Mark Carletti, PhD – Head Instructor
Instructor Mark has been training in martial arts for over 35 years and teaching students of all ages since 1994. He has had the opportunity to learn from many generous instructors from all over the world. He values and appreciates the relationships he has built with each of them and is thankful for how much they have been willing to share with him and his students. These great teachers are not just amazing martial artists, but great human beings that set an example for all of us. We are fortunate to have teachers who care about us, our growth and development and really want to spread a deeper understanding and knowledge of the styles their teachers passed down to them.
Lineages
Praying Mantis – All of Instructor Mark’s Mantis training has been with Master Sun Deyao in the Hao Family Taiji Mehua Tanglan Chuan Style. Master Sun Deyao was born in 1953, in Qingdao, China. He began training at age 5 and studied under his uncle, Master Hao Bin and is a 4th generation descendant of the Hao family system. Master Sun has been extremely generous in sharing his infinite knowledge of Hao family Mantis with Instructor Mark and all of the Davis Square Martial Arts Instructors. He has been visiting our school twice a year for the last 8 years to work with instructors and students through seminars. We are fortunate to have such an inspirational role model to learn from. His passion, caring and intensity are unmatched. He teaches with detail and precision and demonstrates with tremendous grace and power. He teaches applications for all of his movements to foster deeper understanding. After teaching, his key to improvement is simple, “Practice.”
Northern Longfist, Tai Chi and Bagua – Instructor Mark has been learning from Sifu Rick Wong every other week for the last 25 years. Sifu Wong is a top student of Master Bo Sim Mark and is fluent in both internal and external styles. In addition, he has trained in Contemporary Wushu with Sifu Nick Gracenin, traditional Shaolin kung fu and Shuai Chiao with Sifu Peter Chema. Sifu loves to demonstrate and often serves as head judge for kung fu tournaments in the Boston area. Over 75% of our non-Mantis curriculum, both bare-hand and weapons, has been taught to us through his teaching. He is also a senior physical therapist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, giving him an amazing understanding of the human body, health and wellness. Sifu brings a great energy and approachability to all of his teaching, and often makes adjustments specific to the individual person and their body’s needs. We are lucky to have the opportunity to learn from him as well as have him teach seminars for both our tai chi and kung fu students.
Qigong, Taiji and Kung fu – Before he moved out to California, Instructor Mark had the opportunity to train with Dr. Yang, Jwing-Ming at his school in Boston. Instructor Mark credits a lot of his foundational principles of tai chi and qigong to the teachings of Dr Yang. His lectures, books, DVD’s and seminars laid the foundation for the majority of our warmup exercises and 4 seasons qigong sets, as well as yin/yang symbol and tai chi ball training. Working with Dr. Yang helped open a door to begin to understand the depth of knowledge that can be obtained if you work hard and question why things are done the way they are done with a more scientific approach.
Shotokan Karate – When we first moved to this location, we shared the space with the House of the Samurai, a Shotokan Karate school. Instructor Mark had a close relationship with Sensei James Tatosky, founder of the House of Samurai Shotokan Karate, from whom he received both mental and physical training.
Through seminars and workshops Instructor Mark has had the opportunity to learn from many prominent teachers including Grand Master Pan, Qing Fu, former Instructor of the Chinese National Team, Master Nick Gracenin, and many other great instructors.
Positions Held
- Head Instructor (2000 – Present), Davis Square Martial Arts, Somerville
- Team Leader (2000-2002), Axsun Technologies Micro-Robot Team
- Director (1997-2000), Tufts Engineering Project Development Center
Education – Tufts University
In 1997, Instructor Mark received a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University. His research focused on optimizing jet mixing by inserting vortex generators at the exit of a jet nozzle. His research was funded by McDonnell Douglas with applications on the C-17 military transport plane. Before graduating, he taught two university level engineering courses (Applied Fluid Mechanics and Introduction to Experimentation).
Educational Research – Tufts University
Instructor Mark has a strong background in curriculum development and teaching techniques in math, science, and engineering for grades K-12. He had the opportunity to work in collaboration with the Education Department at Tufts University on several research studies. While at Tufts, he also directed a curriculum enhancement initiative to implement leadership, teamwork, and communication skills into the undergraduate engineering curriculum.
Karen Gutterman
Karen started her training in Kung Fu in the year 2000. She holds the rank of 2nd degree black belt and currently develops curriculum for and teaches in both the adult and kids kung fu programs.
Current and Past Positions Held
Lemberg Center for Early Childhood Education – Explorer Head Teacher: Karen was summer program director and head teacher at the Lemberg Children’s Center at Brandeis University from September 1997 until 2011. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Connecticut, Storrs, and a Master’s degree in Early Intervention from Wheelock College.
During her time at Lemberg, Karen’s primary focus was helping children develop their social/emotional skills. Through hands-on experience and in workshops, she trained college students in Early Childhood Education. In addition, Karen consulted with families in the areas of parenting, special education, and conflict management.
ACT Parenting Program Facilitator and Special Education Consultant: Currently Karen continues to consult in the Early Childhood Program in the areas of Special Education programming and teacher development. She has given seminars at NAEYC, National Conventions, Cambridge Childcare Resource Center, as well as for the ACT Parent’s Raising Safe Kids Program. Karen also facilitates parenting programs in the Parent’s Raising Safe Kids Program.
Jason Reed
Jason began his Kung Fu training in 2007. He holds a rank of black belt. He teaches kids classes and assists with the beginning adult program.
Peter Medeiros
Peter Medeiros teaches college composition, research writing, and kung fu – though never at the same time. He’s been at Davis Square Martial Arts since 2012. His teaching in and around Boston remains a major inspiration for much of his fiction. He received his MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College, where he is currently on the faculty. He holds the rank of black belt.
Marcus Morimoto
Marcus has been studying Kung Fu at Davis Square Martial Arts since his youth. In addition to attending courses at a local University, he also teaches in the kids program. He currently holds the rank of black belt.
Jonathan L. Scott
Jonathan started his training in Kung Fu in 1998. He holds a rank of 2nd degree black belt. Currently, Jonathan co-teaches the Tai Chi program.
Current and Past Positions Held
Instructor Jonathan currently owns and operates the Jonathan L. Scott Personal Chef Service. You can learn more about his personal chef service atwww.jlspersonalchef.com
- Head Chef: Chef Louie’s Corporate Catering Staples Corporate office Framingham, MA. Responsible for managing 30 employees and feeding 2,300 people daily.
- Day Sous-Chef: #9 Park, Boston Mass.
- Head Chef: Francesci’s, Fisherman’s Warf, San Francisco CA
Education
Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
Interests
Martial Arts. Sharing good food and times with friends and family. Playing guitar and going to the beach.
Geoff Ward
Geoff started his training in Tai Chi and Kung Fu in 1993. He holds the rank of 2nd degree black belt. Currently, he co-teaches the adult beginning Tai Chi program with Instructor Mark.
Current and Past Positions Held
Geoff was a partner in a Boston-based money management firm from 1983 to 1997. Since then, he has been and continues to be partner in several entrepreneurial ventures, as well as working as an independent web designer and a financial planner/consultant.
Education
BA in Economics and Math at University of Colorado, Boulder, and graduate work in economics at MIT.
Interests
Exploring human growth and development, philosophy, religion, technology, economics, arts, socializing
