April 12th & 13th, 2025
Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm & Sunday, 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
The Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs NY
Join us for two days of hands-on instructional workshops in striking, grappling, & weapons arts. There's also a Saturday Night Banquet with the Instructional Staff!
Martial Artists of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to participate.
The Saratoga Martial Arts Festival has been the Capital Region's Premier Martial Arts Gathering for over 20 years!
Festival Updates
4.14.2025: Thanks for a great festival!
Here's a copy of the final 2025 Program.
3.28.2025: Two more instructors
Our friends from Stockton, Jun Gotico and Terry Jovin will once again be making the journey from Stockton California to share the Stockton Multistyle Escrima systems.
2.22.2025: More Instructors!
We've added:
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Erik Harris (Liu Seong Gungfu)
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Anthony Quatrochi (Kokoro Kai JuJitsu)
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Ted Tanaka (Azuma-ryu Kyo Jutsu)
1.17.2025: Registration is LIVE!
Register NOW!
1.13.2025: Two More Instructors! Registration is coming this week.
We're in the process of updating our registration portal. Ticketing will be online in the next few days. In the meantime, here are two more instructors!:
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Chris LaCava (Hapkido and Stockton Multi-Style Escrima)
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Greg Pichardo (Jeet Kune Do, Buka Jalan Silat, and Kali)
1.1.2025: More Instructors! Registration is coming soon.
Happy New Years! We've added a number of new instructor bios to the page:
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Gerry DiSanto (Brazilian Jui Jitsu, Japanese Jiu Jitsu, & Goju Ryu Karate)
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Tony DiSarro (Kosho Ryu Kempo, Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu, & Serrada Escrima)
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Isaiah Hagan (Lui Seoung Royal Kung Fu & Wu Long Shen Kuntao Silat)
11.7.2024: Festival Dates, First 4 Instructors, & Poster
The 2025 Festival will be on April 12 & 13th in Saratoga Springs at the Holiday Inn. Our first four instructors are:
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Dean Franco (Atienza, Sayoc, & Avernir Kail, & Piper Knife)
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Tim Hartman (Presas Arnis, Kombatan, & Modern Arnis)
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Dave Kalish (Hattatsu-Ryu Karate & Shingitai Jujitsu)
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Dominick Violante (Kempo, Aikido, & White Crane Kung Fu)
Registration starts in January! Download the festival poster today!
Meet the 2025 SMAF Instructors
We will be adding more instructors as we get closer to SMAF
Filipino Arts
Dean Franco
Dean started his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do, advancing to second degree Black Belt. His interests turned to Jeet Kune Do where he studied under Chris Smith and earned an Associate Instructorship from . More recently, he has concentrated on Filipino martial arts, and is credentialed in Atienza Kali, Sayoc Kali, Abenir Kalis and Battlefield Kali. He's also a Piper Instructor in Piper Knife under Lloyd De Jongh and the founder of the FMA Discussion YouTube channel and podcast.
Filipino & Japanese Arts
Tony DiSarro
Tony has been a practitioner of the martial arts for 40 years, and is a senior representative of Hanshi Bruce Juchnik in both Kosho Ryu Kempo and Serrada Escrima, as well as Roy Goldberg Shihan in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu. His mission in the martial arts is to expose practitioners to the similarities in all martial arts, using the underlying principles and concepts that are universal in all systems.
Chinese & Indonesian Arts
Isaiah Hagan
Sifu Isaiah Hagan was born and raised in Rochester NY. He started his training in the traditional arts 32 years ago at the age of 9 and has spent time in a wide variety of practices including Ishin Ryu Karate, Tae Keon Do, Tatsu Do Jujitsu, Hapkido, Kumdo, Marcaida Kali, Lui Seoung Royal Kung Fu and Wu Long Shen Kuntao Silat.
Isaiah met his teacher Master Michael Barr almost a decade ago and has been on a journey of personal growth and development with him ever since. He is Master Barr's apprentice and inheritor of his lineage. He is truly blessed to have found and been accepted by his teacher and offers his eternal thanks.
