Bill Craig

Bill Craig founded North Shore Kenpo Karate in November, 1997. By August of 2008, the school had evolved to a level at which it was offering much more than just the Kenpo style of Martial Arts.  Therefore, Bill decided to change the name of the school to North Shore Martial Arts Center.

Bill began his training at South Shore Kenpo Karate in Stoughton, MA in 1988, under the instruction of 3rd degree Black Belt, Scott Vetstein. He began teaching classes at South Shore Kenpo Karate when he reached the rank of Green Belt. Bill earned his Black Belt in Kenpo in July, 1997. He continued to train in Kenpo to his second degree of Black Belt, when he decided that it would be beneficial to venture into different styles of the martial arts. He has since become proficient in Kickboxing and earned a Black Belt in Small Circle Jiu Jitsu in July of 2010, which he feels makes him a more complete and well-rounded fighter. With over twenty years of experience teaching adults and children, Bill is the head Kenpo and Kickboxing instructor and an instructor in the children's Jiu Jitsu program. He continues to train in Kenpo, Kickboxing, Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts.

Bill understood early on that there is more to self-defense training than just becoming efficient in fighting techniques. He believes that one can spend a lifetime working techniques in a controlled environment, but put that individual in a real world self-defense situation and all that training will likely be rendered useless due to the uncontrollable rush of adrenaline that is not present in the controlled training environment. Bill teamed up with REACT Self-Defense (Raw Energy Adrenaline Control Training) in September, 2002, and is a trained "bullet man" on the REACT team. With REACT Self-Defense, Bill is able to offer adrenaline control training courses at North Shore Martial Arts Center.

In addition to being a martial artist, Bill is also an avid weightlifter and a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer. He believes that martial artists can greatly improve their skills through resistance and endurance training outside the dojo.

Tom Curcio

Tom Began his training in Shaolin Kempo Karate in the late spring of 1984 at Fred Villari’s Studio in Burlington MA. He received his Purple belt by November of 1984. Tom was forced to take some time off from training when his family moved out of town.  He resumed his training in 1994 at Fred Villari’s studio in Beverly MA.

By the summer of 1995 Tom had caught up where he left off he was able to train to the level of Green Belt at Fred Villari’s Studio in Beverly, MA.  Tom was also awarded an “under black belt training certification”. Shortly thereafter Tom left the Fred Villari’s organization in search of a different school after being placed in a situation that involved an arrangement at the school and its business practices, which he was uncomfortable with.

In the winter of 1995 Tom started training at Saugus Karate Kung Fu in Saugus, MA.  He stopped training there in 1996, never advancing in rank at Saugus Karate Kung Fu and took another ten years off to find the right school in which to train.  Tom did not feel that Saugus was a good fit for him with regard to what he was trying to accomplish as a student.

In September of 2004 Tom arrived at North Shore Kenpo Karate, now North Shore Martial Arts Center, where he resumed his training in Kenpo and took up Small Circle Jiu-Jitsu. In the past 5 years Tom has refined his skills, and started the learning process from the ground up in both Kenpo and Small Circle Jiu-Jitsu.  Tom also began training in Kickboxing at North Shore Martial Arts Center, which he feels rounds out his skills.  At North Shore Martial Arts Center, Tom feels that he has found a perfect fit for his level and ability.

Tom earned his Black Belt in Small Circle Jiu Jitsu in July of 2010, and he presently holds a Green Belt in Kenpo and continues to train for rank advancement.

Tom is the head instructor for the children’s Small Circle Jiu Jitsu class and is under the close supervision of Jaime DoVale.  Tom is also an assistant instructor in the children’s Kenpo classes.

Matt Zunitch

Matt was North Shore Kenpo Karate’s first registered student upon its opening.  Matt started his martial arts training under Bill Craig at the age of 6 in November of 1997 and has attended classes uninterrupted since then.  Matt earned his Black Belt in Kenpo in October, 2006 and currently holds a rank of Black Belt first degree.  In addition to his Kenpo training, Matt has become very proficient in Jiu Jitsu and is presently working towards achieving his Black Belt in this art as well.  Matt presently holds a Green Belt in Jiu Jitsu.  Matt also possesses highly advanced kickboxing skills.  Matt’s cross training has made him a very well-rounded martial artist.

Matt has been teaching martial arts to children at North Shore Martial Arts Center since autumn of 2004.  Since then, he has gained a wealth of knowledge in teaching the martial arts and he continues to grow as an instructor.  Matt is Bill’s top ranking instructor at North Shore Martial Arts Center.

Geri Wensing

Geri began her martial arts training in Shaolin Kempo in January of 1987.  She studied this art until January of 1991 and attained the level of Green Belt.  After nine plus years being out of the martial arts, Geri knew that she wanted to return to her training.  In October of 2000, Geri joined an Oki Ryu Kenpo school where she trained and reached the level of Purple Belt.  Unfortunately, the school where she was training in Oki Ryu Kenpo closed in April of 2001 and Geri was forced to look elsewhere for her training.  In May of 2001, Geri started her Kenpo training under Bill Craig at North Shore Kenpo Karate.  She has trained uninterrupted since then and received her Black Belt in December 2007.

Geri has been teaching martial arts at North Shore Martial Arts Center since autumn of 2005.  Since then, she has gained a wealth of knowledge in teaching the martial arts and she continues to grow as an instructor.

Tawfiq Tuffaha

Tawfiq began his martial arts career in November of 1999 at the age of seven at North Shore Kenpo Karate.  He has trained uninterrupted under Bill Craig since then and received his Black Belt in December 2007.

Tawfiq has been teaching martial arts to children at North Shore Martial Arts Center since autumn of 2005.  Since then, he has gained a wealth of knowledge in teaching the martial arts and he continues to grow as an instructor at North Shore Martial Arts Center.