Friends of NMAA
NMAA specializes in Krav Maga and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Nantucket has skilled instructors in many martial arts and self defense systems.
louis Guarnaccia Sensei, 6th Dan
AIKIDO classes paused until Fall 2024.
ADULTS: $285 Register/3 months & receive a FREE Gi.
Or, $95/month + $60 for the Gi
CONTACT: 508.332.8281
EMAIL: louisguarnaccia@gmail.com
Martial art instructor and professional fine artist - Louis Guarnaccia was nine when his grandmother gave him his first oil paints. The gift planted a seed for an art career that led him to create in foreign lands, earning international recognition. In 1979, he added a more physical art form - Yang style Taijiquan.
Louis began studying Chinese Wushu; Yang style Taijiquan, then Yang style Tai Chi Sword, Chi Gong and Swimming Dragon under Reggie Jackson, Master Chan (instructor for 40 yrs at the Shaolin temple) and Master T. K. Shih (5th gen. Taijiquan master and Chinese Doctor).
He expanded his studies to Aikido in 1984. He is ranked as a 6th degree black belt and one of only two certified instructors trained under Sensei Robert Liedke. He has taught at the American Institute of Martial Arts in New Haven, CT as a senior instructor for many years. In 1994 he founded the Aikido Association of Nantucket, and still serves as its chief instructor. He actively trains in Chen style Taijiquan and Wudang 49 Taijijian Sword form.
Aikido is a Japanese martial art developed as a synthesis of Morihei Ueshiba's martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs. Aikido is often translated as “the Way of unifying (with) life energy” or as “the Way of harmonious spirit.” Ueshiba wanted to create an art that allowed practitioners to defend themselves while protecting their attacker from injury. Aikido blends with the attacker's motions, and redirects their force rather than opposing it head-on. This approach allows practitioners to become proficient with very little physical strength, Techniques are completed with various throws or joint locks, thus Aikido falls under the general umbrella of grappling arts. Aikido derives mainly from the martial art of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu, but began to diverge from it in the late 1920s, partly due to Ueshiba’s involvement with the Ōmoto-kyō religion. Today Aikido is found all over the world in a broad range of styles,
Gerry Holmes
At age 7 Gerry began practicing Taekwondo on Nantucket under the tutelage of Master Michael Miller, which he continued until the age of 20 and received his first dan black belt shortly before his master moved off the island. The years of Taekwondo ignited a passion for martial arts and movement which brought Gerry to China in 2010-11 where he trained at a Daoist temple and was initiated into the Chun Yang Daoist sect as a 24th generation disciple of Daoist renunciate, master Xing De.
Over the next several years, Gerry dove deep into Chinese Martial arts, Qi Gong and Chinese Medicine, attending YEHS program for Chinese Medicine and Tai Chi in Kunming, China. Later, he studied Chinese Medicine at Pacific Rim College in Victoria, B.C. where a turn in the road revealed a path that would lead him in a new direction.
He began practicing Capoeira there as a beginner and has continued to practice with several schools including Jagube Capoeira in Vermont, Abada Capoeira in Nantucket, and Sinha Capoeira, in Boston. He has traveled to Brazil to practice in Rio De Janeiro and in Bahia, one of the birthplaces of the art, and learned from notable masters such as Mestre Camisa and Mestre Cobra Mansa. In 2017, he was granted permission to teach adults and children by his previous instructor and has been holding Capoeira classes and workshops now for several years on the island.
Gerry continues to practice both Chinese Martial Arts and Capoeira here on Nantucket and practices Taichi and Baguazhang with the Northeast Jing Wu association, headed by Nantucket native, Kristopher Feeney. Gerry has a strong passion and belief in the power of movement and in the spiritual traditions of both Capoeira and Daoism and seeks to share them with others to build strong cross-cultural communities and well-being for individuals and the Nantucket community alike.
Aside from teaching movement-related subjects, Gerry also runs an outdoor-based, after-school program for children at the Nantucket New School, holds weekend workshops based on outdoor skills with his company Indigo Bushcraft, and teaches adult English classes in the evenings. He lives with his wife Laura and dog Blueberry.