Our Karate Instructors

Our staff at NYGKA is a highly trained group of experienced black belts. All of our staff members hold a rank of first-degree black belt or higher, and have trained for many years both as students and leaders in our school. All instructors have completed our G.O.L.D. Leadership program – a requirement to ensure the highest quality.

Our Dance Instructors

Our instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the Performing arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Robert Chillemi  (Sensei Bob) Sensei Robert Chillemi, a fourth degree black belt, has been practicing martial arts for over 20 years. He is a seasoned professional who teaches recreational programs, women's classes, pre-school classes (Tiny Tigers), children and adult classes in Goju Karate. Sensei Bob currently runs the NYGKA Pelham program and several of the finest pre-school programs in the region. In addition, he has been teaching karate to children with special needs and has been instrumental in designing the curriculum for the G.R.O.W. program. Over the years, sensei Bob has sucessfully competed in many tournaments throughout the tri-state region.

Daniel Balsam Daniel Balsam is currently a seventeen year old Senior at Dobbs Ferry High School. He a a Third Degree Black Belt and has been training with Shihan for nine years since he was eight. He has been teaching for four years and has worked with the former G.R.O.W. program for special needs students and been involved with the Black Belt Demo Team. He is very passionate about his karate training and hopes to impart this to the students he teaches. His personal adage is, "on a scale of one to ten, always work at a ten."

Sara Minsley Sensei Sara Minsley is a senior at Hastings High School. She began training at NYGKA under Shihan James Chillemi in 1998 at the age of 6. She earned her Black Belt in 2003, her first-degree Black Belt in 2004, and her second-degree Black Belt in 2006. Sara plays varsity tennis for Hastings High School and is a member of the Art Honor Society. Karate has changed Sara's life in many positive ways, and she loves to continue to train and teach so she can give back as a thank you to all those who help her along her journey.

Caroleann Calgi Sensei Caroleann Calgi is a sophmore at Fordham University and has been training since 1998. She is currently a second degree black belt, and teaches in both Hastings and Pelham. She is an active member in the National Honor Society in Pelham. Karate has helped her decide to pursue a medical degree in the near future.

Maria Gouras  (Sensei Maria) Maria Gouras grew up in Ljusdal, a small town in the north of Sweden. She pursued a successful modeling and acting career in Paris, New York city and later Los Angles. She is known and loved for her supporting role as "Cherlindrea" in the popular film "Willow". Other film and tv work include "Worth Winning", "The Last Warrior", "The Equalizer" and "Spencer for Hire". Maria was introduced to NYGKA in 1999 and was so inspired by the positive energy of the dojo that she signed up both her self and her children for karate classes. Today Maria is not only a first degree black belt but director of our Tiny Tigers program and a great instructor loved by all. She still continues training along with her two children who are also black belts. Maria earned her second degree black belt in 2009.

Steven Straus  (Sensei Steve) Steven Straus graduated from Amherst College in 1986, worked as an investment banker for several years, and currently runs a real estate investment firm based in Yonkers, NY. Steven has volunteered his time as a member of the board of trustees for a foster care agency in Brooklyn, NY, and has served as a big brother with Big Brother Inc. since 1987. Steven gained interest in the martial arts first through training in kickboxing classes at On Hudson Fitness. He then moved on to formal karate training and earned his second degree black belt in 2007.

Zach Morton Sensei Zach Morton is a freshman at the University of Arizona. He started his training at the age of eight, under Shihan James Chillemi ,and received his black belt in 2005. Zach is also a First Class in the Boy Scouts, and is the Senior Patrol Leader in his troop. His training in karate has helped him decide to pursue a career in psychology. Zach received his second-degree black belt in 2007 and third degree in 2009.

Natalie Saltares-Trockel Natalie Trockel studied dance at Manhattan Ballet School, Ballet Hispanico, Steps NYC, Broadway Dance Center, and The School of American Ballet. She was the President of the Mannhattanville Dance Ensemble from 2002 to 2004, started the Manhattanville Dance Troupe, and was the recipient of the 2003/2004 leadership award for Most Improved Student Organization. Natalie was also assistant director of the Norwalk Dance Academy from May 2004 to February 2005. She taught ballet, jazz and lyrical classes for the competition team as well as hip hop, jazz, tap, lyrical and ballet to children ages 4 to adult. Natalie is a former member of the award winning Dynamic Dance Company. Miss Natalie can do it all! From beginner to advanced, Hip hop to Classical ballet and pointe, she amazes everyone with her incredible choreography and style. We are proud to have her as part of our staff.

Margaret Hurley Margaret Hurley began intense dance training at an early age in New York. She earned a bachelor's degree in dance at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She received a certificate of recognition for accomplishment in choreography for her senior project, which was also selected to be performed at the American College Dance Festival. Margaret performed with several professional dance companies in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas, including The Phoenix Dance Company, Clancy Works, Movement Addiction and Doug Hamby Dance. Her passion lies in teaching and choreography, and she has nine years experience teaching students of all ages in Baltimore and New York. She continues her dance training in New York City. Miss Margaret is not only an incredible teacher but exquisite dancer and choreographer with children of all ages! We are proud to have her on staff.

Dorina DiLullo Dorina Dilullo received her B.A. in Theater Dance from Queens College. She has taught dance and worked in show business professionally for over 10 years. Dorina has danced with Gail Conrade Dance Company at “Theatre For New York City,” performed in San Francisco at Kmel Summer Jam with Mariah Carey, and has worked all over the tri-state area in various musicals and children’s theater. She continues to perform as a dancer, singer, and actress all over the country. You can catch her recording in the studio or singing her heart out in the Village in NYC. Dorina has been teaching dance at On Hudson for over 10 years now. We feel very lucky to have her as part of our family for so many years!

Irina Antonenko Irina Antonenko studied dance at the University of Culture in Moscow, where she also earned her degree in piano, conducting, and music education. She also studied dance at Vienna's Dance Academy. It was her passion for tap dance that brought her to New York, where she continued her studies at the Broadway Dance Center, Steps On Broadway, Carnegie Hall, and other studios. Her teachers included Buster Brown, Jimmy Slyde, Savion Glover, Barbara Duffy, Max Pollack, and her idol, Gregory Hines. Meeting him and becoming his student was a high point in her early career, and she became a devotee of his style in dance and especially in tap improvisation. Irina became a regular at the Swing 46 Tap Jam with Buster Brown, and performed with the Feraba African Rhythm Tap Company, as well as appearing with her own jazz trio at various NYC venues. She has traveled extensively in Europe and in her native Russia to perform and teach. Irina has been featured on television several times as a performer, and as a choreographer and producer for special events in Moscow. She was featured as a solo performer with "Alex's Show' Dance Company, and for the TV Show "From a Women's Life", and as a choreographer and performer on the Television Awards Shows in Moscow and Brussels (Belgium). She taught at the School of Modern Choreography, the National College of Theatrical Arts, and the Russian Imperial Ballet in Moscow. Irina has taught tap dance and improvisation for over 11 years. She currently resides in the New York City area, teaching and developing new projects.

For more information about the New York Goju Karate / OnHudson Fitness & Dance staff or training programs, please contact us at 914-478-0508 or by clicking here.