Author Biography

Master Pete Canavan

Master Pete developed an interest in the martial arts from an early age which continues to this day.

Beginning with watching old Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest movies on Saturday afternoons with his father, his first exposure to official training began with studying traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate when he was a teenager.

This training was put on hold once he became old enough to get a job in northern New Jersey where he grew up.  His focus was on earning enough to put himself through college which left little time and no money to spend on training.  Having had 2 paper routes from the time he was 14, he was used to working hard towards a goal - college.

Pete attended and graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer and Information Systems with a minor concentration in Marketing.  While in college, he was again exposed to martial arts since the school had a Karate Club that he joined and it re-kindled his interest in training and learning more.

Upon graduation, he was hired by a local computer firm near the college, and began selling and servicing computer systems for several years with them.  He now lived and worked in northeast Pennsylvania where he still resides today.

After working for a period of time for someone else, Pete's entrepreneurial spirit began to stir, and he decided to make the leap from employee to owner.   Once established after a few years of working, Pete had the good fortune to run into a local martial arts school by accident. 

In seeking collection services for his business, he walked into a collection company that just happened to be run by a martial arts master!  Well, one thing led to another, and before long, Pete began training in the Korean martial arts of both Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do at that school 2-3 days a week...and he is still training (and now teaching) there 2-3 days a week!  That martial arts journey that resumed back in 1997 continues to the present day.

Along the way, Master Pete has attended various seminars and workshops on different styles of martial arts in an effort to keep learning.  Styles he has studied include Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, Kuk Sool Won, Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu, Karate, Judo, Aikido, Wing Chun Kung Fu, and Jiu Jitsu.

He holds formal certifications from the World Hapkido Federation, the United States Tae Kwon Do Council, the North American Hapkido Tae Kwon Do Federation, and Nippon Kobodo Jikishin-Kai USA.

Master Pete is proficient with many weapons including the Bo, Kumdo, Tonfa, Sai, Nunchaku, Three-Section Staff, Cane, Knife, Escrima and Kama.

Master Pete resides in Pennsylvania with his wife, Susan and their 3 sons.

Master Pete is passionate about helping others improve their personal safety. He is available for training, consulting and speaking engagements to various groups including schools, businesses, security and law enforcement, and private citizens.

His main area of focus is approximately a 150 mile radius from Wilkes-Barre, PA.  This area includes much of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusettes, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C.

For more information, please email MasterPete@LearnSelfDefenseOnline.com.

Master Pete Canavan

Master Pete executing a sliding twist front kick (note the goatee!)

Master Pete executing a sliding twist front kick (note the goatee!)

Master Pete performing a three-section staff form

Master Pete performing a three-section staff form

Master Pete executing an elbow break

Master Pete executing an elbow break

Master Pete blocking with tonfa

Master Pete blocking a Kumdo strike from Master Vince with a Tonfa block

Famous Photos

Over the years, Master Pete has had the privilege of meeting and training with many famous martial arts Masters and Grandmasters in various styles.

Master Pete with Master Shimabukuro and Master Long (I'm in the back row, 3rd from right - 2002)

Master Pete with Master Shimabukuro (Oct 2002)

Master Pete with Grandmaster H.Y. Kwon (June 2009)

Master Pete with his son Pierson (after his black belt test) and Master Vince

Master Pete (after 1st Dan Black Belt test Nov 2000) with Master Vince Sperduto & Master Charles Maganiello

Master Pete with Master Frank Dux (May 2012)

Master Pete with Grandmaster Hwang Jang-Lee (May 2012)

Master Pete with Grandmaster Hee Seok Choi (May 2012)

Master Pete with Master Pat Reilly (May 2012)