Twin Dragons Martial Arts

Sensei John Palmeri is the owner and chief instructor of Twin Dragons Martial Arts. John was born in Brooklyn, raised in nearby Cheshire, and currently resides in Meriden with his wife Melissa, his two daughters, Corina and Aria, and his cat Sensei. He began his martial arts training with Kempo lessons in 1991 under Master Scott Packard. At age 1998, he began instructing professionally as an assistant to Master Packard, as well as beginning the study of Tak Wah Kung-Fu. Over the course of his martial arts career he has competed in tournaments throughout New England and has won first place honors in Sparring, Empty Handed Kata and Weapons Kata divisions.

Currently, he holds a 4^th Degree Black Belt in Kempo under Master Brian Hanson, a 1^st Degree Black Sash in Kung-Fu under Grandmaster Tak Wah Eng, and has begun the earnest study of Aiki-Juijitsu under Sensei Allen Nealy. In addition to his three primary martial arts, Sensei John has studied, to various degrees, Quigong Tai Chi, Brazilian Jui-Jitsu and Shinkage-Ryu Kenjutsu. Sensei John also works part time as a professional fight choreographer and stage combat Instructor for the “Pirates for Prevention” non-profit organization.

Sensei Allen Nealy, head of Twin Dragons' Aiki-Jujitsu program, has close to 30 years experience in the Martial Arts. He began his training in 1979, and began teaching 1989. He competed in tournaments from the early 80's to around the early 90's. Senei Nealy is a Member of and is Rank Certified with the following organizations: American Federation of Jujitsu (6th Dan Goshin Aiki-Jujitsu), Kodo Butoku Renmei (5th Dan Aiki-Juijitsu), Nippon Jujistu Kai, USA Branch for the Kokusai Aikijitsu Kai Renmai Tokyo, Japan (5th Dan Menkyo Renshi Aiki-Jujitsu), and the Goshin Jujistu Kai Int'l (5th Dan Goshin Jujitsu).

Sensei Nealy has studied under several different instructors in several different styles of martial art over his career. This list includes:

Sensei Allen Nealy's has received Honorary Ranks from the European Association of of Daito-Ryu (Menkyo Okuden 6th Dan in Aiki Bujutsu), Shojukempo International (5th Dan Sotokan Karate-Do Goshinjitsu), the Nippon Yawara Ryu Aiki-Ju-Jitsu Renmei (6th Dan Shihan & Life Time Member) and the World Ju-Jitsu/Aiki-Bujutsu Federation. On March 18th 2006, Sensei Nealy was inducted into the International Ryu Kyu Kai Karate Association & Shojukempo International 2006 Hall of Fame.

His additional rank credentials include a 3rd Dan in Shotokan Karate Do, 1st Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and 1st Degree Red Belt in American Hapkido.

Brian Hanson

Master Brian Hanson holds a Ninth Degree Black Belt in Kempo Karate. He has studied various martial arts for over twenty-five years and has traveled to the Shaolin Temple in China for training. Over the course of his martial arts career, Master Hanson has been owner and Chief Instructor of several dojos ranging from New Hampshire to CT. He is currently semi-retired from martial arts instruction, offering lessons exclusively to a select few Kempo Instructors and Black Belts in Connecticut. All Twin Dragons Black Belts are awarded their rank by Master Hanson in a long, rigorous exam held only twice per year.

Grandmaster Tak Wah Eng was introduced to Chinese Kung Fu as a teenager in Hong Kong in the 1960’s. Since then, he as dedicated his life to training and studying, teaching and promoting martial arts throughout the world. Tak is also a long time disciple of Grand Master Wai Hong and his Fu Jow Pai Black Tiger style of Kung-Fu. Inside Kung Fu Magazine affirmed that “Tiger claw kung-fu has become synonymous with the name Tak Wah Eng,” and the magazine has even honored with an induction into their Hall of Fame 2001, as INSTRUCTOR OF THE YEAR.

Grandmaster Tak has also mastered both the Southern Shaolin style and Northern Long Fist, and has combined these systems to create his own unique Southern Fist form. He is widely recognized for his talent in teaching all of these systems, in addition to Tai Chi Chuan, Five Animal Kung Fu, Praying Mantis and a multitude of weapons systems. He continues his teaching and training today in New York’s Chinatown. Sensei John trains with Grandmaster Tak at his school in New York on a regular basis, and Grandmaster Tak visits Connecticut several times a year for cultural celebrations and martial arts clinics. Grandmaster Tak is also repsonsible for confering all degrees of black belt in his style of Kung-Fu to Twin Dragons students.