Hanshi Lee Aiello

Hanshi Aiello got started in Martial Arts in Kenosha, Wisconsin. At the time, around 1965, Hanshi Aiello was living in Kenosha and Hanshi’s neighbor, Tim Hillary, came back from service in Japan as a black belt in Shotokan. 

Tim Hillary started teaching Shotokan Karate around 1965, and Hanshi Aiello decided to become 1 of his 8 students, and stayed with Tim Hillary for about 2 1/2 years.  Then, Hanshi (Reverend) William Foster arrived in Kenosha, Wi in 1968.

Eventually, Sensei Hilary blended his class with Hanshi William Foster’s class.  Hanshi Foster had been a missionary in China for 10-12 years, and while there, he studied Kung Fu under Lo Wei Doun.  It was in China that Hanshi Foster got his passion to pass on to his students his discipline of “control of body, mind and will”.  

For over 50 years after, Hanshi Foster freely gave of his time and knowledge, not only teaching karate, but transforming so many of his students from kids into adults. Hanshi studied under Reverend Hanshi William Foster for about 5 years. 

Richard Guttormsen was with Hanshi Foster as well.  Sensei Aiello left Hanshi Foster, along with Shihan Richard Guttormsen, and Sensei Aiello then stayed with Shihan Guttormsen for 18 years, then rejoined Foster in 1990 and was with both Foster and Guttormsen for 4 more years, all the time staying in the Ying Yang Do Karate Association – they were all members.  

In 1984-90 Sensei Aiello was an assistant to Hanshi Richard Guttormsen in Kenosha, Wisconsin at a racquet and fitness center.

At that time, Hanshi Foster was Hanshi Aiello’s Sensei, Hanshi Koepple was Foster’s, and he (Hanshi Koepple) would come to their dojo in Wisconsin many times.  Hanshi Koepple got his black belt from Hanshi Trias, Hanshi Foster got his black belt from Koepple.  Hanshis Koepple and Foster would both travel many times to Arizona to train with Hanshi Trias. Although you may not remember the sequence of Hanshi Aiello’s teachers,  can you see how the teaching and teachers were all intertwined? For sure, being taught by many Masters went far in reinforcing Hanshi Aiello’s learning. Hanshi Aiello trained in the Shorei Ryu and Shotokan Styles.

Hanshi Aiello studied with the best. These names –  HanshiTim Hilary, Hanshi William Foster, Shihan Gutormsen, Hanshi Phillip Koepple, Hanshi Robert Trias, all 10th degree Black Belts – were all revered in the Martial Arts world.

From about 1991 -1994 Hanshi Aiello ran the karate program at the YMCA for kids 8-14.  From 1995-1998 he had his own dojo and gym, for all ages.  From 2001-2004 he was at a recreation complex in Kenosha, and ran all the martial arts there. 

Hanshi came to The Villages as a 7th Degree Black Belt.  He and his wife, Pat, moved to The Villages and, in 2005, he was at the Villages College. Around 2009-2010 Hanshi decided to start a Karate for Life group, outside The Villages Learning College and started with a small group of about 10 students.  Still with our group today are three of those original students, Jayne Sligar and Joe Fenster. Don Sligar was also with the original group and he now keeps our website up and running.

In 2018, Hanshi was awarded an 8th degree Black Belt by the Yin Yang Do Karate Association, in accordance with the documentation provided by The Villages Karate for Life class.  Further, Hanshi became a 10th Degree Black Belt on 10/29/18 – awarded by Hanshi Larry Pizzi, of Atlanta, Georgia.

And here we are – our club is coming on its’ tenth year in existence and going strong! – thank you, Hanshi Aiello!!