Our Instructors

Our instructors are highly trained and certified in their respective disciplines.

Brian MacDonald 7th degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate 3rd degree Black Belt in Shaolin Kenpo Karate Krav Maga Worldwide 2nd Dan Black Belt certified instructor Krav Maga Worldwide Force Training Division certified instructor 5 years experience as a CDT Tactical Master Instructor Recipient of the Charles Burke Service to Youth Award 26 years of experience in the martial arts training Over 20 years of experience in martial arts instruction Head instructor for the Academy of Martial Arts for 18 years Taught Watertown, Belmont, and Weston school system for 5 years
Tara MacDonald 4th degree Black Belt in American Kenpo Karate 3rd degree Black Belt in Shaolin Kenpo Karate 1st degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do Level 1 certified Krav Maga Worldwide instructor Certified Kickboxing Instructor Women’s Kenpo Weapons World Champion 1996 Over 30 years of experience training Over 20 years of experience teaching Co-owner of the Academy Taught in Weston, Natick, Watertown, Belmont, and Brookline school system for 10 years
Susanna Pyatkovskaya Level 1 Yellow Belt (Phase A) certified Krav Maga Worldwide instructor Training in Krav Maga since 2012 Teaching Krav Maga since 2016 Previous training in medieval European longsword fighting, walking away battered but victorious from a number of tournaments. Enjoys training Krav Maga and challenging herself, and teaching others what she knows of the system.
Patrick Sanders Krav Maga Worldwide 2nd Dan Black Belt certified instructor Training in Krav Maga since 2006 Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Prof. Roberto Maia, Boston BJJ. Currently training with Team Forsa under Prof. Anderson Silverio. Competition experience in both gi and no-gi tournaments, including IBJJF and NAGA. Trained in Modern Arnis Filipino Martial Arts under Guro George Mazek USMC veteran with infantry and civil disturbance / MOUT training