Currently, Isaiah teaches advanced classes out of Canandaigua Martial Arts, assists Master Barr in teaching monthly immersive seminars split between Fairport Kung Fu and Canandaigua Martial Arts, and takes private students at his home to all who are interested.
Filipino Arts
Tim Hartman
Grand Master “Datu Tim” Hartman started his formal martial training in Modern Arnis. After his first year of training, Hartman became a direct student of the late Grand Master Remy A. Presas (The Prof). Before GM Presas passed, he promoted Hartman to “Datu” and the highest active ranked American.
In 1998 Hartman started training Kombatan under the Prof’s younger brother, Ernesto Presas. In 2007, while Hartman was in the Philippines, GM Ernesto promoted Hartman to a 9th degree black belt and Grand Master of the family system.
Hartman continues his education. He is trained and certified in: Modern Arnis, Kombatan, Balintawak Eskrima and Bando. Recently the Datu tested and received black belts in both Kuntaw and Sikaran.
He has taught throughout the US, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, England, Puerto Rico, Poland, Barbados, Venezuela, Chile, Italy, Iceland, Portugal, Finland and in Arnis’ birth place, the Philippines. Though his dedication to the arts, Hartman has become one of the world’s leading instructors of Filipino Martial Arts.
Japanese Arts
Dave Kalish
David Kalish teaches and trains at Fighting Spirit Karate in New Paltz, NY. He has been involved in the martial arts for over 30 years ever since being mesmerized by the artistry of Bruce Lee.
David trained in various styles under many instructors before finding his home at Fighting Spirit Karate. He has black belts in Karate and Jujitsu and went undefeated in regional competition for almost two decades.
He constantly seeks new instructors, seminars, and festivals to expand his never-ending thirst for martial knowledge. Dave is married to world champion Katie Murphy, whom he met at the Super Summer Seminars martial arts camp. They are one couple you DON'T want to mess with!
Chinese and Indonesian Arts
Greg Pichardo
Greg Pichardo has been training in the martial arts for over 50 years and teaching in the New York tri-state area since the 1990s in the arts of Jeet Kune Do, Buka Jalan Silat, and Kali. Greg has a direct lineage to the legendary Bruce Lee in the art of JKD and is now recognized as one of the leading authorities in this art. He is also the only full instructor in the art of Buka Jalan Pentjak Silat on the East Coast.
Greg is an official trainer for the U.S. Navy SEALs and has assisted them in the preparation for their covert operations. Greg continues to have the honor and privilege in training groups such as the NYPD, ATF, FBI, U.S. Marines, Air Marshals, and Homeland Security team, as well as the ordinary people who love Martial Arts. Always looking to give back to the Martial Arts, he has traveled extensively throughout the country, sharing his vast knowledge in the various disciplines in the form of workshops and seminars.
Japanese & Chinese Arts
Dominick Violante
Master Dominick Violante began Martial Arts training in 1977. He was inducted into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame in July 2003, and the USA Hall of Fame in 2004. He is a Master Level Practitioner 8th Dan Black Belt of Kempo Karate and is ranked 4th Dan Black Belt in Aikido. In addition, he holds a black sash in White Crane/Long Fist Kung-Fu.
Master Violante was an instructor for the Massachusetts Criminal Justice System instructing state, local and Auxiliary Police Officers for more than 15 years. He also became the first non-police officer to be certified in the R.A.D. (Rape Aggressive Defense) Program. Master Violante had a seat on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Reserve Police Federation as the advisor for defensive tactics. He has developed numerous self defense programs recognized by the Massachusetts Board of Education.
Brazilian & Japanese Arts
Gerry DiSanto
Gerry DiSanto is the owner of and chief instructor at the Defensive Arts Training Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario. He holds a wide variety of ranks in various martial arts and is a certified teacher, allowing him the ability to meet each student’s individual needs. Along with his skills in boxing, kickboxing, grappling, and weaponry, Gerry DiSanto has been training in martial arts for several decades and is a renowned martial arts instructor in the Niagara Region.
