At The Budo Academy, our instructors are not only passionate about what they do, they are passionate about giving back to those who want to learn, explore, and improve themselves through Budo. They reflect years of arduous training and study and bring Budo Academy students a range of teaching styles while sharing one thing – a strong commitment to student success.
Tom Duffy Chief Instructor
Tom Duffy has been a student of martial arts for over 35 years. His martial arts journey began in 1983 when he took his first Shotokan Karate lesson at the local YMCA. Over the years, his training has encompassed several disciplines, including full-contact kickboxing at New England Tae Kwon Do, Aikidō, Jujutsu, Kenpō, and eventually Iaido, Jojutsu, and Kenjutsu, which he has been practicing passionately for well over 20 years. Tom holds various dan ranks in Iaido, Iaijutsu, Kenpō/Jujutsu, and Tae Kwon Do. He maintains his association and instruction with friends in the Eikoku Roshukai, based in the UK. He resides in Massachusetts and works as an orthopedic specialist operating room nurse for Brown University Health.
Odds are, every student in a martial arts class has a different preferred learning style with different levels of experience, which can make effective instruction challenging. Tom’s background in multiple martial arts disciplines has led to a unique and adaptable teaching style. He accommodates different approaches for both beginner and advanced students with great success.
Valerie Carroll, Sandan
Sensei Valerie Carroll’s martial arts journey started over 17 years ago at the New England Martial Arts Dojo. She is a dedicated practitioner and teacher of traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate and has spent several years training in Kenpō/Jujutsu, Iaijutsu, and Kenjutsu.
Valerie’s specialty is protecting women from violence and harassment. Her highly regarded sessions provide women of all ages with increased confidence, self-worth, and the skills needed for a safer future. Valerie teaches women’s self-defense both at the dojo and on location. Her passion for promoting women’s psychological empowerment against crime is unmatched.
Valerie holds Dan rankings in both traditional Shotokan Karate and Iaijutsu along with training in Kenpo/Jujutsu and Jojutsu.
Chris Earwood, Sandan
Sensei Chris has been a valuable asset to the dojo as both an instructor and a dedicated student of the arts. Chris believes that the purpose of Budo is to prepare practitioners to be engaged, active, and able to manage conflict outside the dojo. The skills and concepts essential to this purpose include empathy, courage, and self-reflection. Chris is continually improving teaching methods and personal practice.
Chris holds dan ranks in sword arts and high ranks in Kenpō/Jujutsu.
Erik Mikklesen, Nidan
Erik has been a dedicated student of both sword arts and the traditional Japanese calligraphy known as shodō. His teaching skills in calligraphy are as refined as his sword instruction, and his commitment to these disciplines is evident in every training session. Erik periodically hosts “Shodō Night” at the dojo, sharing his passion and knowledge with fellow students.
Erik holds dan ranks in Iaijutsu and Kenjutsu, as well as rankings in Kenpō/Jujutsu and shodō.
The Budo Academy 