Mr. Stekloff began his martial arts career in the fall of 1982 at the age of six. After being encouraged by a friend, he went to watch a class that was being held at Cheshire Academy and sponsored by the Cheshire YMCA. It was then when he first met Master Bergamo. For the next five years Mr. Stekloff trained five to six nights a week on his way to earning his junior black belt in 1987 when he was only eleven.

During this time, Master Bergamo brought in other instructors such as Mr. Stankus, Mr. Heidcamp, Mr. Moon, and Mr. Lyons to help enhance the martial arts education at his studio. During his time as a student of Master Bergamo's, Mr. Stekloff successfully competed in regional tournaments in both sparring and self-defense. In 1986, Mr. Stekloff competed and won the New England Junior Karate Championship. In 1989, Mr. Stekloff added Tang Soo Do to his martial arts background. He trained for two years in this martial arts system.

He stopped his training when Master Bergamo re-opened Cheshire Martial Arts. In 1994, Mr. Stekloff became the first junior black belt under Master Bergamo to test and receive an adult 1st degree black belt. In August of 1997, Mr. Stekloff received his 2nd degree black belt. Mr. Stekloff graduated from college in 1998 and moved down to North Carolina.

During his two years as a middle school teacher in North Carolina, Mr. Stekloff ran an after-school martial arts program for students. His enrollment at this program topped out at 90 middle school students. Over his twenty-one years of martial arts training, Mr. Stekloff holds the highest regard for Master Bergamo. Master Bergamo has taught much more than the martial arts to Mr. Stekloff.

Years of training:  22 yrs

Certifications:  
3rd degree Black Belt in The Filipino Kun Tao System (Self-Defense related Martial Art).

Affiliations:
Member of the American-Filipino Kun Tao Federation;
Member of the Kar-Do-Jitsu-Ryu Karate Federation;
Member of World Champion Team Bergamo.

Other Martial Arts Experience:
Tang Soo Do, Judo, Grappling, and Kick Boxing.

Personal Accomplishments

1998-2000- Director of the Kannapolis Middle School Martial Arts Club;

1989- 2nd Place Self-Defense- Connecticut Open Karate Championship, CT;

1988- 1st Place Self-Defense- Lyon's Den Open, CT;
3rd Place Fighting- Lyon's Den Open, CT;
3rd Place Forms- Lyon's Den Open, CT;
3rd Place Fighting- Cheezic Tang Soo Do Open, CT;

1987- 1st Place Self-Defense- Ives/Hamzy's Tournament, CT;
2nd Place Self-Defense- Connecticut Open Karate Championship, CT;
3rd Place Fighting- Ives/Hamzy's Tournament, CT;

1986- 1st Place Fighting- New England Junior Karate Championships, CT;
1st Place Self-Defense- Nutmeg Open Karate Championships, CT;
3rd Place Fighting- Nutmeg Open Karate Championships, CT;
1st Place Self-Defense- Rossi Scholarship Tournament, CT;
2nd Place Fighting- Rossi Scholarship Tournament, CT;
1st Place Self-Defense- CATS/Lyon's Den Tournament, CT;
2nd Place Fighting- CATS/Lyon's Den Tournament, CT;

1985- 2nd Place Fighting- Ives/Hamzy's Tournament;
4th Place Fighting- Nutmeg Open Karate Championships;
3rd Place Fighting- JKD Karate Championships;

1984- 3rd Place Fighting- Hamzy's/St. Jude Classic;
4th Place Fighting- Rossi Scholarship Tournament;

1983- 3rd Place Fighting- Hamzy's/St. Jude Classic.