Team Biographies
Our people are among the most talented in the industry. It would be our pleasure to put our extensive experience to work for you.
Andres Cuartas -
Founder and member of the board for Family Dragon Karate. Chief instructor of our Pound Ridge, NY location
Sifu Andres is a fourth degree black belt in Kempo Karate, a certified kickboxing fitness instructor, certified in Hsing-I Chinese Mind-Body Boxing, Chang Style Tai Chi, and is also a certified personal trainer. Andres continues his martial studies in both Chinese Kung-Fu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as well as Kempo Karate.
Sifu Andres began his studies in USA Go Jiu Karate at a young age under Sensei Kevin Suggs in Port Chester, NY. He enjoyed the rigid disciplined movements of the art and spirit of competition. Andres,was also looking for animal movements and more circular formats that he later found in Kempo Karate.
One of the first to become a disciple of the USA Shaolin Temple. Certified in Hsing-I kung-fu and continues Tai Chi and kung-fu studies under Master Peter Chema. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also a style Andres continues to study under Master Marcio Stambowsky of Gracie Sports ( www.graciesportsusa.com).
Andres has also had the privilege of appearing in the February '07 issue of Inside Kung-Fu magazine (some pictures from the article are featured to the right and below).
Andres has completed seminars such as CDT. He has also had the privilege of working with and completing seminars with talented and masterful martial artists such as: Frank Shamrock, Carlos Newton, "Super Foot" Bill Wallace, Kathy Long, Cung Le, Tak Wa Eng, Hermis Franca, Shi Ya Ming, and other well recognized martial artists.
Andres' way of life is based on family and the martial arts. He loves that he is in a position to share his knowledge with people of all walks of life. He and his fellow Family Dragon Karate martial artists are committed to providing their students with the best martial arts instruction possible.
Chacho Guenancia (Laosi)- Certified Black Belt Instructor
Hi my name is Charles Guenancia, more commonly known as Chacho. I am a Shodan black belt and long time pupil of Sifu Andres Cuartas, I have been a student for nearly 12 years and started working for Sifu Cuartas about 3 years ago. I love my job and I am extremely passionate towards the martial arts. I partake in three different styles, Tai chi, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Kempo Karate at Family Dragon Karate. Throughout my life as a martial artist I have learned to apply the rules that have been taught at the studio; self control, self-discipline, respect, and of course having fun! If it weren't for Family Dragon Karate and the advice of my wise Sifu I would not be the young man I am today.
I love what I do and when I was asked to teach at the school I was more than honored. I never thought that i would be able to teach what I love at the dojo that I have been a member of since I was a toddler. I enjoy teaching the children and convey to them what I have learned as a martial artist.
Nick Giori (Laosi)- Certified Black Belt Instructor
Hey! My name is Nick Giori and I currently hold a second degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo. I began studying the art over 10 years ago, and it’s been the most rewarding experience I’ve ever had, and I don’t see it ending. I have had several instructors over the years, beginning in Mildord, CT under Bob Paternoster. About 7 years later I began studying under Jay McMinn, and now I am lucky enough to have Andres as my Sifu.
I am also currently a student at the University of Connecticut where I have a double major in Classics and Spanish with a concentration in literature. Also at Uconn, I discovered Wa Shin Ryu Jujutsu, and it’s an amazing compliment to the Kempo I already know; I absolutely love it. Not only do I owe much of who I am and what I have acheived to the lessons martial arts instilled in me, but it is my greatest passion. A couple years ago my instructer asked me to teach with him. After a year or so I came to teach for Sifu Andres. I taught with Sifu for my last year of high school, and now I come back to teach whenever I am on break from UConn. The only thing that tops studying martial arts for me is teaching it: sharing it with everyone, children and adults alike. The dojo is really like my second home.
Peter Chema - Training advisor to Family Dragon Karate instructors and member of Family Dragon Karate board of advisors.
Master Peter Chema has been practicing martial arts for over forty years. The styles he instructs include Shaolin Kung Fu, the most popular of all Chinese Kung Fu; Pa Kua Chang, which employs graceful circular movements, Hsing-I, also known as mind boxing, Tai Chi Chuan, moving form of Taoist meditation, and Shuai Jiao, the art of Chinese Wrestling. Pete's interest in martial arts began as a child, beginning with amature wrestling at age nine. His study of Kyokushinkai Karate began in his early teens. Soon after, he discovered Chinese Kempo, which he was attracted to because of its more complex technique. This led Pete to Shaolin Kung Fu, with its vast array of forms, fighting methods, and history.
