Master/Sensai Dan McConnell
Dan McConnell began his martial arts training in 1974 at a branch of the Ohio Black Belt Academy in Cleveland, Ohio where he earned the rank of brown belt in Tae Kwan Do.
In 1980, Mr. McConnell moved to Columbus, Ohio and began training in Burmese Bando and Jeet Kune Do. Mr. McConnell received his black belt in 1984. He introduced a very successful childrens martial arts program at the Sawmill Athletic Club. He taught there for 10 years before opening his own school. In 1990, Mr. McConnell began training in Aikido with a USAF school. In 1991, Mr. McConnell joined the Columbus Aikikai and became a student of Shihan Frank Hreha and the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) where he has earned the rank of Yondan, or fourth degree black belt. In 1991, Mr. McConnell also became interested in Filipino martial arts and began training in Modern Arnis under Ken Noland. In 1994, Mr. McConnell was introduced to Professor Remy A. Presas, the Founder of Modern Arnis, and was fortunate enough to become a direct student of the Professor. It was under Professor Remy that Mr. McConnell achieved the rank of Lakan Tatlo, or third degree black belt, in Modern Arnis. Since then, Master McConnell has achieved the rank of Lakan Anim (sixth degree black belt) as awarded by Datu Kelly S. Worden’s NSI Modern Arnis, as well as Lakan Lima as awarded by Modern Arnis Remy P. Presas International Organization (MARPPIO). Since then, Master McConnell had also studied Pencak Silat Mande Muda under the late Pendekar Herman Suwanda until his untimely passing in March of 2000. In December of 2013 Master McConnell was inducted into the Remy A. Presas Modern Arnis Black Belt Hall of Fame. Master McConnell is also a Full Instructor Level 2 in Renegade JKD by Kelly Worden. Master McConnell has learned to appreciate the beauty and effectiveness of all martial arts. He strongly believes in cross training so that a student can become familiar with more than one way of moving and more than one approach, to enable the student to see the connection between different styles and systems. Master McConnell operates the Hilliard Martial Arts Center, where he continues to teach Modern Arnis and Aikido. He is also a full-time Lieutenant firefighter and paramedic with the Columbus Fire Department. His more than 40 years of training and experience (and his humor) make for fun and interesting classes. Martial Arts teachers who have influenced Master McConnell:
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