Chris Wright-Martell has been teaching young people since he himself was one.

He began his Martial Arts journey with a year of Judo at 6 years old.  At age 8, he began training Kenpo Karate at the Middletown Kenpo Karate Studio, where he found his home for nearly 20 years.  At 11 years old, he was accepted into an experimental program to train Assistant Instructors.  He reached the rank of Black Belt at 16, while teaching nearly 20 hours each week under the direct guidance of his Head Instructor, Professor Lee Lowery, who also encouraged him to find and pursue his own personal specialty within the Martial Arts. 

Chris has followed that directive and has pursued the most effective, hands-on training methods for real-world self-defense.  He has trained in over 20 Martial Arts styles, from the ultra-traditional to modern and nontraditional methods, and he continues to explore new directions, on a quest to always improve the value and benefit to his students.

Chris holds a 4^th degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, a Lakan rank (Black Belt) in Modern Arnis under the late founder and Grandmaster Remy Presas, a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Mr. Roy Harris, a Black Belt in Budoshin Ju-jitsu under Professor George Kirby, and a Green Glove in Boxe Francaise Savate (French Kickboxing).  Additionally, he is a Level 2 Jeet Kune Do instructor, a Level 1 Filipino Martial Arts Instructor, an Associate Level Grappling Instructor, and has also completed Instructor Training in Krav Maga under Master Rhon Mizrachi. 

Education is a major point of focus in Chris’ life.  He completed his Bachelor’s degree (cum laude) in only 3 and a half years.  He attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst on an Acorn (merit) Scholarship, where he participated in the Honors Program while studying in two of their top departments:  Japanese Language & Literature (his eventual minor), and Philosophy (with concentrations in Ethics, Epistemology, and Metaphysics).  He was honored to participate in the invitation-only “Dean’s Breakfast” program, in which a small group of students met regularly with the Dean of the College of Humanities & Fine Arts, to discuss University Issues.  He was a competitor on both the Fencing team and the Ballroom Dance Team, where he was vice-president and one of the University’s first male Open Level Latin Dancers. 

In the field of education, Chris taught for 3 years as a Middle School Math teacher at the Independent Day School in Middlefield, CT.  He also served for 2 years as the Director of Summer programs at their widely renowned "Summer at IDS" Summer Camp, where he designed, coordinated, and implemented courses in Arts, Academics, and Athletics. 

As the Head Instructor of the Modern Self-Defense Center, Chris has taught hundreds and thousands of individuals to improve their personal safety.  In addition to his own students, he has worked with numerous public, private, corporate, government, and university-based groups to help their members become safer and better able to protect themselves.  He designed and taught a Self-Defense Course for Wesleyan University’s Athletics Department for several years, as their only non-faculty instructor.  In 2011, Chris was a featured guest instructor at the New England Modern Arnis Camp.  He is also the author of the book “Knack Self-Defense for Women:  Strategies, Moves, & Everyday Tactics to Gain Confidence & Stay Safe”, which is available at bookstores everywhere.

Lena Pacheco has made it her mission to improve the way our children are educated, both in our schools and in the Martial Arts.

Lena began studying the Martial Arts with Kenpo Karate at age 6.  Because of her focus and ability, she was groomed for instructorship early, and had years of teaching experience by the time she earned her black belt at 17.  She currently holds the rank of 2nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, Level 1 Jeet Kune Do Instructor Certification, and rank in Modern Arnis.  She has been teaching classes for over 10 years, to students ages 4 and up. 

At age 8, Lena was selected as a member of the Middletown Kenpo Karate Demo Team.  She became co-captain at age 11, and at 13 was a co-founding member of Team Phoenix, the advanced Teen Demo Team.  The team went on to a number of competitive achievements, including 3rd place showings at the 2005 New England Open and 2006 Twin Towards Classic, 2nd place at the 2011 WKKA American Karate Championships, and a 1st place title at the 2011 WKKA New England Classic Competition.  As she advanced, she also became the coach of the youth demo team, coaching that team to its own 1st place wins.

Lena prioritizes education, both for herself and others.  She graduated from Mount Holyoke College magna cum laude, and in only 3 years.  Lena was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society, and received the Helen Warren Smith Award for outstanding leadership and service.  Immediately following graduation, she participated in the Teach for America program, a group whose mission is to bring high quality educators into areas of high poverty and low resources.

