About Us
Sensei Joe Mingolelli became interested in martial arts at the age of six, in a YMCA after-school program in Reading, Massachusetts. He continued studying karate throughout high school and college. After graduating Tufts with a BS in Chemical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, he moved to Shrewsbury, MA upon accepting a position as a Quality Assurance Engineer. He began training at Villari’s Self-Defense Center in Marlborough in 1998, studying under Chief Instructor Ken Canestraro. In 2002, he received his black belt and continued studying with Master Canestraro.
In 2004, Sensei Joe struck out on his own and founded Villari’s Center of Self-Defense of Mashpee, MA. He continues studying under Masters Dave Leggeri and Mark Grupposo. He has started after-school programs at several local schools and organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club and Bournedale Elementary School. Sensei Joe encourages his students to participate in local charity events, including the Relay for Life, the Pan-Mass Challenge, and a studio Kickathon that raises money for local charities.
Sensei Joe believes that martial arts instills a sense of self-discipline and personal responsibility in the student: for their martial arts material, their behavior in and out of the studio, and their interactions with their family, their friends and the community at large.
