How Did Danielson Martial arts get started

THE HISTORY OF OUR SCHOOL begins in 1974 in Canterbury under the direction of Master Steven Bardsley, student of Master Cheezic. The Danielson Karate Club, as it was known then, moved to Maple Street in Danielson and shortly afterwards to the American Legion Hall.
In 1982, the school moved once again to the Elks club in Danielson under the guidance of Master Joseph Johnson, the former student of Master Bardsley. The school stayed at that location for years until Master Gary Guay, former student of Master Johnson, became Chief Instructor in 1987.
Under Master Guay's instruction we became the Danielson Martial Arts Academy and in 1990, moved to Maple Street once again. During that time our Academy sent a group of Black Belts, including 1st Dan Black Belt Daryl Laperle to compete with the United States Karate Team in Eastern Europe.
In 1993, the academy was moved to Central Village. In May 1994, Master Daryl Laperle, former student of Master Guay, took over leadership of the Academy. In 1999, Master Laperle expanded the Academy to a second school in Dayville to re-establish our presence in the Danielson area. In 2000, the two schools were combined into one location in Danielson, with over 5000 square feet of floor space, making it one of the largest Martial Arts facilities in New England. Under Master Laperle's leadership, the Academy has become a cornerstone in Northeast Connecticut, and has even hosted two Cheezic Tang Soo Do Federation Black Belt Gradings, considered a high honor within the Federation. Members of our academy have since traveled to Australia, China, and Bermuda for international competition and training, as well as Ireland, Italy and Poland on martial arts related trips. In February 2007, the Danielson Martial Arts Academy was awarded Cheezic Tang Soo Do Federations' School of the Year, the highest award that can be given to a federation school. With over 20 active black belts, D. M. A. A. boasts the largest instructional staff in any martial arts school in Connecticut.
The leadership of our federation is an unbroken line of student becoming teacher and furthering our goal of being the most disciplined and well trained Martial Artists in our Federation.