Lena is entering her third year teaching at the Naylor School in Hartford.  Even in her first year, the students in her 3rd Grade class averaged well-above one year’s growth in reading.  She has designed and implemented a number of successful programs, including a behavior management programs for her students, and academic progress tracking systems that she then trained colleagues to use.  She recently participated in a Summer Seminar for Teachers on Existentialism, offered by the National Endowment for the Humanities.  Although the program was not offered to elementary educators, Lena’s work was of such exceptionally high quality that an exception was made so that she could be accepted into one of the 16 slots for this program, which took applicants nationwide.

Jose Pacheco is known equally for his unmatched focus on his students’ development, and his creativity in building training methods for them.

Jose began his study of the Martial Arts at age 5, with Kenpo Karate.  As a result of his self-discipline and work ethic, Jose was invited onto the Youth Demo Team, where he was a member for 12 years.  He captained the team for 3 years, and when he was too old to continue participating as a member, coached the team for three years.  Jose has performed as a stunt man in a number of independent films, and was featured on the Discovery Channel show “Time Warp” in 2009.

He began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2003, while in 8th grade, and the following year when he moved up to High School, he started wrestling.  True to form, he was the only freshman in Connecticut to qualify for the State Wrestling Championships that year.  In the next few months, Jose earned both his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Blue Belt and his Kenpo Karate Black Belt.  He went on to become Captain of his school’s wrestling team for both his Junior and Senior year, and later became MSDC’s first student promoted to Purple Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Jose now coaches the Combat Athletes class for students preparing to compete in grappling, BJJ, or Mixed Martial Arts.  He is also a 2^nd degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate, a Level 2 Jeet Kune Do Instructor, a Level 1 Filipino Martial Arts Instructor, and an Apprentice Grappling Instructor.

In school, Jose decided to put his creative teaching and love of physical activity to use, and he is currently finishing a degree in Physical Education from CCSU.  On his way there, he earned an Associate’s degree in Human Services, and was simultaneously bestowed the Human Services Award, for his embodiment of the program’s core values.

While going to school, Jose has continued to work with young people both in and out of the Martial Arts classroom:  he has mentored at-risk students in both Hartford elementary and Middletown High schools, and he has worked as a site director for before- and after-school programs for elementary school students in Middletown.  Along the way, Jose has earned certifications for his skills with the Prevention of Bullying, At-Risk Youth Counseling, Special Needs Youth, and Age-Appropriate Health & Fitness.  Jose dedicates himself fully to the work he does with his mentees, in all settings, and he seizes on every opportunity to learn new ways to serve them.

Scott Hoffman tutored his friends in Middle School, and teaching has been his passion ever since.

Scott began studying Kenpo Karate at age 5 years old, at the Connecticut Kenpo Karate Studio.  At age 11, he became the school’s first ever Junior Black Belt, and was made an Assistant Instructor.  Because of his outstanding ability, an exception was made to the age guidelines for Black Belt (a minimum age of 16 is required) and Scott was allowed to take the grueling exam at age 14, which he passed with flying colors.  He was subsequently promoted to Full Instructor.

Scott currently holds the rank of 3^rd degree black belt in Kenpo Karate under Professor Lee Lowery, as well as a 1^st degree Black Belt in Modern Arnis under Master Brian Zawilinski, and a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Mr. Roy Harris.  He is a Level 2 Jeet Kune Do Instructor, a Level 1 Filipino Martial Arts Instructor, a Level 1 Knife Instructor under Master Bram Frank, and he is certified as a Crossfit Gymnastics Instructor under the auspices of Mr. Jeff Tucker.

Scott is a highly trained educator, currently completing a Double Major in both the CCSU Teacher Education program for Secondary Mathematics Education and the CCSU Psychology Department with a focus on Child Development and Exceptionalities.  Outside of classes he tutors classmates – he is a Level 2 Certified Tutor with the College Reading & Learning Association.

In 2009, Scott founded Adaptive Movement Parkour – a program to share Parkour techniques and training with kids & adults of all ages.  Parkour is a system of movements that allow you to overcome obstacles in your environment: from methods of walking, running and crawling on all fours (called quadrupedal movement), to vaulting obstacles and climbing up walls, Parkour teaches you to see the things around you not as obstacles, but opportunities.  Scott’s own background in Parkour, Gymnastics, and teaching Martial Arts provided the perfect set of skills to create a safe, structured program that takes students of all ages from novice to skilled practitioner of Parkour (called a Traceur or Traceuse).  Adaptive Movement Parkour (AMP) was the first program of its kind in Connecticut, and continues to draw a large audience from across the state, and beyond.  Scott continues to build and develop AMP, adding new and exciting training methods to this fantastic program.