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Budokai Academy of Martial Arts is the Tri-State Leader in Olympic Martial Arts located in Middletown & West Chester Ohio
We are home to over 500 National Medalists!! You could be next!
Who we Are And why You Should Train Here
We are dedicated to changing the lives of people one person at a time, through martial arts, education and coaching. We strive to provide a safe, comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for all students and family members. We take pride in creating an environment for individuals to achieve, develop and succeed on the mat and in life.
We are family-owned and operated which is the best part of this sport-you can do Martial Arts as a family. Parents don’t have to sit on the sidelines and watch. Grand Master Gerhardt and his wife Master Melissa Gerhardt are blessed to share their journeys along side their children. Master RJ is the head instructor for our Middletown location and Miss Emma is the head instructor of our West Chester location. We are extremely passionate about what we do. When you’re a part of Budokai, you’re family.
We say proudly that we have the BEST coaches, instructors, staff and competitors. They all have some amazing personal accolades but what they give back is second to none.
We strongly believe that martial arts can be for everyone, regardless of age, gender or experience levels. Throughout all of our programs, students will not only learn the necessary skill sets to protect themselves, we stand behind our realistic and practical approach, confident it will enable every member to achieve greatness and live their best life..
Get To Know Our World Class Instructors
Master Melissa Gerhardt
Mrs. Gerhardt is a certified coach by the Amateur Athletic Union.
She is the Director of Operations for the academy.
Accomplishments:
- 2-Time AAU National Board Breaking Champion
- AAU National Board Breaking-Silver Medalist
She holds the following rank:
- 4th Dan Black Belt- Taekwondo
Senior Master Rob Gerhardt
Senior Master Rob Gerhardt is the owner and CEO of Budokai Academy of Martial Arts. He holds the following ranks:
- 6th Dan – TaeKwonDo (Grandmaster Kyongwon Ahn
- 6th Dan – Jiu-Jitsu (Herzog / USJJF)
- 3rd Dan – Judo (Herzog / IJA)
- 3rd Dan – Hapkido
He oversees all aspects of training and curriculum at the Academy. Master Gerhardt has trained several US National Champions, Pro and Amateur MMA fighters, trained current Jiu-Jitsu instructors from local schools, and is a certified AAU/USAT National Coach. He is a member of USTKJ, USMAF, and USJJF.
Accomplishments:
- AAU Nationals Blackbelt Sparring Heavyweight Silver Medalist.
- AAU Nationals Blackbelt Poomse Bronze Medalist.
- US Open Hanmadang Black Belt Gold Medalist.
- Bluegrass BJJ Open Gold Medalist.
- Ohio State Judo Silver Medalist.
- Personally trained and coached over 500 National/International Medalists, including over 200 Gold Medalists. Including Special Needs AAU National Champions.
- 4 AAU Nationals Overall Grand Champions
- 2 AAU Special Needs Overall Grand Champions
- 2 AAU Nationals Point Sparring Divisional Champions
- #2 school in the US for the most competitors at AAU Nationals (2020)
- 4 time AAU Nationals Top 20 School
- 2021 / 2022 AAU Team Trials Coach
- 2021 AAU Most supporting School Award
- Developed and certified Budokai Jiu-Jitsu curriculum under the USJJF
Master RJ Gerhardt IV
Mr. Gerhardt is the Chief Instructor at the Academy. Mr. Gerhardt teaches all classes and is the head coach of the TaeKwonDo Competition Team. He holds the following ranks:
- 4th Dan – TaeKwondo
- 2nd Dan – Hapkido
- Brown Belt – Jiu-Jitsu
- Brown Belt – Judo
Accomplishments:
- Six time Black Belt AAU Poomse National Champion
- Two time Black Belt AAU Weapons National Champion
- 2021 AAU Nationals Indomitable Spirit Award
- Black Belt AAU Board Breaking National Champion
- US Open Hamandang Black Belt Poomse Gold Medalist
- NCTA High School National Championships Gold Medalist / Black Belt Welterweight Sparring
- 26th Ranked US Black Belt Welterweight Olympic Sparring (2018)
He is the 2022 AAU Team Trials Coach
Miss Emma Gerhardt
Miss Emma Gerhardt is a Fearless Female!
She has been a Martial Arts Athlete since she was 5 years old.
She is an assistant instructor for Little Ninjas and our Teen Programs.
Miss Emma’s accomplishments
- AAU Nationals Black Belt Olympic Sparring-Bronze
- 2022 AAU Team Trials
- 5 Time AAU National Black Belt National Champion
- 4 time National Board Breaking Champion
- 2 time National Forms Champion
- 3 time National Weapons Champion
She is the a Competition Team Coach, avid local, regional and National competitor
Master Daniel Bressert
Mr. Bressert teaches Beginner & Advanced Taekwondo, and assists with the Hapkido program. He is a certified coach by the Amateur Athletic Union. He is an active competitor Regionally and Nationally in Forms, Breaking and Olympic Sparring.
Accomplishments
- AAU Nationals Forms Silver Medalist
- Side kick breaking Silver Medalist
- Sparring Bronze Medalist.
Mr. Bressert assisted with getting Budokai open in the City of Middletown in 2019.
He is one of the coaches for Budokai’s National Competition Team.
