Professor Keith R. Santagata

10th Dan  

         Professor Keith Santagata's relationship in Martial Arts began in 1966. He started by studying Tae Kwon Do-Chung Do Kwon, under the direction of Master Louis Chiodo, 4th Dan, and Master Stuart Allen, 5th Dan, Tae Kwon Do-Chung Do Kwan. After four and a half years of training under these instructors, he obtained the rank of 1st Degree Black Belt. In 1968, Master Hee Iell Cho arrived in Providence, Rhode Island, and took charge of all the Tae Kwon Do schools in Rhode Island, as Master Instructor.  Professor Santagata studied with Master Cho for approximately three years.

         To further his knowledge, Professor Santagata began studying Chinese-American Kenpo Karate' under Grand Master Nickolas Cerio. Grand Master Cerio held a 10th Degree Black Belt in Chinese-American Kenpo Karate', as well as many Black Belt ranks in other systems. Grand Master Cerio awarded him a 1st Degree Black Belt in September of 1972.   Professor Santagata entered the U.S. Army in October of 1972, and was sent to Germany in 1973.  While there, he studied under various instructors, and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1976.

         Professor Santagata then returned to Providence, R.I. and continued training with Grand Master Cerio.  In November 1976, Grand Master Cerio awarded him with his 2nd Degree Black Belt in Cerio’s Kenpo Karate’.  In 1977, he moved to Hilo, Hawaii and studied under Master Sejong Lee and obtained his 2nd and 3rd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do.  While in Hilo, he studied with various instructors including; Grand Master Adriano Emperado, who is one of the founders of the Kajukenbo System of Karate'.  Professor Santagata has worked out with many different martial artists from various systems, and has had training in such systems as: Ju Jitsu, Aikido, Shotokan, Go Ju, and Kukido.  This was all done by cross training with other Martial Artist from these different styles. 

        Professor Santagata reenlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1978, and was assigned to the U.S. Army Chemical School located at the Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland.  After completion of the chemical school, he was assigned to the U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit also located at Edgewood Arsenal.  He taught Tae Kwon Do-Chung Do Kwan and Kenpo on Edgewood until 1980.  Professor Santagata then again sought out Grand Master Cerio, and continued to train with him on a limited basis because of his military assignments.  In October of 1978, he received his 3rd Degree Black Belt from Grand Master Cerio.  In 1980, Professor Santagata began studying with Grand Master Hans Kliemisch, and in 1982 was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt.  Also in 1980, he became a member of the Pennsylvania Society of Black Belts.  In 1982, he was promoted to 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, and in 1983, was promoted to 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do by the Pennsylvania Society of Black Belts.  He was again honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on April 2nd, 1982.  

      In 1986, Professor Santagata was promoted by Grand Master Kliemisch to 5th Degree Black Belt, and in 1994 he was promoted to 6th Degree Black Belt, again by Grand Master Kliemisch. He continued to train with Grand Master Kliemisch until 2003, when he moved to West Virginia.  Grand Master Hans Kliemisch, is a 9th Degree Black Belt in the art of Chinese-American Kenpo Karate & Chin-Na.  This was the Ed Parker system of Kenpo.  Professor Santagata also received a 1st Degree Black Belt in Chin-Na from Grand Master Kliemisch in 1995.  In 1997, he was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt by Dr. E.A. Moore of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.  Also 1997, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and became an Executive Vice President.  In July of 1998, Professor Santagata was awarded a PhD in Martial Arts by the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and was promoted to 8th Dan in Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo Karate’.  He then remained on the executive board of the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame until March of 2002. 

         Professor Santagata has known Grand Master Manual Agrella for approximately 39 years and has trained on and off with him over the past 36 years. Grand Master Agrella holds  the rank of 10th Degree in Tong Leong (Praying Mantis style of Karate’), as well as several Black Belts in different systems, and was very close friends with Grand Master Cerio, (Grandmaster Cerio passed away in October 1998).  Before Grand Master Cerio passed away, he told Professor Santagata that if anything happened to him that he should seek out and remain with Grand Master Manuel Agrella.  So he did exactly what his Grand Master instructed him to do, and started training and supporting Grand Master Agrella. That was in November of 1998, and he continues to train with him to this very day. 

        On September 20th, 2000, Grand Master Agrella promoted Professor Santagata to 9th Degree Black Belt.   

        In July 2002, Professor Santagata was promoted to 10th Degree Black Belt in the art of Chinese-American Kenpo, by the Board of Directors of the Kokusai Senshu Tokukai Association, of which he is a lifetime member.  He also serves on the Board of Directors as the Director of the Scholarship Awards Committee.   

        Professor Santagata opened his first school in 1974, in Bamberg, Germany.  He was transferred to Karlsruhe, Germany and opened a school on the military post.  When he came to Maryland, he opened the Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo Academy in 1980, in Bel Air.  In 1982, he was forced to close the school because the U.S. Army sent him on temporary duty for six months.  He was again honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in April of 1982. 

         Professor Santagata taught Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo from his home until 1989.  In 1989, time he began teaching Tae Kwon Do and Kenpo Karate’ with Celie Hanouer, at the Bel Air Teen Center located in Bel Air, Md.  He left in October of 1993, because of personal and Martial Arts issues that he had with Celie Hanouer.  He then opened the American School of Self Defense, Inc. in March of 1994. 

        Professor Santagata had the great pleasure of being a Police Officer for the town of Bel Air from 1984 to August 1st, 1999.  During his tenure at the Bel Air Police Department, he became the Defensive Tactics Instructor and taught the Police Baton, Expandable Baton, and the Side Handle Baton (PR-24), along with Tactical Handcuffing and Empty Hand Defense.  He worked as an undercover narcotics officer from 1991 to 1995.  He made several arrests of violent offenders and often proved that the Martial Arts work in street situations.

         Professor Santagata retired from the Bel Air Police Department on August 1st, 1999.  In August of 2000, he started a career in Controlled Sensitive Department of Defense Operation, and now travels all over the world.  Regrettably, due to his new career, he had to close the American School of Self Defense, Inc. in May of 2000.  Professor Santagata still keeps up with his training in the Martial Arts, and teaches a seminar in Dundee, Scotland every year for the Scottish Ju Jitsu Association.