been promoted to "Judan" by the Founder and now runs
the System. He currently teaches Hoteikan Jujitsu in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Master Sensei Gralyn D. Harris

Sensei Harris is a professional Educator who teaches the Arabic and French languages. Gralyn has been a world class competitor for more than 25 years, beginning as a High School All-American Wrestler ’76 and continuing through becoming the Senior National Masters Judo Champion ’94. His contributions to martial arts include promoting the spread of Judo across America and the Middle East; from helping establish the University of Connecticut Judo Club in 1978 to helping create and establish the Ganbaru Judo Yudanshakai (USJF) in California; to sponsoring the Junior National Judo Championships in Yemen and, most recently, helping to establish the West Point Judo team as one of the top two Judo Teams in American Collegiate Judo. His success as a coach includes training several National High School and Collegiate Judo Champions and place winners ’88; ‘91; ‘93; 94; ’03; 04; 05. Sensei Harris is also certified by the USWF as an International Wrestling Referee (1C).

More about Master Sensei Harris. 

Sensei Jay Hager Senior Judo Advisor

With over 40 years in the Martial Arts, He started Judo in 1962 with the famous “Judo Twins”. Studied under Professor Nakabayashi and Sensei Tom Purdy. Studied Kito-Ryu Jujutsu under Sensei Massa Hirga. He is currently ranked as Sichidan in Judo and Godan in Jujutsu. Studied with Dai Sensei Claudio during the early 70s. Sensei Hager was Director of the NYS Oikiri-Ryu Judo/Jujitsu Federation from 1975 to 1978 and former Chairman of the NYS Black Belt Association 1979-1983.

Sensei Thomas Carrano Chief Instructor (Karate, Jujitsu, Kickboxing).

He’s a 7th degree black belt who began training in the arts at age 11. Sensei Carrano’s been teaching the martial arts for over 20 years. He’s the Hoteikan Dojo’s chief instructor and oversees and/or teaches all classes. Well versed in Karate and Jujitsu, Sensei Carrano is well known and respected by his peers in the martial arts. His love for the martial arts is evident when you enter the Brooklyn dojo and learning is strictly business but fun and creative. He has instructed and trained winners of Regional, National, and World Championships. Not only does Sensei Carrano train students; he trains himself for tournaments and has won many gold medals with his flawless Katas and crafty sparring techniques. Sensei Carrano has been featured in the AMC T.V. series "Into Character". He is a model Sensei whose Dojo continuously offers community service for his neighborhood. Sensei’s excellence extends to his day job at the MTA where he was featured on “Joan Lundon’s Behind the Scenes” television show, demonstrating his skills as a heavy crane operator. He dedicates most of his time to teaching and training students from the ages of 4 to adult.

Sensei Steve Hust  Associate instructor (Jujitsu)

He holds Black Belt ranks in both Okinawan  Kempo Karate (Nidan) and the Hoteikan Jujitsu System (Yodan).Steve is also a Nikyu in Kodokan Judo and has studied Shotokan Karate and Aikijutsu concepts. He has been training for over 14 years. Sensei Steve is currently the associate Instructor in Jujitsu under Grandmaster Santiago Armstrong and assists in the Jujitsu instruction as well as his regular training at the Scottsdale Martial Arts Center, in Arizona.

Dr. Hector R. Morales-Negron, Lieutenant Colonel U.S. Army
PhD, Sport and Exercise Psychology; YoDan (4th Degree Black Belt) USA Judo, RokuDan (6th Degree Black Belt), Hoteikan Jujitsu, U.S. Army Combatives Level 4 Instructor, USA Judo International Coach
          Sensei Morales has been involved in judo and in jujitsu for over 25 years. He was collegiate competitor/champion at the University of Puerto Rico under Sensei Hiromi Tomita. Sensei Morales became an Armed Forces Judo Champion at the First Camp in 1995 when the Armed Forces Judo team was revived to participate at 1st World Military Games in Rome. He made the team again for 1999 for the 2nd World Military Games in Croatia but was not able to participate due work related commitments. In 2003, LTC Morales returned to the Armed Judo team as the Head Coach for the 3rd Military World Games in Catania. Since then, he has been on the Technical Committee for CISM Judo World Championships events. He also coached the 2006 team for the World Military Judo Championships in Croatia and the 2007 World Military World games in Hyderabad, India. LTC Morales is currently an Academy Professor of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He currently works the recruiting and evaluation of athletes that attend the Armed Forces Judo Camp and runs the team selection for the World Military Judo Championships. In addition, he runs the installation Army Combatives Certification program at West Point for Soldiers, Officers, and selected cadets assigned to the installation. He can be contacted at hector.morales@usma.edu

Sensei Phil Brier, Chief Judo Instructor Arizona
Mr. Phil Brier is a retired Naval Reserve Officer and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Business Admin. Sensei Phil has been training in the Martial Arts since 1972. A graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, he holds a Godan rank (5th Dan) in Judo and has studied several other Arts including American Freestyle Karate and Tang Soo Do. He is an accomplished competitor and has competed and won many Judo events around the country including: Eastern Judo Collegiates 1984, Eastern Judo Regionals 1984, NC State Judo  Championships 1991 & 2001, Grand Canyon State Games 2006-2008, and the  AZ State Judo Championships 2007-2009. He has trained with some very notable Judo Sensei’s including: Sensei Cowan Swanson, Sensei Ryohei Konokogi, Sensei Ernie Cates, Sensei Pat Szrejter, Sensei George Harris and Sensei Phil Porter. Sensei Phil is currently teaching Judo in the Valley and is the Chief Judo Instructor in Arizona for the Hoteikan System.