Print this pageScranton Martial Arts Center Legacy
The roots of the Scranton Martial Arts Center (SMAC) TM stem from one of the first Chinese martial arts schools to open in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Academy of Chinese Martial Arts or better known as the Chinese Martial Arts Academy (CMAA) TM. The CMAA first opened its doors in 1981 and remained centrally located on Adams Avenue in downtown Scranton, PA for over 23 years. The Academy was know for its top notch instruction, hard training, and for producing highly skilled martial arts practitioners in the styles of Bai Lung Chuan Fa (Pai Lum Tao) and Northern Long Fist Kung Fu. In 2004, the Academy relocated to North Main Avenue on the West Side of the city, overlooking the downtown. It was at this time that the Academy's Headmaster and owner retired passing on the traditions of the Academy to one of his disciples and Lead Instructor Sifu PJ Zippittelli. The Academy had a long standing tradition of offering quality expert martial arts training, producing exceptionally skilled students and helping better the lives of members of the community. The Academy had a very strong presence in the Scranton area for over 25 years by participating in many local, national and international Kung Fu & Karate competitions, hosting special events, participating in fundraisers and holding membership in various national & international organizations over its long history.
Training at the Academy was very hard and disciplined. Of the tens of thousands of students that held membership at the Academy, only few have achieved their 1st Level Black Sash and some have gone on beyond the levels of black to receive an Instructors Certification at that school. Though the Academy's existence has ended and some students and instructors may have moved on to other endeavors, we offer this page as a salute to the CMAA and its Black Sashes. The the Scranton Martial Arts Center would like to extend its hand to any who may have left the CMAA and still wish to train. For the first time in NEPA's martial arts history, the Scranton Martial Arts Center can offer a venue for all students to advance their skills and knowledge. Come return to your roots, and learn "true" traditional Chinese arts here at the Scranton Martial Arts Center.
This is a partial list of black sashes and Instructors Certifications that were awarded from the Chinese Martial Arts Academy in the 25 year history of that institution...
| Sifu Kenneth Brown | Sifu Phil Cummings | |
| Sifu George Trumbo | Sifu Conrad Blasko | |
| Sifu Holly Butrymouicz-Bardzel | Sifu Ronda Klosky-Ferrance | |
| Sifu David Slaughter | Sifu Pete Paone | |
| Sifu Bill McAuliffe | Sifu Bobby Earl | |
| Sifu Jack Lawrence | Sifu Scott Tomkins | |
| Sifu Martin Zelsnack | Sifu John Morrison | |
| Sifu William Bird | Sifu Arnold Chiodo | |
| Sifu Paul Conforti | Sifu Don Strasburger | |
| Sifu Dan Scholonas | Sifu Chris Woytas | |
| Sifu Bobby Herne | Sifu PJ Zippittelli | |
| SiHing Sav Amendola | SiHing Brian Gates | |
| SiHing Pat Granahan | Sifu Pete Gumbolini | |
| Sifu Kyle Hosier |