Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the art of Karate and other martial arts and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students.

"Not just a Black Belt - Proud to be a Tiger's Claw Martial Arts Black Belt!"

Professor Ronald Allen Mertz  (10th Degree Black Belt/Senior Instructor)  Our head instructor, Professor Ronald Allen Mertz, has over 55 years of training in both hard and soft styles of the Martial Arts. Professor Mertz is a 10th degree Black Belt in Isshin-Ryu Karate, 10th Degree in Tiger Commando Fighting System and holds an 11th level in Shaolin, Kung Fu (which he has studied since he was 5 years old). Professor Mertz also holds additional Black Belt ranks in the following systems: Judo 5th Degree Black Belt, Ju Jitsu 2nd Degree Black Belt, Aikido Black Belt & Tae Kwon Do 3rd Degree Black Belt. Professor Mertz is a life member of the Martial Arts of China Historical Society, Lifetime Achievement Award IAMA, The World Karate Hall of Fame, The United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame & the Garden State Games Hall of Fame. He is the Director of the Tiger Karate Society's under its retired Director and Founder Grand Master Richard J. Mrofka. He has been with the organization for over 30 years. He is a coach & Instructor for the Amateur Athletic Union as well as the Northeastern Regional Representative for the American Isshin-Ryu Karate Association (AIKA). Some highlights of Professor Mertz career include the Pan Am Games (Argentina), the Empire State Games, NY, the tournament circuit 1960's-1980's and Who's Who in Karate 1982 & 1988. Additionally Professor Mertz served in Southeast Asia -Vietnam as a military advisor, he is the author of "Self Defense for Senior Citizens" which is in the Library of Congress and ran safety and awareness seminars for citizens of the Fort Apache Area, Bronx, NY in cooperation with 45 PCT during the riots of the late 1960's. He is a certified Qigong Instructor under Master Tainyou Hao. Professor Mertz is certified in Traditional Chinese Medicine under Dr. C. K. Lo, Acupuncture under Dr. Richard C. D. Cheung, and Hypnotherapy with the National Guild of Hypnosis. State side he has a Law Degree (LLB), a Degree in Child Psychology and Education, a Degree in Finance, a Degree from the American Banking Institute and holds a Diploma in Herbal Studies. With over 55 years of training and experience in the Martial Arts additional information and highlights maybe available upon request.

Maureen MacDougall Mertz  (5th Degree Black Belt)  Maureen MacDougall-Mertz 3rd Degree Black Belt opened the new headquarters for Tiger's Claw Martial Arts in August of 1999 in Hillsdale, NJ with help and direction of her husband, Professor Ronald Allen Mertz. The goal is to continue to create a classical Isshin-Ryu karate school for both children and adults, while offering a variety of other Martial Arts related classes. She was the recipient of the IAMA Children’s Instructor of the year 2005 for originating and developing The Little Tiger’s Program in 1999. Sensei Maureen Mertz continues to train with Professor Mertz specializing in the classical weapons and self defense. Sensei Maureen is currently ranked in the Tiger Commando Fighting System. She is a state ranked champion and member of the Amateur Athletic Union some of her most recently awards: 2005 IAMA Gold Medal Kata, 2002 Gold Medal Weapons, 2002 Gold Medal Kata, 2002 Gold Team Weapons (Sai), 2001 Gold Medal Kata, 2001 Gold Medal Self Defense, 2001 Gold Medal Team Weapons (Sai), 2001 Bronze Medal Sai, 2000 Gold Medal Weapons (Sword), 2000 Silver Medal Kata, 2000 Bronze Medal Self Defense. Sensei Maureen is a member of the Tiger Karate Society since 1996. She is a member of the Association of Women Martial Arts Instructors since 2000. She is trained in Qigong Level One, certified in sports massage therapy, LMT, and studied Feng Shui with Judith Ryan.

Grand Master Richard J. Mrofka  (Grand Master)  In 1961, after receiving his Black Belt in Isshin-Ryu Karate, Grandmaster Mrofka established the Tiger Karate Society. The society was named after the Grandmaster's nickname, "The Siberian Tiger". The Tiger Karate Society is a fraternal order of karatemen who have joined together for a mutual bond and benefit. The Tiger's Claw Martial Arts Association and the Tiger Karate Society have been and will continue to be a leading force in Martial Arts Training and Street Awareness.

Jay Greenspan  (Sensei Jay 6thDegree Black Belt Instructor) Sensei Jay, 5th Degree Black Belt has studied the Martial Arts for over 33 years. During his college years he ran an Isshin-Ryu Karate Club on campus. He has studied privately with Professor Mertz for over 20 years and has acquired a great respect for the art of Shaolin Black Tiger Kung Fu. Sensei Jay is ranked under Professor Mertz in the following systems: Isshin-Ryu Karate, Tiger Commando Fighting System & Shaolin Black Tiger Kung Fu. Sensei Jay is highly skilled in weapons, kata and hand to hand combat. He also holds a 2nd Degree Black Belt Goju, and 3rd Degree Black Belt in Goshin Ryu. Sensei Jay is a member in good standing with the Tiger Karate Society and AIKA. He is a licensed physical therapist.

Franco Musano  (5th degree Black Belt/Instructor)  Sensei Franco Musano, 3rd Degree Black Belt has studied Isshin-Ryu Karate and the Tiger Commando Fighting System under Professor Mertz for 26 years. He was a member of the Gold Medal winning TCMA Weapons Team at the State Games for two years and is one of our advanced trainers for our competitions. He ran the Tiger's Claw Dojo in Park Ridge from 1990-1995. He has also studied Traditional Chinese Medicine courses under Professor Mertz. He is a member of the Tiger Karate Society. Sensei Franco has also studied Tai Chi, Feng Shui and Aroma Therapy. He is also involved in area soccer his other life long passion.

Lauren Keith  (1st Degree Black Belt Instructor) Sensei Lauren has two Grand Champion titles & an outstanding kumite/kata tournament record. Sensei qualified for the World Games in Ireland 2002 for her kumite. Sensei Lauren is a Black Belt instructor in Isshin-Ryu.

Caitlin Origoni  (1st Degree Black Belt Instructor) Sensei Caitlin is trained in Isshin-Ryu & Self-Defense. Sensei Caitlin is continuing to study the Tiger Commando Fighting System in the Master's Club under Professor Mertz. Sensei Caitlin is a Black Belt instructor for Kata, Weapon, Little Tiger's, Kids & Elite Karate.

William Owen  (1st Black Belt) William Owen received his Black Belt in January 2008. He is a life time member of the Tiger's Claw Masters Club and is studying intensively under Professor Mertz to continue his training for Adult Black Belt. Sensei William is a favorite assistant instructor for the Little Tiger's Program.

Scott Williams  (Black Belt Tiger Commando) Sensei Scott received his Black Belt in Tiger Commando Fighting System on January 26, 2008. Tiger's Claw is proud to add Sensei Scott to it's Black Belt teaching staff.

Kevin Valluzzi  (Personal & Group Trainer)  Kevin Valluzzi has numerous credentials and accomplishments. We will be updating this section shortly to detail them.

John Costello John Costello has numerous credentials and accomplishments. We will be updating this section shortly to detail them.

Michael Castello Michael Castello has numerous credentials and accomplishments. We will be updating this section shortly to detail them.

For more information about the Tiger's Claw Martial Arts, Inc. staff or training programs, please contact us at 201-263-1983 or by clicking here.