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Budokai Academy Of Martial Arts is the Tri-State Leader in Olympic Martial Arts
We are home to over 700 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 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
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
Grandmaster Rob Gerhardt
Senior Master Rob Gerhardt is the owner and CEO of Budokai Academy of Martial Arts. He holds the following ranks:
- 7th Dan – TaeKwonDo
- 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 and Referee. 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 700 National/International Medalists, including over 200 Gold Medalists. Including Special Needs AAU National Champions.
- 5 AAU Nationals Overall Grand Champions
- 2 AAU Special Needs Overall Grand Champions
- 3 AAU Nationals Point Sparring Divisional Champions
- #2 school in the US for the most competitors at AAU Nationals (2020)
- 6 time AAU Nationals Top 20 School
- 2021, 2022, 2025 AAU Team Trials Coach
- 2021 AAU Most supporting School Award
- 3 AAU Black belt Point Sparring Team Members
- AAU Nationals Point Sparring Bronze Cup (2024)
- AAU Nationals Point Sparring Gold Cup (2025)
- AAU Class B Referee
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
- Black Belt – Jiu-Jitsu
- Black Belt – Judo
Accomplishments:
- AAU Taekwondo National Point Sparring Team Member
- 2-1 Pay-Per-View Kickboxing Champion for Iron Horse Martial Arts in Indiana (awarded knock-out of the night)
- 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 AAU Team Trials Coach and Competition Team Coach for Budokai Academy
Master Emma Gerhardt
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
- AAU Taekwondo National Point Sparring Team Member
- AAU Taekwondo Inernational Gold Medalist
- AAU Taekwondo National Continuous Point Sparring Champion
- 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
Coach Landon Hamblin
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:
- 3rd Dan – Taekwondo
- Blue Belt-JiuJitsu
Accomplishments
- AAU Taekwondo National Point Sparring Team Member
- AAU National Taekwondo Continuous Point Sparring Champion
- AAU National Taekwondo Weapons Silver Medalist
- US Hanmadang-Gold Medalist
He is an AAU Certified Coach and Referee and coach for the Budokai Academy Competition Team
Coach Shawn Hamblin
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:
- 3rd Dan-Blackbelt Taekwondo
- 1st Dan-Blackbelt Hapkido
- AAU Taekwondo National Olympic Point Sparring Champion
- Kentucky Hanmadang Weapons Gold Medalist
- Kentucky Hanmadang Breaking Gold Medalist in both Power Hand and Power Side Kick
- AAU Michigan State Olympic Sparring Champion
- AAU Virtual Nationals Traditional Forms Silver Medalist
- AAU National Regional and Divisional Grand Champion
Master Gerald Schul II
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:
- 4th Dan Black Belt – Taekwondo
- Black Belt – Judo
- 2nd Dan- Hapkido
- Black Belt – Jiu-Jitsu
Master Schul is a current USA Judo competitor
Master Christina Schul
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:
- 4th Dan-Master Taekwondo
- 1st Dan-Hapkido
- Purple Belt-Jiu-Jitsu
- Blue Belt-Judo
Master Christina Schul’s Accomplishments:
- 4 time AAU National Weapons Champion.
- Former Competitor at USTU under Grand Master Ahn
Mrs. Schul and her family are an asset to Budokai.
Master Daniel Bressert
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
- AAU Nationals Forms Silver Medalist
- AAU Side kick breaking Silver Medalist
- AAU Sparring Bronze Medalist.
Mr. Bressert assisted with getting Budokai open in the City of Middletown in 2019.
He holds the following ranks:
- 4th Dan –Master Taekwondo
- 2nd Dan- Hapkido
Miss Catelyn Schul
Miss Catelyn is a Certified AAU Coach and is a Lead Instructor at Budokai Academy Middletown
She holds the following ranks:
- 3rd Dan-Blackbelt Taekwondo
- 1st Dan-Blackbelt Hapkido
- AAU National Competitor in Forms, Weapons and Olympic Sparring
Accomplishments:
- AAU Taekwondo National Forms Medalist
- AAU Taekwondo National Weapons Medalist
- AAU National Olympic Sparring practitioner
Miss Catelyn is the staging coordinator for both the Ohio District National Taekwondo Qualifier and the Cincinnati Taekwondo Championships
Mr. Hunter Schul
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:
- 3rd Dan-Taekwondo
- Blue Belt-Judo
- 1st Dan-Hapkido
- Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner
Accomplishments:
- Ohio Judo Championship-Bronze Medalist
- AAU Virtual National Weapons Bronze Medalist
- AAU Virtual National Forms Bronze Medalist
Coach Mark Day
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:
- 2nd Dan-Taekwondo
- Black Belt – Judo
- Black Belt – Budokai Jiu-Jitsu
Accomplishments:
- Pay-Per-view Kickboxing contender for Iron Horse Martial Arts in Indiana
- USA Judo-4th Place
Coach Mark holds the rank of Sergeant in the Army National Guard
Miss Grace Christenson
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:
- 1st Dan-Taekwondo
Accomplishments:
- AAU Taekwondo National Forms Gold Medalist
- AAU Taekwondo National Weapons Gold Medalist
- AAU Taekwondo National Continuous Point Sparring Bronze Medalist
- AAU Taekwondo National Traditional Forms Bronze Medalist
Grace is the head forms coach for the Budokai Academy Competition Team
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).
Master William Starkey
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:
- 4th Dan-Taekwondo
Accomplishments:
- AAU Taekwondo Team Trials Candidate
- AAU Taekwondo Olympic Sparring Bronze Medalist
- NexTKD Championship Silver Medalist
Master Starkey is an assist coach of the Budokai Academy Competition Team and actively competes at the local, state and national martial arts level
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
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