Our Instructors
Mr. Antonio Borriello
Tang Soo Do / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / MMA
Mr. Borriello was born and raised in South Philadelphia,
PA. He is a 32 yr. old 3rd degree Black Belt in the
art of Tang Soo Do with over 20 years of experience and holds a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, in which he is currently training to achieve Black Belt level. He is also the President of Borriello Bros. Inc. and Owner/ Chief Instructor of Iron Circle Karate.
"Mr. B", as his students love to call him, is a certified Black Belt, Instructor, and Studio Owner in the World Tang Soo Do Association; one of the world's largest martial arts organizations. As a competitor in the WTSDA, Mr. B has won 8 different Grand Champion titles in Korean Martial Art Tournaments, including a Region 8 Championship, which covers most of Northeast America. He also has attained one Championship title in an open Grappling tournament.
Currently Mr. Borriello has retired from competition and focuses his energy and passion toward his students. He wishes to enrich the lives of others through the martial art teaching and to bring happiness and smiles to everyone he meets.
Mrs. Danielle Borriello
Tang Soo Do
Mrs. Danielle Borriello is Iron Circle Karate's "Totally Awesome" program Director and a WTSDA International 2nd degree black belt instructor who is currently progressing toward her 3rd degree.
"Mrs. Danielle" is also an A.C.E. (American Council of Exercise) certified personal trainer. Her areas of knowledge includes Pre and Post-Natal care,
Ply metrics, nutrition, and general physical training. She is also a former aerobics instructor who enjoys incorporating similar cardiovascular strengthening exercises into her style of teaching the martial arts.
As Program Director, Mrs. Danielle's goal is to ensure that
the needs and goals of each student is successfully attained
and believes everyone should leave their training session
feeling great and with a smile!!!
Mr. William Allaire
Tang Soo Do
Mr. Allaire is currently a 2nd degree black belt and certified instructor in the World Tang Soo Do Association and has been training in martial arts for the past seven years of instructing. He is married with two children. Both his wife and children train at Iron Circle. His wife, Mrs. Wanda Allaire, is also a 2nd degree black belt instructor. His eldest daughter, Sara, is a 1st degree black belt, S.W.A.T. team member (instructor trainee), and his youngest daughter, Danielle, is well on her way to black belt.
Mr. "A" has been in competitive sports for the past 30 years, including: football, tennis, baseball, ice hockey,
triathlons, kick-boxing, and martial arts. As part of these sports he has developed a background in sport training through weights and exercises. His focus in martial arts instruction is to bring the sport training
regiments together with the martial arts, "mind, body, and spirit", and develop strong individuals. Martial arts are not just about self-defense, but creating strong self worth and values that improve all aspects of life.
Mrs. Wanda Allaire
Tang Soo Do
Mrs. Wanda Allaire is currently a 2nd degree black belt and World Tang Soo Do Association certified instructor. Mrs. Allaire always had an interest in the martial arts since she was a child, but did not begin training in Tang Soo Do until the later age of 36. When her own daughter, Sara, began training at the age of 5, she finally decided to engage in the art as well.
Training under the instruction of Mr. Borriello, Wanda has developed a true passion for the martial arts as she discovered how it has influenced her life positively in the aspects of mentally, physically, and spiritually. As an instructor, she hopes to share the benefits of the arts with others and enrich their lives through teaching.
Mrs. "A's" entire family trains at Iron Circle Karate -- her husband, Bill, is a 2nd degree black belt instructor; her daughter, Sara, a 1st degree black belt, is training to become an assistant instructor; and youngest daughter, Danielle, is also well on her way to becoming a black belt.
Being an instructor, student, and parent of martial arts students provides Wanda with the vantage point of different perspectives in teaching the arts. Mrs. "A" has been involved in instructing the Iron Circle Tiny Tigers through Adult programs at Iron Circle since her second year of training. She now manages and instructs the Borriello Martial Arts after school
programs at various local schools for kindergarteners through fifth grades.
Mrs. Allaire is a former certified aerobics instructor, but continues to cross train in physical strength and agility and conditioning exercises, as well as running. She also plans to achieve higher levels of black belt at Iron Circle and pursue other areas of martial arts, as well as achieve her certification in teaching academics.
Sal Borriello
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / MMA
( with son, Ciro, the next generation of BJJ practitioner )
Sal Borriello became interested in the martial arts during the late 70's and began training informally in boxing. His original motive was to learn how to defend himself from the schoolyard bullies that picked on him because of his small size, but later he discovered that his training provided much more than just self-defense. Under the guidance and instruction of the great Grandmaster Jae C. Shin, who was also one of Chuck Norris' instructors, Sal developed self-confidence and self-esteem which served him well when having to deal with bullies or peer pressure. As a martial artist, Sal was well known for his excellent technique and speed, which served him well as he won the 1st. place spot for forms competition in the first ever World Tang Soo Do Association World Tournament. Over the years he has been privileged to study from a variety of instructors and friends with exposure to Kickboxing, Wrestling, Judo and Hapkido to name a few, and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Karate.
It wasn't until the mid 90's that Sal began formal training in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Philadelphia. It was there that he met two fantastic brothers, Phil and Rick Migliarese, who taught him then and continue to do so today. The Migliarese brothers are Black Belts under the great Relson Gracie and own Balance Studios in Center City Philadelphia were Sal trains today. Over the years, Sal has been honored to train under and with some of Jiu-Jitsu's leading instructors, such as ROYCE GRACIE (who awarded him his blue belt), RELSON GRACIE, ROLKER GRACIE, RYRON GRACIE and CARLOS 'CAIQUE' ELIAS.
It was Sal's brother, Antonio, Phil and Rick who encouraged him to begin coaching others in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu at Iron Circle Martial Arts while he was preparing to be promoted to purple belt, and we are all glad that he agreed.
Mr. Gus Romano
Boxing
Although Mr. "R" officially retired from the ring years ago, he enjoys spending his time at the studio motivating and coaching students of all ages. He has a wealth of knowledge about martial arts and competition in tournaments. He has coached his son, A.J. Romano, to many championships as well as our studio's own Mr. Antonio Borriello to several Grand Championships. Mr. Romano also holds an honorary black belt rank.
Mrs. Julie Skymba
Tang Soo Do
bio coming soon
Mr. John Childers
Tang Soo Do
bio coming soon
Mrs. Andrea Lightbody
Tang Soo Do
bio coming soon
Jazz Hoxha
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / MMA
"My name is Jazz Hoxha, and I grew up in Philadelphia. I started studying martial arts when I was 19 years old, and have always had a passion for them. I've had 3 years of training in Kung Fu, 2 years in Muay Thai Boxing, then in the fall of 1999 I started practicing Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and I am still going strong to the present."
Derek Leyrer
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / MMA
bio coming soon
Copyright © 2006 Iron Circle Karate. All rights reserved. Web Design: Martial Arts