We are home to over 700 National Medalists!! You could be next!
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 Master 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
Mrs. Gerhardt is a certified coach by the Amateur Athletic Union.
She is the Director of Operations for the academy.
Accomplishments:
She holds the following rank:
Senior Master Rob Gerhardt is the owner and CEO of Budokai Academy of Martial Arts. He holds the following ranks:
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 and Referee. He is a member of USTKJ, USMAF, and USJJF.
Accomplishments:
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:
Accomplishments:
He is the AAU Team Trials Coach and Competition Team Coach for Budokai Academy
Miss Emma Gerhardt is a Fearless Female!
She has been a Martial Arts Athlete since she was 5 years old.
She is the Chief instructor of Budokai Academy West Chester
Master Emma’s accomplishments
She is the a Competition Team Coach, avid local, regional and National competitor
Coach Hamblin has been training in Martial Arts since he was 9 years old. He is the Head Instructor at Budokai Academy West Chester
He holds the following ranks:
Accomplishments
He is an AAU Certified Coach and Referee and coach for the Budokai Academy Competition Team
Coach Shawn Hamblin is an asset to Budokai Academy
He is an AAU National Taekwondo practitioner, Certified AAU Coach, AAU Certified Referee, Budokai Academy Competition Team Coach and Lead Instructor at Budokai Academy Martial Arts
Coach Hamblin’s Accomplishments:
Mr. Schul II assists with running our Beginner through Black belt practitioners in Taekwondo, Hapkido, Boxing and Combatives programs. He has been doing Martial Arts for 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:
Master Schul is a current USA Judo competitor
Master Christina Schul is the lead Instructor for Budokai Academy Middletown
She has been a Martial Arts Athlete for nearly 30 years in Taekwondo, Hapkido, Jiu-jitsu, Shotakan Karate, Judo, Balintawak and Tai-Chi
She holds the following ranks:
Master Christina Schul’s Accomplishments:
Mrs. Schul and her family are an asset to Budokai.
Mr. Bressert teaches Beginner -Black belt Taekwondo. He is an certified AAU Coach and Referee He is a Coach for Budokai Academy Competition Team
Accomplishments
Mr. Bressert assisted with getting Budokai open in the City of Middletown in 2019.
He holds the following ranks:
Miss Catelyn is a Certified AAU Coach and is a Lead Instructor at Budokai Academy Middletown
She holds the following ranks:
Accomplishments:
Miss Catelyn is the staging coordinator for both the Ohio District National Taekwondo Qualifier and the Cincinnati Taekwondo Championships
Mr. Hunter Schul is a Lead Instructor for Budokai Academy Middletown and assists with coaching the Budokai Academy Competition Team
He actively trains in Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing and Taekwondo
He holds the following ranks:
Accomplishments:
Coach Day Teaches Budokai Jiu-Jitsu and Judo. He actively competes in USA Judo and Jiu-Jitsu tournaments in the region.
He holds the following ranks:
Accomplishments:
Coach Mark holds the rank of Sergeant in the Army National Guard
Miss Grace is the National Forms instructor for Budokai Academy and assistant instructor for beginners-Black belt practitioners
She is a local, state and national competitor in Forms, weapons and sport poomsae
She holds the following ranisks:
Accomplishments:
Grace is the head forms coach for the Budokai Academy Competition Team
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).
Master Starkey is the assistant coach and instructor for Budokai Academy. He has sbeen actively competing and training in Olympic Taekwondo since he was 4 years old
He holds the following ranks:
Accomplishments:
Master Starkey is an assist coach of the Budokai Academy Competition Team and actively competes at the local, state and national martial arts level
(Head Instructor Info Goes Here) Fusce vulputate eleifend sapien. Pellentesque ut neque. Aenean tellus metus, bibendum sed, posuere ac, mattis non, nunc. Aliquam lorem ante, dapibus in, viverra quis, feugiat a, tellus. Fusce vulputate eleifend sapien. Nunc nec neque. Maecenas egestas arcu quis ligula mattis placerat. Praesent ut ligula non mi varius sagittis. Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Donec venenatis vulputate lorem. Aenean ut eros et nisl sagittis vestibulum. Praesent nonummy mi in odio. In turpis. Aenean massa. Cras id dui. Suspendisse faucibus, nunc et pellentesque egestas, lacus ante convallis tellus, vitae iaculis lacus elit id tortor.
Fill out the form below to