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The Foley's Martial Arts Team

Thu, 09/02/2010 - 20:24 — admin1


There will be many faces you will see around the dojo. Here is a little bit about us!

Mike Foley Sr.
    Mike Foley has over 34 year involvement in martial arts as a student, competitor, teacher and promoter. He opened his first school in 1978 in his home town of Spaniard's Bay. In 1982, he placed first at the National Kenpo Championships in Montreal in the Black Belt division. Mike now has over 30 years experience as a black belt. To date, Mike has taught over 40,000 classes and has promotes over 100 students to black belt.
 
    Founder of Mike Foley's Kenpo Karate and Owner/Operator of Foley's Martial Arts, together with four of his sons, Jason, Michael, Daniel and Alex, this martial arts family operates five of the largest schools and academy's in Newfoundland. Together they teach classes in Kenpo Karate, Kickboxing, Low Kick Thai Boxing, and Gracie Jiu Jitsu.

 
Daniel Foley

    Always considered the more natural athlete of the Foley clan. Daniel is the head instructor of our Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Self Defense programs at FMA paradise and in Spaniards Bay. AS well as an Instructor in Junior Kenpo Karate.

    Daniel has committed himself to the continuous learning of several martial art systems and specialties and has become fully  immersed in the martial Arts Lifestyle.

    In 2009, Daniel traveled to Brazil to train in Gracie Jiu Jitsu with Master Pedro Sauer and various other members and Black Belts Of The Pedro Sauer Brazillian Jiu Jitsu Association.

    Daniel Holds ranks of blue belt under the PSBJJA and specializes in Personal Self Defense. He is also focused on re-developing the Kenpo Self Defense system.





Robert Shandera

Robert began his martial arts career 1991, by studying Kenpo karate under Mike Foley Sr. in Spaniards Bay.  In 1997, Robert was promoted to black belt, at which time, he began teaching adult Kenpo classes at the Spaniards Bay location.  In 2000, Robert received his 2nd degree black belt from Mr. Foley.  During these years Robert competed locally and nationally and received an invitation to compete with the Canadian National Karate Team.  However, Robert decided to focus on post secondary education, attaining a Bachelor of Engineering from Memorial University in 2005 and is currently employed as a Mechanical Engineer.

 

Upon finishing his education, Robert moved to Bay d'Espoir to begin his career as an engineer.  While there, he opened his own kenpo karate school.  However, in 2006 Robert was transferred to St. John's and was forced to close the school.

 

Upon returning to St. John's, Robert began teaching at FMA.  Since his return to martial arts, Robert has focused his training on kickboxing and Gracie Jiu Jitsu.  In 2009, Robert received the rank of blue belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu under the world renowned Pedro Sauer.

 

Robert applied his technical focus and attention to detail to all facets of martial arts. Robert's current passion is combining the best of Kenpo Karate, Kickboxing and Gracie Jiu Jitsu, to produce well rounded, confident and technically proficient martial artist

 

 

Darlene Walsh
FMA Lady Kickboxer instructor Darlene Walsh has been active in Ladies Kickboxing for the last  8 years. At Foleys Martial Arts-Paradise we have a core of devoted followers of the Lady Kickboxer program we jokingly refer to as fanatics and Darlene could best be described as the ring leader. Darlene is very thorough in designing her classes, very motivational in  her approach and definitely an example of what disciplined training can bring to you in terms of health and fitness. Darlene's classes are always worth the effort to come out for.



 

The Team


Mike Foley with Professor Pedro Sauer





Daniel Foley Brazil 2009





Robert Shandera and Professor Pedro Sauer





 Darlene Walsh