Master Sheridan receives award from the Hartford County Bar Association

 What is a superhero? A regular person by day who helps people in need with ninja-like moves by night? Or, how about: A person who uses ninja-like moves by night and helps people in need all day long? That sounds like the long-time Academy student Mr. Allenston M. Sheridan Jr

Mr. Sheridan is known as Master Sheridan at the Academy in Manchester, CT, a title earned by gaining the rank of 5th Degree Black Belt. He trains in martial arts at the Academy in the evenings, but during the day he’s Mr. Sheridan, a partner at the Diana, Conti & Tunila Law Firm. Among other types of law, Master Sheridan practices family law which involves helping clients navigate the legalities of highly stressful situations like divorce and child custody. Being able to help clients during possibly the most stressful time of their life requires a special kind of person, and Master Sheridan is just that. 

At the Academy, Master Sheridan embodies all of the values that we stand for: Integrity, courage, respect, perseverance, and honesty. He has been training at the Academy since 1995, that’s 25 years! He’s always kind and encouraging to new students who could easily be intimidated by his advanced skill level and winning smile. He puts others at ease with his calm confidence and positive demeanor. He is an excellent teacher who is able to identify areas in need of improvement and offer clear suggestions on how to make those improvements. “I have always loved working with Master Sheridan,” one adult martial arts student reflects, “he makes me feel like I can really achieve all my goals. He has a way about him that encourages me to be patient with my training and not give up when things aren’t happening as quickly as I think they should.”

We’d like to congratulate Mr. Allenston M. Sheridan Jr. for receiving the Judge Maxwell Heiman Memorial Award from the Hartford County Bar Association. This award is given to lawyers in their first 10 years of practice who exemplify the high standards of service to the profession, ethics, scholarship, and devotion to clients. Clearly, Master Sheridan embodies the values of his martial arts training both at the Academy and in his professional life.

We are very proud to call him one of our own.

Master Sheridan at the awards ceremony in October, 2020.

Master Sheridan Quaran-Training at the Academy picnic, August 2020.

Master Sheridan receiving his black pants from Master Waldron.

Master Sheridan leaping over students at a Buckland Hills Mall demo in 2016.

Master Sheridan was the Academy's first new student when they opened in 1995.