Shihan Jerry Thomson, shown at the right, founded ASD in 1964.  In 1987 Sensei Puleo assumed management of ASD, and from 1989  to early 2007 Sensei Di Nardo operated the dojo.  Sensei Puleo & Di Nardo earned the highest praise by maintaining the techniques and principles of Goshin Kagen Goju Karate Do.

Arts of Self Defense in Hawthorne, NJ is headed by Sensei Cliff Downey is the Chief Instructor.  He is a retired Fair Lawn, NJ, police officer.  He has been a self-defense instructor at the Bergen County, NJ, Police Academy.  Prior to that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is assisted by Sempai Tom Puleo who earned his Shodan from Shihan Thomson.  Shodan Al Connelly is the Business Director. Sensei Ed Di Nardo, though in Arizona, remains the technical leader of the system.

Goju Ryu karate is descended from White Crane, Tiger, and Dragon boxing of Shaolin Kung Fu.  Higaonna Kanryo Sensei studied this Kung Fu while he was in China. After he returned to Okinawa Miyagi Chojun Sensei became his student. Miyagi Sensei later founded Goju Ryu. Goju means hard/soft. It combines powerful striking with evasion, redirection, and body shifting.

Sensei Di Nardo and Al Connelly travel to Okinawa to study at the Jundokan, the Goju Ryu school that is the direct descended from Miyagi Sensei. There they refresh and deepen their understanding of Goju Ryu.