Our karate school gives its students the confidence to achieve -- first inside the school, then in the real world. University of New Hampshire graduate Erica Giovinazzo, an aspiring actress and yoga instructor in New York City, uses what she learned at IKS to help keep her focus. Dr. Sal Scali, a graduate of Georgetown Medical School, works around the clock as a surgical resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, yet he still finds time to practice the martial arts. Across the Atlantic, Bates College graduate Deirdre Dastous lives her dream working for CCBN in its London office. Back on the homefront, Saint Anselm College graduate Sarah Goldsack holds a master’s degree and teaches high school, fulfilling her lifelong dream. Michelle Hartwell, who graduated from Roger Williams College in 2003, is already a professional architect designing custom homes.

Independent Karate School students show dedication, not only to their own success but to helping others. Jason Kittredge, a Dartmouth College graduate who works as a software engineer, has volunteered for years with Destination Imagination. Other high-ranking students such as Chris Marsh and Brendan Cirillo, both graduates of UNH, take time out every weekend - and many evenings after leaving their jobs at BAE Systems - to teach children at the karate school. Heather Marsh, who graduated from UNH with a degree in microbiology, focuses her efforts on mentoring our young girls. Stephanie Marquis, a student at Boston College, makes the trip back to New Hampshire whenever time allows to teach, mentor and counsel children. While Jeff Maistrosky was attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he graduated magna cum laude, he would often make the four-hour trip home to help teach children karate and tutor math (one young student credits Jeff for helping him understand – and pass – algebra).

Many of these students realize that it’s the small but memorable experiences that help children grow into great adults. Matthew Moore, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy class of 2002, gave an 8-year-old karate student one of those experiences when, during a recent visit, he took off his academy ring so the boy could hold it.

Do you want to give your child a good head start? Visit our Nashua or Merrimack school and find out how or read about more instructors first.