Our Senseis
Sensei means teacher in Japanese. We are honored to have three instructors at our dojo. John Hermann, Andy Hermann, and Paul Bagwell.
John Hermann: I started my training in 1972 at the Bronx Goju Kai. My instructor, San-dan Arturo Aviles had studied directly under Yamaguchi Gogen Sensei for a time and had been greatly influenced by his ways. He in turn was able to pass on what he was taught to his students.
I started in karate because of a very bad ulcer and the doctors told me I needed to find a way to relieve stress. I had no experience with karate and had no idea what Goju was, but the school was convenient, and so my experience began.
Aviles Sensei was a traditionalist in his teaching ways and his outlook on life with regard to the martial arts. He trained hard, he trained with discipline and respect and he taught his students to do the same. It was all about doing your personal best; physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Over the years, I attended a few different schools because of leaving New York. However, Goju was always my primary art. There was always something that drew me back to it, whether it was the physical portion, the exercise, the fighting, etc, or the tension relief I got from doing slow kata. I don’t know that I can even put my finger on what kept me involved in it even today; I just know that I always returned to it time and time again.
When I began to teach, it opened a whole new world for me. I had to really look deep inside as to why I wanted to teach, and how I would teach. I had to analyze whether or not I could teach what I thought would be the proper mindset behind the martial arts, could I influence others with the morality and character I thought was necessary for someone to be a true martial artist, or at least what I thought would be a true martial artist. It is one thing for a parent to influence his or her child, to guide and mold them into what they want them to be; it is totally another thing when you have someone else’s child under your teaching. It is an awesome responsibility. Integrity, perseverance, indomitable spirit, self-discipline, humility, are some of the many key factors that ought to drive or steer ones’ life regardless of what he or she decides to do in that life, and these are the things we should always strive to teach and instill in out students. These virtues are the things that will help us to succeed in life, and the lack of them will also cause us to fail in life.
Andy Hermann: My martial arts journey began when I was a freshman in college. I began the art of fencing in 1988 and I still work with swords to this day.
I began training in Japanese Goju Ryu under my father, John Herrmann Sensei in 1991. My first days of training were on the front lawn of our house during the summer of ’91.
Currently, I am one of three instructors at our dojo. I hold the rank of Yon Dan (4th degree black belt). My training still consists of being taught by Herrmann Sensei as well as a fair amount of reading and academic research of all things related to Japanese Goju Ryu.
Over the course of my journey through Goju Ryu, I have experienced many changes in my life. My thirst for knowledge continues to grow. My mind and body grow stronger and more disciplined. I am much more aware of my surroundings.
I train in Goju Ryu for a number of reasons. First, is that my dad kept bugging me to try it out! I also enjoy the unique blend of mental and physical challenges that come with training in Goju Ryu. Sanchin kata rocks!! 
I enjoy being a part of a rich lineage passed on to me by my father from his teacher within the Yamaguchi line of Goju Ryu. I take comfort in the knowledge that Goju Ryu is a very practical martial system with a lot of appeal to many different types of people.
Let me end by leaving you one final thought about why I continue to diligently and intensely train in Japanese Goju Ryu.
“It is not possible for humans to be perfect. But not to try is to be satisfied with being less than human.”
-Hideharu Onuma