After studding many forms of "external styles" of combat, Pete sought a balance and took to learning the "internal styles" including Tai Chi, focusing on mind, energy flow, and philosophy instead of physical strength. He became a student of Ed Young, a top student of the legendary master Cheng Man-ching.
Through Tai Chi, Pete realized the immense value of the "mind" and "spirit" in the martial arts. This importance brought Pete to the Temple of Great Enlightenment. In the early seventies, renowned Buddhist Monk and Dharma Master, Sheng-Yen trained Pete in the methods of Chan Ch'eng-fu and his oldest son Yang Shou. Professor Kwong taught Pete the Yang Tai Chi long form as well as its advance applications. Pete went on with his training and studying under B.P. Chan, world-acclaimed teacher of Pa Kua and Hsing-I. In 1979, Peter was invited to give a kung fu exhibition for government officials and Chinese martial artists in Taipei, Taiwan. After the impressive demonstration, former President Lee of the R.O.C., who was then Mayor of Taipei, certified Peter as Honorary Instructor to Taipei City Government. Lee presented Peter with an official instuctor's uniform and certificate.
The most gratifying event in Pete's martial arts career occurred in Taipei in 1979 when he began studying and training under Grandmaster Chang Dong-sheng, the undisputed champion of Shuai Jiao (Chinese Wrestling). In an unprecedented ceremony, Grandmaster adopted Pete as a "stepson" and he took formal bows to enter the "Gate of Chang". Grandmaster Chang Dong-sheng, known as China's Flying Butterfly, was acclaimed as undefeated in combat and at that time a living legend of Kung fu. Grandmaster Chang personally taught Pete Tai Chi as well as Shuai Jiao. Pete was privileged to be one of the first Americans to introduce Chang Style Tai Chi Chuan and Shuai Jiao into the United States. 
In December of 1992, Pete was Coach of the United States Shuai Jiao Team which won first place in international competition in Paris, France. He holds a sixth degree Black Belt in Shuai Jiao and is featured in a series of instructional DVDs. Over the past thirty years Pete has written numerous articles for Inside Kung-Fu, Black Belt, MA Training, and Karate Kung-Fu Illustrated
magazines. He has appeared on magazine covers and has been featured in numerous articles.
The Family Dragon Karate - Our School symbol and logo. This very special dragon was designed by sensei Andres and a very talented tattoo artist in the Bronx, NY at Dermaflix Tattoo Shop on Fordham Rd. in November of 1999. It was recently brought to life April of '08 by artist and close friend, Alessandra Hernandez, in such a format that could be used for our school purposes.
Andres had a strong feeling and need to have this done after his mother had just passed away but only a month before. Andres intended for this dragon to be a memorial that he would proudly wear as a reminder of his mother and the strong family bond that he continues to share with his loved ones. Sensei Jay McMinn was the first to actually suggest we use it as our school logo as it symbolizes all that we stand for and said he and all of our students would be proud to have this dragon represent us in our martial arts journey.
The dragon itself is of course his mother (Maria Sonia Cuartas Vasquez 1940 - 1999).
We started with a humble human like face. Then we gave her spirit eyes, as opposed to demon eyes typically found in Chinese dragons, to show the spirit soul that helps to guide with the love of a mother. She was then given a long tail to symbolize her years of wisdom and great advice and caring that a mother brings to her children.
We then went into the yin & yang that she holds close and tight. Within the yin & yang we see the symbol for dragon, as she was born in the year of the dragon, and we also see the symbol for tiger, as Andres was born year of the tiger. (What a coincidence that Andres and his mother would actually be born on the same day and time!) The yin & yang is being grasped ever so tightly - this is to show the closeness of the family unit. Notice three claws dig into the circle. These three claws are Andres' brothers with whom he continues to share a special family bond.
We finally gave the dragon color. Not typical for dragons, but then again mothers are not just typical!
Our logo is the family dragon! Ride the wind, share your wisdom. Show respect to yourself and fellow man.
