East Coast Karate

Jerry Buffa

Born in Sicily Italy, I arrived in the US when I was 7. I lived in Western PA until I was 14, moving to Norristown where I graduated from High School. After graduating from DeVry with Associates Degree in Electronics, I moved to Reading in 1990. I spent most of my working life in the computer field until becoming a [...]

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Tammy Rider

Tammy Rider has been studying karate since she was 13 years old. She received her Black Belt when she was 18 years old then soon left to study at the University of Pittsburgh. While in Pittsburgh, she served as a research assistant at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and participated in various charities. After [...]

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Rich Diguardi

I started karate in 1993 at the age of six after begging my parents to take me for lessons. My interest in the martial arts came mostly from TV shows and movies. After eleven years of balancing school sports and karate, I went for my black belt. The test is something I will never forget [...]

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Randy Fromm

I began my studies in the martial arts many years ago while in high school. My first exposure was during a 10 week judo course with a friend. After that I studied for about 3 years at another school in the Reading area before wandering into one of Sensei Snyder’s beginner classes. That same night [...]

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Dale R. Trythall Jr. “Trail”

I was born in Reading, PA. I am married and I have a daughter and son. My full time career I am a police officer with The City of Reading Police Department in Berks County, Pennsylvania. I also work part time teaching a motorcycle course for The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Motorcycle Safety Program (MSP). [...]

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Heather Watts

I started taking karate when I was 14. It was something my father did in Korea during the Vietnam War and I grew up watching all the movies. That’s where my interest came from. I loved it. I set goals for myself and it boosted my self confidence. For someone who tried all kinds of sports [...]

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Chief Instructor Hanshi John Snyder Bio

Chief Instructor Hanshi John Snyder 9 th Dan Karate 9 th Dan Hanshi Kobudo Senior American Student of Grand Master Seikichi Odo Ryu Kyu Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu International Board of Directors Mr. Snyder was born on 7/7/53 in Pittsburgh , PA and began training in 1971 in karate and judo. Since 1982 most of his studies [...]

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Vickie Cahoe

Vickie Cahoe At the age of 10, I begged my mother to let me take karate, but instead she decided it was dance class for me. After a very half-hearted try at tap dance, she finally gave in. Unfortunately, the only studio in my area at the time was a judo dojo filled with very large [...]

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