Austin Hatch
Yon-Dan, shihan
Austin began training ten years ago at the storied Florence, MA dojo, Pine Forest Karate, under Sensei Dan Gobillot, Hachi-Dan. Sensei Gobillot is one of the earliest adherents of Shorin-Ryu karate in the Pioneer Valley, and began his training in the early 80’s under Sensei Jeff Brooks, founder of Northampton Karate.
Austin was promoted to Yon-Dan by Hanshi Robert Scaglione, Ju-Dan, in May of 2026 and operates the Holyoke dojo under the regional guidance of Kyoshi Sal Scaglione.
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.
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 jiu jitsu at Vaca 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 Kyokushin, 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.