Sensei Aldo DiPuorto
(Yodan/4th degree Black Belt)
| Sensei Aldo |
| Sensei Gene |
| Sensei Tom |
| Thomasville Times Newspaper Article |
I began my training for martial arts in the year of 1994. The school that I attended was next door to a local business that I own and operate, Elizabeth's Pizza, on Main Street in Thomasville, NC. The instructor's name was Jack Bingham. At the time that I started training with him, he had already been involved in martial arts for about 15 years.
So I started training with him every Sunday. It was something I enjoyed. I always wanted to be involved with martial arts, especially when I was a kid and now I finally had my chance. Before I started training with my Sensei, Jack, I was smoking up to two packs of cigarettes a day. After I quit smoking, Jack asked me to start training with him three times a week. I devoted myself to my training wholeheartedly. The best thing was how well I was feeling. I was learning so many things and life just seemed to make more sense. My focus had shifted to the discipline of martial arts.
We started to compete in 1995. The whole school of about 49 students from ages 6 to 40 attended. I was so proud to have done well at our first competition. We came back from the tournament with first and second place trophies. After the tournament, I started training even harder. Now I was training up to five times a week. For five years I trained until I attained my black belt. It was difficult and I was injured many times. I broke my ribs, ankles, and one knee. I busted my nose twice and even my shoulder. Even though the process was strenuous, I kept working because Ju-Jitsu is a concept I love.
In 1999 I started helping Sensei Jack teach classes. This brought a new focus to the way I was doing my training. Now as a teacher I was learning more with every new class. It made it all worthwhile just to see that I could give something back to the art that has encouraged me so greatly. In 2002, I took instruction from Ronny Coppland. He taught me the art of both boxing and American kickboxing. This expanded my training and brought new worlds of fighting styles into my perspective.
The school closed temporarily in 2004. It failed to meet the quota of money to maintain the building and expenses for equipment, etcetera. My goal was to see the school reopen again. In the summer of 2004, I went to visit Italy for a month. This was my home country, where I was born and when I returned, I reopened the school. There was something left in my heart from the old school. So I took a chance and reopened it on my own. Now I instruct about 50 students. I decided to do this because of my passion for the martial arts and not for the money. I give my knowledge and time freely. I am so happy to be able to offer this experience to my family -- my two sons, daughter, nephews, and my niece -- who attend my classes. People who work for me have also attended my classes and it's also my pleasure to extend to the community my experiences in this field.
For years we have brought people in this community to a more self-confident approach to dealing with problems that could arise at school, home, work, and in the course of daily events. Mental and physical conditioning and agility are incorporated into our training techniques. Keeping with the tradition and my perseverance we together have brought the teachings of eastern knowledge and technique into this area of Thomasville. This school teaches people how to control themselves and a way of life. It gives the precious gift of self control in a family like atmosphere, providing positive role models, and advice to people of all ages. It is my experience that a disciplined, family like atmosphere can be the best resource for gaining a greater knowledge of Ju-Jitsu. In this school, people become stronger and more efficient. My experiences in the fighting arts have changed my outlook and turned my life around. I am completely convinced that it has saved my life. I feel confident that I can defend my family in a calm and responsible manner.
Sensei Gene started martial arts in 1988. He won the 1992 International Ju-Jitsu Championship and won the 1997 Ju-Jitsu Championship. Sensei Gene's reason for teaching can be summed up as this, "Kids are our future. They need to learn respect for others and respect for themselves. They also need self defense and to learn to never starta fight, but only to defend themselves." According to Sensei Gene, "Our school teaches not only self defense, but also kid's awareness and what to do and not what to do when being abducted by a stranger or someone else." Sense Gene also believes that "Adults need self defense to protect their families from today's violent society, male or female."
A native of Richmond, VA, Tommy moved to North Carolina in the early 1990's. He began training martial arts at Bryan Hebert's Ju-Jitsu in Archdale at the end of 1994. After achieving black belt in 1999, Tommy continued teaching and practicing martial arts under Bryan Hebert. Now under Professor Tony Maynard, he has risen to third degree black belt.
A professional athlete by trade, Tommy has enjoyed a long career in Nascar's top series, The Nextel Cup. Currently with Richard Childress racing as a tire changer and mechanic, Tommy has always maintained that practicing martial arts has helped him continue to excel.
