Female Competitor Of The Year

Quote:  “Change happens when the pain of staying the same is worse than the pain of change.”

Bio: Lisa Mingione began practicing martial arts in 2014. She holds a 2^nd Degree Brown Belt in American Filipino Kun Tao under Grand Master Drew Serrano and trains at East Coast Training Systems in Middlebury, CT.

In 2016 Lisa became a member of the USBA/WBA, but her first competition was the USBA/WBA Hall of Fame Tournament in November 2014, her favorite competition to date. Lisa has earned multiple first-place and second-place finishes, some competition records and a female Grand Champion award at the Massachusetts Breaking Competition, all of which she treasures. But most treasured is the reward she experiences in emotional and physical strength and mindset. Lisa’s goal at every competition is to meet or beat her best, and never views it as competing against another, but rather it is her against herself. It is this mindset that has kept her motivated and determined. She is grateful for every opportunity to compete, even more so to be in the presence of such amazing supportive people that are not only the best breakers in the world, but also great friends.

Lisa’s path to martial arts started at age 39 after attending a Jane Doe No More, Escape Alive self-defense class in January 2014.  It was at this class she met Grand Master Serrano, Daniele Serrano, Tracy Digiovancarlo who taught her to strike, kick and fight in a self-defense scenario. At the end, she felt empowered, even more importantly, she felt pride. Before leaving the class she asked Mrs. Digiovancarlo “where can I do more of this? I really liked hitting that guy!” That moment changed the trajectory of her life and in April that year, she earned her first-ever martial arts belt. In 2016 Lisa became a helper in the very class that began her journey and now is an instructor for both the Escape Alive I and Escape Alive II classes. She feels a great sense of pride not only to give back what gave her so much, but to teach women and girls such valuable and needed skills. Her favorite thing about instructing is witnessing the transformation by the attendees; from apprehensive and quiet to smiling and empowered.

Starting martial arts and breaking at age 39 and never having been involved in sports brought its own set of challenges on top of the challenge in itself. The impact Grand Master Serrano and the ECTS instructors have had on Lisa is endless and indescribable.  She experienced struggles, injuries, and lots of self-doubt, but not once did Grand Master Serrano stop believing in her, even when she stopped believing in herself and Lisa will always give her all because of that.

Lisa resides in Bristol, CT. She has been involved with animal rescue and animal welfare for over 14 years and has been a proud volunteer with Bikers Against Animal Cruelty, Inc. for over 12 years.

Barbara LeBlanc is a second-degree Black Belt who began training in American Filipino Kun Tao under Grand Master Ralph Bergamo in 2005, after several years of supporting her two sons in their martial arts training.  AFKT is a highly realistic style of self defense that emphasizes striking to defend and destroy.  Barbara earned her Black Belt in this demanding style in 2016.  She has been competing in USBA/WBA and ISKA tournaments in breaking, self-defense, and demo team events since 2010.  In November 2017, Barbara won the ISKA North American Creative Breaking Championship against an all-male field.  The following July she became the ISKA Female Creative Breaking World Champion at the U.S. Open in Orlando, Florida.  In 2019, along with Mary Kennedy, she set a USBA/WBA World Record for most concrete patio blocks broken by a female team in 15 seconds.  In 2020, she won the USBA/WBA Female Black Belt Challenge held at the Massachusetts State Breaking Championships.

Barbara is the Head Youth Instructor and director of children’s programs at Bergamo’s Martial Arts in Cheshire, CT, under Grand Master Ralph Bergamo.  Along with her son and fellow instructor Nathan LeBlanc, she leads the Team Bergamo Demo Team, which has placed first at the Northeast Open Championships for 3 of the last 5 years.  She is an official for the USBA/WBA.  She loves working with very young martial artists, particularly with neurodivergent students, and she teaches 8 classes per week, including self-defense classes for women and girls.  Becoming a martial artist changed her life through personal empowerment, and she wants to bring that same feeling to as many others as possible.

Barb has been married to Michael LeBlanc for 31 years.  Their two sons Joshua and Nathan also earned Black Belts under GM Bergamo.  Barb has been a public school teacher in New Haven, CT for over 30 years.  When she is not at school or the martial arts studio, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors or curled up with a cat and a good book.

Barbara LeBlanc is a second-degree Black Belt who began training in American Filipino Kun Tao under Grand Master Ralph Bergamo in 2005, after several years of supporting her two sons in their martial arts training.  AFKT is a highly realistic style of self defense that emphasizes striking to defend and destroy.  Barbara earned her Black Belt in this demanding style in 2016.  She has been competing in USBA/WBA and ISKA tournaments in breaking, self-defense, and demo team events since 2010.  In November 2017, Barbara won the ISKA North American Creative Breaking Championship against an all-male field.  The following July she became the ISKA Female Creative Breaking World Champion at the U.S. Open in Orlando, Florida.  In 2019, along with Mary Kennedy, she set a USBA/WBA World Record for most concrete patio blocks broken by a female team in 15 seconds.  In 2020, she won the USBA/WBA Female Black Belt Challenge held at the Massachusetts State Breaking Championships.

