Coaches Corner – Legends Dutch Kickboxing – Grappling

Pasquale Piscitelli

Sensei Pasquale Piscitelli’s passion for teaching led him to establish MMA Fitness which eventually became Legends Dutch Kickboxing and 24hr Fitness. He has coached and mentored students of all fitness and skill levels to achieve their personal goals, whether to improve their fitness or compete in ametuer kickboxing events. His students are his highest priority!

He started in combat sports as a wrestler and health and fitness enthusiast. Pasquale eventually became a Certified Personal Trainer at Bally Total Fitness in New York. He then later focused his studies on nutrition and trained alongside amateur bodybuilders in gyms throughout New York. Soon after he transitioned into training boxing and self defense and participated in local events.

While continuing training athletics and boxing he studied Ed Parker’s American Kenpo under Sifu Greg Medford at American Karate in Phoenix Arizona. He then moved and trained for several years in Muay Thai in Elmsford New York.

Throughout the years Pasquale has also earned his Black Belt under Sensei John Mayer of Champion American Karate and Kickboxing, 2nd degree in Dutch Kickboxing and American Karate, and became a Certified ISSA Kickboxing Instructor.

Derek Keane

Sensei Derek Keane was born and raised in Queens, NY. He currently retains a black belt in Shotokan Karate and a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He brings a whole lot of grappling experience to Legends Kickboxing. He began martial arts in the 1980’s at the age of 9 and remained dedicated throughout high school and college. He began martial arts studying Tae Kwon Do and later transitioned to Shotokan Karate. In 1992, he earned his black belt under Sensei Toyotaro Miyazaki and continued his martial arts training throughout his career as a police officer for the City of New York. He started his formal training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in 2007 under Professor Joe Scarola of Gracie Barra Long Island New York. In the following 8 years, Derek perfected his skills by mixing in the teachings of Muay Thai under then affiliated Professor with Garcie Barra, Kru Ben Corpuz. In addition to his training at Gracie Barra, Derek cross-grained at the renowned Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City and with the New York Police Department’s boxing team. He received his purple belt under Professor Norbert Barreto, who is a black belt at the Renzo Gracie Academy, in 2016.

Derek used his skills in the mat and in the ring to excel in the undercover Anti-Crime Unit with the NYPD earning numerous awards for excellence. He was hand chosen to teach the self-defense/tactics class to police officers. He has completed in multiple full contact kumite tournaments, NAGA tournaments and has stepped into the ring for exhibition boxing matches as a coach and personal mentor in numerous NYpD boxing events.

Derek’s teaching style is very detailed oriented, and he makes sure that each and every student training with him not only understands the techniques and concepts, but they the knowledge and respect for the sport and it’s origins.