He holds the following ranks:
- 3rd Dan – Taekwondo
- 2nd Dan- Hapkido
Grand Master Frank Herzog
Grand Master Herzog, founder of Budokai Judo & Jiu-Jitsu, is a world Judo champion. He continues to teach Judo and Jiu-Jitsu regularly.
He holds the following ranks:
Accomplishments:
- 7th Dan – Judo
- 8th Dan Jiu-jitsu (IJA)
Accomplishments:
- Career Judo Record 647 wins – 33 losses
- World Master Judo Champion
- 4 time National Champion
- 2 time International Champion
- 3 time Mid-West Champion
- 3 time Outstanding Technician Award
- World Cup Silver Medalist
- 16 time Ohio State Champion
Master Gerald Schul II
Mr. Schul II assists with running our Beginner through advanced Taekwondo, and Hapkido programs. He has been doing Martial Arts for over 30 years. Mr. Schul assisted with getting Budokai open in the City of Middletown in 2019. He trains here with his family.
He holds the following ranks:
- 4th Dan Black Belt – Taekwondo
- Brown Belt – Judo
- 2nd Dan- Hapkido
- Brown Belt – Jiu-Jitsu
Master Ricky Silver
- 5th Dan, Kukkiwon 5th Dan,
- 5th Dan, US Tae Kwon Do Han Moo Kwan
- 5th Dan World Martial Arts College (WMAC)
Accomplishments:
- Jimmy Kim Invitational Black Belt Gold Medalist – Poomsae
- Jimmy Kim Invitational Black Belt Silver Medalist – Sparring
- Aguila’s Invitational Black Belt Gold Medalist – Poomsae
- Aguila’s Invitational Black Belt Gold Medalist – Sparring
- Bay Area Open Tae Kwon Do Championship Silver Medalist – Sparring
- Bay Area Open Tae Kwon Do Championship Bronze Medalist – Poomsae
Mr. Colin Bullard
Sensei Bullard trained in Judo under World Champion Sensei Frank Herzog and currently teaches Judo and wrestling in our Budokai Jiu-Jitsu program. Mr. Bullard is US Marine Veteran and has 3 sons who actively serve in the United States Military.
His 4th son plans to follow suit.
He holds the following ranks:
- 4th Dan – (Yodan) Judo
- 5th Dan – Jiu-jitsu
Master Christina Schul
Master Christina Schul runs the Little Ninja program
She has been a Martial Arts Athlete for over 27 years in Taekwondo, Hapkido, Jiu-jitsu, Shotakan Karate, Judo, Balintawak and Tai-Chi
Master Christina Schul’s Accomplishments:
- 4 time AAU National Weapons Champion.
- 4th Dan Master-Taekwondo
- Former Competitor at USTU under Grand Master Ahn
Mrs. Schul and her family are an asset to Budokai.
Miss Trenity McDaniel
Miss Trenity McDaniel is a beast in the ring!
Miss Trenity’s Accomplishments:
- AAU Nationals Advanced Rank Olympic Sparring-National Champion
- AAU National Black Belt Poomsae-National Champion
- AAU National Black Belt Poomsae-Bronze Medalist
- AAU National Black Belt Olympic Sparring-Bronze Medalist
- 2022 AAU Team Trials Bronze Medalist
She has been a Martial Arts Athlete for almost 7 years and achieved Gold in National Sparring as a color belt!
She is Co-Captain of the National Competition Team and a fantastic assistant instructor in our Little Ninja and Teen Programs
Mr. Mark Day
Mr. Day Teaches Budokai Jiu-Jitsu. Mr. Day actively competes in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in the region.
He holds the following ranks:
- Brown Belt – Judo
- Brown Belt – Budokai Jiu-Jitsu
Mr. Austin Osner
USA Taekwondo State Championships – Multiple Gold Olympic Sparring and Poomse.
AAU Regional and State Championships – Multiple Gold on Sparring and Poomse.
U.S. Open International Taekwondo Hanmadang – Gold Para-Poomse. Gold Para-Breaking.
Awarded Peak Performance Taekwondo Most Outstanding Jr Male Athlete of the Year (2017).
USA Taekwondo National Champion ranked #1 (2018).
2021 Pam Am Championships (para) – Bronze Medalist.
2021 USAT Nationals (para)-Silver Medalist.
2021 AAU Nationals Olympic Sparring-Gold Medalist.
2022 USAT Para National Team Member.
Ranked #15 in the World for Para TKD-Male TKD K44 >70 kg (2022).
Miss Trenity McDaniel
Miss Trenity McDaniel is a beast in the ring!
Miss Trenity’s Accomplishments:
- AAU Nationals Advanced Rank Olympic Sparring-National Champion
- AAU National Black Belt Poomsae-National Champion
- AAU National Black Belt Poomsae-Bronze Medalist
- AAU National Black Belt Olympic Sparring-Bronze Medalist
- 2022 AAU Team Trials Bronze Medalist
She has been a Martial Arts Athlete for almost 7 years and achieved Gold in National Sparring as a color belt!
She is Co-Captain of the National Competition Team and a fantastic assistant instructor in our Little Ninja and Teen Programs
Mr. Mark Day
Mr. Day Teaches Budokai Jiu-Jitsu. Mr. Day actively competes in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu in the region.
He holds the following ranks:
- Brown Belt – Judo
- Brown Belt – Budokai Jiu-Jitsu
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