Barbara is the Head Youth Instructor and director of children’s programs at Bergamo’s Martial Arts in Cheshire, CT, under Grand Master Ralph Bergamo.  Along with her son and fellow instructor Nathan LeBlanc, she leads the Team Bergamo Demo Team, which has placed first at the Northeast Open Championships for 3 of the last 5 years.  She is an official for the USBA/WBA.  She loves working with very young martial artists, particularly with neurodivergent students, and she teaches 8 classes per week, including self-defense classes for women and girls.  Becoming a martial artist changed her life through personal empowerment, and she wants to bring that same feeling to as many others as possible.

Barb has been married to Michael LeBlanc for 31 years.  Their two sons Joshua and Nathan also earned Black Belts under GM Bergamo.  Barb has been a public school teacher in New Haven, CT for over 30 years.  When she is not at school or the martial arts studio, she can usually be found enjoying the outdoors or curled up with a cat and a good book.

Arika Struzinsky is a second degree black belt at US Budokai Karate in Clifton Park, NY under Hanshi Russ Jarem.   She also has the good fortune to train specifically on breaking with Master Adam Grogin and Sifu Bill Luciano.

Arika started karate when she was 6 and quit when she was 8.  After several years of watching friends and family compete, she decided it looked like so much fun that she wanted to start training again.   Since US Budokai Karate traditionally does not break, Arika was introduced to breaking at the 518 Circuit Tournaments where several local schools would get together for a friendly series of tournaments.

Arika attends Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the majoring in Chemical Engineering.

Daniele Serrano, 3^rd Degree Black Belt in American Filipino Kun Tao. I began my training in 1992 under Master Michael Byrnes, then continued under Master Drew Serrano. Besides my main style, I trained and taught Capoeira for many years under Mestre Ze com Fome and the group Artes Das Gerais.

I earned my black belt in American Filipino Kun Tao 2009 and my primary focus in the Martial Arts is Self-Defense, the main reason I began my training. It has proven extremely important to me over the years to have this knowledge and training and it was something I always hoped to be able to pass along. That opportunity came when we partnered with Jane Doe No More, enabling us to offer the “Escape Alive Program” to thousands of women throughout CT as well as other states.

The USBA/WBA brought “breaking” into my training in 2004, the year I first compete with this organization. I find breaking extremely important to my training and it has made me a better Martial Artist. I am now proud to be a World Official for this organization and look forward to continuing to learn from my fellow competitors.

• • Received the “Dr. Henry Lee Award” for the “Escape Alive” Program, helping prepare and -educate women and girls on how to defend themselves.
  • Multiple times USBA/WBA World Champion in Power Concrete Foot and Concrete Power Elbow – ISKA U.S. Open – Orlando, Florida
  • 2004 – 3rd place Self-Defense – U.S. Open International Karate Championships – Orlando, FL.
  • 2005 – 1st place Self-defense Peter Rogers Spring National Karate Championships-Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino, CT.
  • 2006 – 1st place Power Breaking – Peter Rogers National Karate Championships – Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort, CT.
  • 2006 – “Female Breakout Action Star”- Action on Film International Film Festival- Los Angeles,CA.
  • 2006 – 2nd place Self-Defense – U.S. Open International Championships- Orlando, Fl.
  • 2009 – Partnered with Jane Doe No More to run Escape Alive Survival Skills to women across Connecticut.
  • 2010 – Hosted the IIMAA Training Conference- Kissimmee, FL- One of the largest Martial Arts Training Conferences in the World.
  • 2011 – 1st place- Power Board Elbow- Atlantic City Breaking Championships- Atlantic City, NJ.
  • 2011 – USBA/WB – New York State Champion- 1^st place – Power Concrete Hand & Foot- North East Open- Albany, NY.
  • 2011 – USBA/WBA North American Champion – Power Concrete Hand & Foot- North American Breaking Championships- Fairfield, CT.
  • 2011 – Appointed to the Board of Advisors for Jane Doe No More.
  • 2018 – USBA/WBA Competition Record – Most 1” Boards Broken by elbow – Double – at the Southeastern Regional State Championships in Orlando, FL.
  • 2018 – Female Grand Champion at the Massachusetts State Breaking Championships in Chicopee, MA.
  • 2018 – USBA/WBA U.S. Open in Orlando Florida – 1^st place Concrete Power Foot
  • 2018 – USBA/WBA Northeast Open – 1^st place – Concrete Power Foot