Weissmuller Academy Westerly

We offer new students an introductory class. When they sign up, we provide them with the uniform and begin to guide them in etiquete, conditioning, striking, evading, ground positioning, and safety measures for athletes.  As our student athletes begin to understand the process, we invite them to participate in both classical and sport training and they may view competition between other club members. We guide them to appropriate safety gear and introduce them to posoition wrestling as we carefully insruct them in the ways of submission wrestling and ju-jutsu.

Our senior instructors hold, at a minimum, undergraduate degrees and master level instructor certifications in various martial arts.

Thomas Weissmuller

9th Degree Black Belt in Pangamot (classical, sport, and weapon) Ju-jutus, 9th Degree Kali-Silat (Filipino knife and empty-hand), 9th Degree Eskrima and Eskrido (stick fighting / submission fighting). Thomas oversees national curriculum development and is the senior licensed instructor for the Eastern United States and Canada.

Thomas also holds instructor or black belt certification in various methodologies of martial arts and yoga, Sho ka ryu karate (1st Degree), Seizan Ryu Kempo-Jujutsu (3rd Degree), Okinawa Kempo Kabudo (8th Degree).

Thomas runs the sport martial arts program at the academy and instructs yoga.  He coaches Kickboxing, Submission Wrestling, International Sport Jiu-jiutsu, Mixed Martial Arts, and Pankration. He regularly teaches the youth, teen and adult classes in these programs.

Erik Johnstone

7th Degree, Kaiden Shihan - Dentokan Aiki Jujutsu; 4th Degree, Doshi - Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu; 4th Degree, Shihan - Goju-ryu Karate-do; 4th Degree - Dai Nihon Batto Ho Iaido / Nippon Butoku Kai; 1st Degree - Wado-ryu Karate-do 

Erik runs the Youth and Adult Classical Jujutsu and Adult Japanese Sword programs at the academy. He also instructs youth sport jujutsu and mixed martial arts.

Amy Koeniger

Amy is a 6th Degree Master level Eskrima Instructor and holds 4th Degree Pangamot (clasical, weapon and sport) jujutsu; 4th Drgree Kali-Silat, and 4th Degree Eskrido licenses.  Amy is also a yoga teacher.

Amy leads the Filipino weapon study at the Academy and instructs Eskrima, Eskrido, Yoga and YOLO Fitness. She assists in instructing all other programs.

Paul Algier

Paul holds a 5th Degree in Shorynryu Karate and a 6th Degree in Shito Ryu Karate.

Paul instructs the Youth Karate program for ages 5-10, and Adult Karate by appointment.

Anthony Cibarach 3rd Degree Brown Belt in Pangamot (classical, weapon and sport) jujutsu, assists all classes as necessary.

Club Membership is $125 per month.

All of our teachers began teaching as assistant instructors.  Ultimately, I (Tom Weissmuller) obtained United States Coaching Certification and began to expand a methodology for instilling leadership qualities in students. This leadership methodology has allowed all of our students to excel in every aspect of their lives.

I work with active duty and retired military, health care companies, families, teens, youths, adults, and groups of all sorts. I instruct approximately 150 people each week in various groups from sports teams to clients at dual diagnosis facilities.

In our field, you cannot "hire a teacher". You may be invited to participate in the club, provided you adhere to our code of conduct.  We are not "for hire". Rather we offer opportunities for you to acquire certain skills.  You cannot find more qualified individuals to instruct the programs at Weissmuller Academy.

Consider whether you would prefer to study sport or classical martial arts. Both follow the same moral path but the avenues for physical expression differ significantly. Fortunately, you need not make an immediate choice. We will help you understand each path.