Austin Hatch
San-dan
Austin began training ten years ago at the storied Florence, MA dojo, Pine Forest Karate, under Sensei Dan Gobillot Shichi-Dan, one of the earliest students of Shorin Ryu karate in the Pioneer Valley decades ago. Austin’s time there was formative in many ways, and he owes a vast debt to Sensei Nancy Owen, Go-Dan for her limitless patience and detailed instruction, from his first week til the day he ventured out to open a dojo in Holyoke.
He was promoted to San-Dan by Hanshi Robert Scaglione, Ju-Dan, in June of 2024 and operates under the regional guidance of Kyoshi David Seeger, Ku-Dan, of Palisades, New York.
A penchant for reading and research has led Austin to an understanding of the art that is many faceted, placing equal importance on the physical, intellectual, practical, and spiritual elements of the practice. These components allow for many doors into the art and avenues of enthusiasm at various stages of life. There is a version of karate for anyone who is eager to learn. Whether someone wants a good workout, a puzzle to solve, or a good sparring session with a trusted partner, Austin believes karate can deliver in spades.
A firm believer in the vital importance of cross-training, Austin also enjoys training in Aikido with his friends at Aikido of Amherst and in BJJ when he’s not at the karate dojo. A daily zazen sitter and member of a local sangha, Austin facilitates weekly meditation at the dojo, along with a light introduction to seated meditation for the new or the curious.
Thomas dejesus
Sho-dan
Thomas’s training began at Florence’s Pine Forest Karate under Sensei Dan Gobillot, first in iaido, and later in karate. Promoted to sho-dan in December of 2024, Thomas transitioned to the Holyoke dojo in 2025.
His approach to instruction is detailed and clear, with a knack for making the complicated simple. An enthusiast for all kinds of karate, Thomas finds inspiration and insight in the applications of Goju-Ryu and Shotokan taught by instructors around the world. He is a voracious learner, and by extension a generous instructor.
Classes with Thomas include a unique balance of conditioning and fine-tuning and 1:1 instruction. His focus on core principles of particular movements or exercises fosters a rapid development of understanding in embodied ways.
Thomas is a proponent of the heavy bag and sparring, offering a safe and intentional, but beneficially challenging partnership in which to explore the application of technique outside of the confines of visualization or imagination.
He also has an incredibly rad collection of karate-related embroidered patches.