HEAL, BENEFITS, and BUDDIES
HEAL
Martial Arts have been proven to assist in healing the physical, mental and spiritual losses caused by PTSD, traumatic brain injury, physical injury recovery and many other issues – in all walks of life.
BENEFITS
The short and long term benefits are learned through the physical practice of traditional kata (forms), upper and lower body movement, breathing, decision making, balance, distance, timing and the evaluation process of when to passively or actively defend one’s self.
BUDDIES
Non-Military “Buddies” can attend class if sponsored by a Veteran in the program. Cost is a minimum donation of $50 per month. This enables Veterans to practice outside of V-MAT with a trusted partner or friend.
Instructors
Nancy, Bill, Scott, Joe, Peter
Shihan William Miller, 7th Dan Isshinryu Karate – Instructor, Trustee/Chair
As a US Army Veteran and Instructor on the V-MAT team, Bill enjoys sharing his time and experience with all who are interested in a journey through the Art that he loves. Bill finds value in all aspects of training. Kata (Forms), as it relates to practical applications and self defense, is one of his favorite pursuits.
Bill began studying the Martial Arts in 1972 and has always enjoyed it’s way of focusing the mind, body and spirit. Over these years he has had the opportunity to study under, and with many excellent practitioners. These experiences from different Arts and organizations have helped Bill translate the commonality between them all. The considerable portion of his training has been in the Art of Isshinryu Karate, which he started in 1972 and still pursues today.
Training hard, smart and consistently is the key to growth – and the art of sweating can never be overemphasized!
Sensei Nancy Miller, 2nd Dan Isshinryu Karate – Instructor
Nancy Miller is a devoted educator and coach, with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and a graduate certificate in adaptive physical education. In 2013, she was awarded the New Hampshire Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award from NHAHPERD.
Nancy is a contributing author to many articles and a book on teaching Physical Education for Children with Moderate to Severe Disabilities. She has presented inclusive physical education teaching practices at conferences both on the State and National SHAPE (Society of Health and Physical Education) level. Nancy adapts the same teaching methods in Martial Arts to include focus on adapting techniques to each person’s abilities.
Nancy continues to enjoy her ongoing journey in the Martial Arts, which began in 1982. As a V-MAT instructor, she is rewarded by sharing her art, and seeing each student grow in their abilities and confidence.
Sensei Joseph Terry, 3rd Dan Isshinryu Karate – Instructor, Trustee
After graduating from St John’s University and attending basic training at Parris Island, S.C., Joe Terry was assigned to Marine Corps Intelligence Training Center in Little Creek, Virginia, where he was granted a “final secret” security clearance and studied land navigation, reconnaissance, research methods and briefing. He later served as a reservist with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Division.
Joe first studied martial arts 25 years ago, earning an orange belt in the Chinese art of Kung Fu, and has been studying Isshinryu Karate under Shihan Miller since 2005. He continues to serve his community of fellow Veterans as one of the V-MAT Instructors.
Joe is a devoted family man, an avid reader and a novice at cycling. He started a career in educational publishing in 1988 in New York and has held senior positions at several leading companies. In November of 2015 he was appointed Publisher at Wolters Kluwer, based in Waltham, Ma.
Sensei Peter Thornton, 3rd Dan Bushidokan Karate – 1st Dan Isshinryu Karate – Instructor
Peter is the son and brother of Army veterans and believes in giving back to those who served our country .
In 1987 Peter began studying karate and soon learned the mental, spiritual, and physical benefits of the martial arts .
In addition to earning a black belt in karate, Peter has studied other martial arts, making the full circle back to beginner .
Peter has also integrated those different arts into his training and teaching, and their combined effect on self-defense instruction .
Since connecting with V-MAT in 2017, Peter has enjoyed the camaraderie and positive environment of the dojo, as well as contributing to the health and wellness of the Veteran students .
OUR FOUNDER
V-MAT Founder & Instructor, Scott Lombardo (1966 – 2022) was a 7th degree Black Belt (Nana Dan) in Isshinryu Karate under Grand Master Ernie Temple and began his Martial Arts studies in 1990. He was well rounded in the culture, history, and philosophy of the Art, in addition to the physical aspects of forms, sparring and self-defense.
Scott spent years adapting the Isshinryu Karate system in order to offer Martial Arts instruction to amputee students, with and without prosthetics, wheelchair bound, as well as those with any traumatic injury or experience.
A cancer survivor who was given less than a 10% chance of survival as a young adult, Scott became acutely aware of the mental, spiritual, and physical benefits the Martial Arts have on the human mind, psyche, and behavior. He realized the discipline and balance required in martial arts training are the same characteristics required to handle the stresses of daily life, and it’s more challenging situations. Scott boldly faced another multi-year challenge against ALS which he succumbed to in April of 2022.
His guidance, vision and inspiration remain with us today.
As our veterans continue training, we embody Scott’s vision while continuing to build community..
Donate
What Your Donations Do
Provides a quality karate uniform for every V-MAT Veteran
Provides training materials for each V-MAT Veteran
Supports off-site training classes for Veterans
Supports external training opportunities for our instructors and Veterans
Helps provide rent for our training studio
Supports our organization’s annual insurance and administrative needs
All donations, private, corporate or recurring are tax deductible
Paypal also accepts all types of credit cards, or via check through the address below;
V-MAT Donations PO Box 344 Newfields, NH 03856
Media
Watch Changing Lives! V-MAT & Liberty Mutual
NH1 News V-MAT: Interview with Gail Huff
Whistlekick: V-MAT Interview with Jeremy Lesniak
Testimonials
The V-MAT instructors are well rounded in the history, culture and philosophy of Martial Arts, in addition to the physical aspects.
They are aware of the benefits the Martial Arts have on the mind, psyche, behavior and discipline required to handle the stresses of challenging situations.
“Family (literally and figuratively) learning with my brothers and sisters who have served brings a closeness that passes to the generations of service members; that is the foundation of who we are and what we do as both karatekas and members of the armed forces.
Plus, I get to train with my mom, who is also a veteran and student.
Bringing a new meaning of the USAF Core Values: Service before Self, Excellence in All We Do and Integrity First. As karatekas and as Airman, I/we are also called and invited to live by these Values in and out of the Dojo.”
“My wife found the V-MAT flyer several months before I started.
She knew it would be good for me. It has exceeded every expectation I had – camaraderie, physical fitness, skills training, etc.
V-MAT is all that and more. Joining V-MAT was the best decision I have made in years.”
“We are both over seventy. V-MAT is key to our physical and mental fitness.
Our great Senseis lead an outstanding curriculum.
The dojo camaraderie is awesome!”
Contact V-MAT
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V-MAT – Veterans Martial Arts Training
PO Box 344
Newfields, NH 03856