ABOUT

Sensei Casale has been practicing Martial Arts since 1972. He holds the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt. Sensei Casale is the first non-Japanese instructor in the Pan Americas to hold a JSKA "A" level Master Instructors License, "A" level International Examiners License and "A" level International Referee License. Sensei Casale graduated Long Island University in 1991. He earned a degree in Sports Science with credited specializations in Exercise Physiology and Coaching, and was involved in numerous scientific research projects on the Art and Science of Traditional Karate. Sensei Casale is also a three time graduate of the Long Island University Karate Instructors Certification Program, and went on to be a Professor in the program for over 20 years. He holds a New York State Health and Physical Education teaching license, and is a professional member of the American College of Sports Medicine. 

 

Throughout the 1990’s, Sensei Casale worked as the Activities Director for the New York City Department of Justice maximum security prison system and ran security teams for a number of famous night clubs in N.Y.C.. In addition to this, Sensei Casale has done extensive instructional work with Military and Police agencies, and served as a professional bodyguard for many high profile entertainers, such as Frank Sinatra, Sting, Phil Collins, Paula Abdul, Pink Floyd, Steven Spielberg and Donna Summer.

 

Sensei Casale was a member of the U.S.A. National and World Cup Karate Teams (1988-1994). He competed in 5 World Championships and over 30 International Championships. On the international level, he consistently placed among the top 10 in the world and he had well over 100 1st Place victories in regional and national level competitions. In addition to his Traditional Karatedo training, Sensei Casale also trained in Traditional Japanese Goshin Ryu Jujutsu and Judo (1981-1987). He earned a 2nd Degree Black Belt in both of these arts.

Sensei Casale, has also been practicing Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan since 1984. In 1992, he earned his Tai Chi Instructors certification from Master William C. Phillips of the Patience Tai Chi Association.

 

In 1999, Sensei Casale became a student of Master Keigo Abe, and founded the Japan Shotokan Karate Association in the USA. In 2001, he traveled to Japan for advanced Karate training and to study the Japanese Educational System. From 2004-2011, he served as the "Shibucho" (official representative) in New York City for the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society. In 2005, he was awarded a New York State Proclamation for his extensive work with children and the promotion of Karate and Japanese culture. In 2006, he organized the JSKA World Karate Championship in New York City and was awarded the Goodwill Ambassador Hall of Fame Award from Budo International Magazine. In this same year, Sensei Casale was awarded the 169th New York State Legislative Resolution in state history, for bringing the JSKA World Karate Championship to New York and for faithfully coaching the world champion USA Karate Team. In addition to this (in 2006) Sensei Casale coached the USA Karate Team. As a result of his masterful coaching, the team won an incredible 87 MEDALS in the 2006 JSKA World Karate Championship. In 2007, he founded the World Karate Association (formally IUKO) as a matrix for instructors of different styles of traditional Karatedo to work together in a friendly non-political environment. In 2011, Sensei Casale was inducted into the Cambridge Who’s Who Book of Global Executives by Donald Trump. In 2013, Sensei Casale was featured on the cover of Shotokan Karate Magazine in Europe. In 2014, Sensei Casale graduated the KRAV MAGA licensing program under Gabi Michaeli of the Israeli Military and President of WKF Israel. In this same year he founded POWER KRAV MAGA in the USA.

 

Sensei Casale's teaching style fuses ancient Japanese training methods with military hand to hand combat and modern principles of sports medicine. He is a master of educational pedagogy and his experience with real self defense situations is particularly extensive. He frequently travels throughout the U.S.A., Europe and Pan American countries to teach seminars and officiate at international competitions. No other instructor in the New York area offers a combination of all these benefits to their students. In 1998, Sensei Casale was Awarded the National Presidential Sports Award from The President’s (President Bill Clinton) Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. He is best known for his masterful teaching skills with children, knowledge of sports science and his deep insights on Karate Bunkai (application of techniques for actual combat). Students and instructors from all over the world visit New York City on a regular basis to train directly with Sensei Casale. In September of 2022, Sensei Casale celebrated his 50th year in the Martial Arts.