Sensei DeAngelis has trained in Shotokan karate for over 30 years, including training under the American JKA (Japan Karate Association) since 1995. Training directly under Sensei Leslie Safar (9th Dan) of Hungary, Sensei DeAngelis achieved his 6th Dan ranking in 2009. He also trains under Sensei Edmond Otis (8th Dan) of New Zealand (see Shotokan Lineage below). In addition, Sensei DeAngelis holds a brown belt in judo, training with Sensei Przemyslaw Romiszewski of Poland, instructor and coach of the Poland National Judo Team.
A national and international competitor and coach for over 15 years, Sensei DeAngelis has brought up more than 50 black belts and made more than 30 national champions and world class competitors. He completed the AJKA-I Instructor Training Course in 2006, the same course that the JKA started back in 1960. He now holds a position on the AJKA-I Executive Committee and is the Director of the same IT course at the East Coast AJKA-I National Training Center. He continues to teach around the world, and has coached national and international world-class competitors specifically in sweeping and throwing techniques.
Shotokan Lineage: Sensei DeAngelis can trace his training line directly back to Sensei Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, and trains directly under Sensei Leslie Safar, who was one of the first three non-Japanese to graduate from the rigorous JKA Instructor Training Course under the direction of Masatoshi Nakayama. Sensei Safar felt that the course was such great training that he went back and completed the course three more times. Sensei Safar continues to teach this same IT course for the AJKA-I throughout Europe, and passed his knowledge along to Sensei DeAngelis, who continues to teach this same course on the East Coast of the United States.
Sensei DeAngelis also trains extensively under Sensei Edmond Otis. Sensei Otis was the senior student of Sensei Ray Dalke, who was the first non-Japanese competitor invited to be part of the Japanese National Karate Team. In addition, Sensei Otis often trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama, as he often visited their dojo. Sensei Otis has competed, trained, and coached numerous national and international champions and has served as the Unites States team coach. Sensei Otis currently resides and teaches in New Zealand, but travels the world extensively while coaching and conducting seminars.