Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Karate and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of Yamabushikan's instructors and other staff members, starting with Ken Peterson:

Ken Peterson  (5th degree / Shihan (Master Instructor))  Mr. Peterson is a college graduate who has extensive business and Martial Arts experience. He is a combat experienced military officer who continues his training in Karate, ancient weapons and Jujitsu. Mr. Peterson is a licensed sensei (Shihan - Master Instructor) who has over 20 years of teaching experience. He holds 5th degree black belts in GoJuRyu and ShorinRyu as well as a 3rd degree black belt in Chintokan. He has conducted seminars in Child Safety, Bullying, Character development, Sparring and Self-defense/Women's Self-Defense. As an AAU official and competitor, he has won or placed high in many tournaments, both in sparring and forms. In 1994, Mr. Peterson was awarded “Instructor of the Year” from his sensei. He is also certified in CPR/First Aid. Shihan Peterson was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2007.

Josephine Panasci  (4th degree / Renshi (Certified Instructor))  Ms. Panasci is a college graduate with concentrations in English, History and Education. As a licensed high school teacher, she has experience in secondary and early childhood education, camp counseling and business ownership. Ms. Panasci is a black belt in two styles of Okinawan Karate and a Reiki Master in the Usui system of natural healing. She is also certified in CPR/First Aid. Owing to her wonderful ability to combine her teaching experience with her Martial Arts experience, Ms. Panasci was awarded “Instructor of the Year” from her Sensei in 2002.

Larry McCarthy  (Nidan, Sensei (Instructor/Teacher))  Mr. McCarthy is a married, college graduate with a B.S. Degree from the University of New Hampshire. An Electrical Engineer, Mr. McCarthy currently practices as an electrician, licensed in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has been training in the Martial Arts since 1999 and his military career included service in the U.S Air Force. Mr. McCarthy currently trains in two styles of Karate: ShorinRyu and GoJuRyu as well as Kobudo (Ancient weapons). In addition to his rank in Karate, Mr. McCarthy is pursuing formal teaching certification in Karate; having achieved a teaching rank of Sensei.

Sheila Blache  (Sensei) Sheila Blache has numerous credentials and accomplishments. We will be updating this section shortly to detail them.

John Russo and Michael Blache  (Shidoin and Shidoin-So) John Russo and Michael Blache has numerous credentials and accomplishments. We will be updating this section shortly to detail them.

For more information about the Yamabushikan staff or training programs, please contact us at 603-819-1671 or by clicking here.