Meet The Team
At Passaic Valley Martial Arts, we pride ourselves on a team of dedicated, highly skilled, and passionate instructors who bring their experience and love for martial arts to every class. Our staff is committed to helping students grow both in skill and character through the art of Taekwondo.
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​Our team works together to create a supportive and empowering environment for students of all ages and skill levels. Whether you're new to martial arts or advancing your skills, our instructors are here to guide you every step of the way.
Charlie DiGirolamo
Grand Master 8th Dan Black Belt
Master Instructor & Owner
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Grand Master Charlie DiGirolamo, the proud owner and head instructor of Passaic Valley Martial Arts, has dedicated his life to the art of Taekwondo. Achieving the prestigious rank of 8th-degree black belt, Grand Master DiGirolamo brings over 35 years of expertise, discipline, and passion to every class he teaches.
Renowned for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to his students, Grand Master DiGirolamo leads by example, instilling confidence, respect, and perseverance in martial artists of all ages. His extensive experience and dedication make PVMA a cornerstone of the community, inspiring countless individuals to achieve their personal best, both on and off the mat.
Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, training under Grand Master DiGirolamo ensures you're learning from one of the most accomplished and respected figures in Taekwondo.
Rich Brand
3rd Dan Black Belt
Senior Instructor & Owner
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Richard Brand, the owner and Senior Instructor of Passaic Valley Martial Arts (PVMA), has had a lifelong passion for martial arts. Starting his journey as a young child, Richard rekindled his dedication and began training again in late 2015.
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Richard holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt and is also a Certified 2nd Degree Krav Maga Instructor. His commitment to martial arts goes beyond personal growth; he is deeply passionate about coaching and empowering others to work hard, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals.
At PVMA, Richard combines his expertise and enthusiasm to create an encouraging environment for students of all ages to thrive in martial arts and in life.
Gary Castelle
2nd Dan Black Belt
Head Instructor
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Gary Castelle is the president of Magnum Plastics Inc., located in Greenwood Lake, NY, and the Head Instructor at Passaic Valley Martial Arts (PVMA). With a passion for martial arts that began in 1989, Gary has been a dedicated member of PVMA since 2017 and began teaching in 2019.
Gary holds black belts in both TaeKwondo and Krav Maga and is a certified Krav Maga instructor. As Head Instructor, he is committed to creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for all students, fostering growth, discipline, and confidence. While he enjoys working with beginners of all ages, Gary specializes in teaching the 6-8 year-old class, helping young martial artists develop foundational skills and a love for martial arts.
Lena Pugliese
2nd Dan Black Belt
Student Instructor
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Lena Pugliese began her Taekwondo journey at Passaic Valley Martial Arts at just 4 years old, starting in the Little Ninjas class and working her way up to achieve her 2nd Dan Black Belt at 13 years old. She has competed in tournaments with PVMA, showcasing her skill and determination. Lena also pursued dance from the age of 3, further reflecting her passion for movement and discipline. She trains alongside her brother Rocco, who is also a 2nd Dan Black Belt, making their journey a family affair. Now, Lena gives back to the PVMA community as a student teacher for the Little Ninjas and Kids classes, inspiring younger students with her leadership and dedication.
Lucas McCrum
1st Dan Black Belt
Student Instructor
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Lucas McCrum began his martial arts journey as a white belt in 1st grade after being inspired by a classmate. He started in the kids' class and quickly progressed to the advanced kids' class in 2018. Now, he is a proud 1st Degree Black Belt and has been sharing his passion for martial arts by teaching for the past year and a half.
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Lucas loves the excitement of tournaments and finds great joy in teaching and mentoring others.
In addition to his martial arts achievements, Lucas is an 8th-grade high honor roll student and a talented musician who plays the piano, saxophone, and guitar. When he’s not training, Lucas enjoys spending his free time hunting, fishing, biking, hanging out with friends, and vacationing upstate with his family.
Anna Youngren
Recommended Black Belt (4th Stripe)
Student Instructor
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Anna Youngren began her taekwondo journey at Passaic Valley Martial Arts in 2019 after being inspired by her brother Jeffrey’s classes. Now a proud Recommended Black Belt, Anna has been training for about six years alongside her brother and her mom.
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Since 2022, Anna has been sharing her passion for martial arts by teaching Little Ninja and Kids classes. She finds great joy in helping young students grow and develop their skills.
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Anna was also a member of the Tournament Team, where she proudly represented PVMA in Sparring and Forms.
Outside of martial arts, Anna enjoys singing, dancing, reading, and participating in musical theatre at West Milford High School.