Gerry's ranks include
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3rd Degree Black Belt in BJJ under Helio Soneca
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4th Degree Black Belt in Japanese Jiu-Jitsu
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2nd Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate
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Arnis, Muay Thai and Boxing Practitioner
His competition experience includes
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2010 NAGA Black Belt Champion
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2009 IBJJF Louisville, Kentucky Superfight winner
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2008 IBJJF Louisville, Kentucky Gold Medal
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2007 Canadian NAGA Champion (Ascension Tournament)
Filipino Arts
Guro Jun Gotico
Jun Gotico graduated in 1991 in Leo Giron’s BahalaNa and promoted to Guro in 1993. He was one of the main instructors in GM Leo Giron’s Bahala Na Club No. 1, in the 1990’s and fought on the club’s famous Fight Team that competed in numerous full-contact tournaments throughout the West Coast and Hawaii.
In the early 2000’s Jun started training in SLD (Serrada/Largo/Decuerdas) under Dentoy Revillar, Bobby Antuna and Dexter Labonog. In 2006, along with other long time martial artists, Guro June founded Stockton Multi-Style Escrima Club, developing and showcasing the main styles that Stockton is famous for.
Chinese & Indonesian Arts
Erik Harris
Sifu Erik began his training in 1984 and found his home in Liu Seong Gungfu in 1990. Liu Seong Gungfu, based on the teachings of Grandmaster Willem A. Reeders, is a blended combination of Chinese and Indonesian systems, primarily Hokkien White Crane gungfu and West Javanese silat systems. Along with ongoing training with his Liu Seong gungfu teachers, Erik has spent decades cross-training with instructors of many arts, helping to inform and shape his understanding of his home art. Erik holds a third-degree black sash under Sifu George Reyngoudt, an orange (instructor’s) sash under Mr. Joe Salomone, and is recognized as Rokudan Kyoshi by the Sutrisno dojo’s Bushi No Te organization, and as an Associate Instructor in the Shuri-Te Bujutsu-Kai. Erik currently runs the Chinese-Indonesian Martial Arts Club in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Filipino Arts
Guro Terry Joven
Terry graduated in 2004 from the Giron Bahala Na System and was promoted to Guro in 2005.
In addition to his experience with Bahala Na, Terry has trained in Tenio Decuerdas Escrima, Renbukai and Go Shin Jitsu Kai.
Along with Maestro June Gotico Guro Terry is one of the founding instructors of Bahala Na Multistyle, eventually becoming Stockton Multi-Style Escrima
Korean and Filipino Arts
Chris LaCava
Chris has trained in the martial arts, coming up on 40 years. He has traveled around the world to train in martial arts as well as acupuncture. Chris earned his 4th degree black belt in Hapkido and 1st degree in Kuhapdo under Grand Master Lim, Hyun-su in Daegu South Korea, Certified Force Necessary Advanced Knife Instructor under Hock Hockheim, and is a graduate, as well as an Instructor, of Stockton Multi-Style Escrima. Chris is also a Licensed Acupuncturist and an EMT.
Japanese Arts
Anthony Quatrochi
Shihan Quatrochi has been training in the martial arts since 1987, and has over 30 years as an instructor. Being a student of many martial art systems and styles, it was not until he met his JuJitsu instructor that he realized that he had found the style for him. Shihan Quatrochi's form, Kokoro Kai, is unique in its approach to Japanese JuJitsu. The school does not teach one modality of the discipline but focuses on the Martial Movements of the complete Art. Anthony Quatrochi's Martial Arts Institute is in Wappingers Falls, New York
Japanese Arts
Ted Tanaka
Ted Tanaka has been practicing Japanese Swordsmanship for 25 years. He was a certified instructor of Eishin-ryu swordsmanship art and led the official branch dojo in Albany, NY, until he left the issuing organization in 2013.
Currently, Ted Tanaka holds no rank or title and is not affiliated with any weapons art organization. He teaches Azuma-ryu Kyo Jutsu (East style Void Art), continuing to share the old tradition passed on to him to those willing to learn.