Our Instructors
Dedication and Expertise:
The Instructors of AAKF
AAKF instructors are highly dedicated karate practitioners, both men and women, who balance daily training and teaching with their professional careers and personal responsibilities.
With 10 to 50 years of continuous martial arts experience, our instructors bring a unique blend of competition achievements and teaching expertise. This depth of knowledge allows them to clearly explain and demonstrate karate techniques to students of all ages and skill levels.
Their commitment ensures that the rich traditions of the American Amateur Karate Federation are preserved and passed on to future generations.

Mahmoud Tabassi
9th Degree (KyuDan)
Mid-Atlantic Region

Alex Tong
8th Degree (Hachidan)
Southwest Region

Albert Cheah
7th Degree (Sichidan)
Western Region

Richard Kageyama
7th Degree (Sichidan)
Western Region

Joel Ertl
6th Degree (Rokudan)
North Central Region

Anita Bendickson
5th Degree (Godan)
North Central Region

Bryan Hays
5th Degree (Godan)
Mid Atlantic Region

Evangeline Emanuel
5th Degree (Godan)
Mid Atlantic Region

Laurie Elliott
5th Degree (Godan)
North Central Region

Soolmaz Abooali
5th Degree (Godan)
Mid Atlantic Region

Trung Le
5th Degree (Godan)
North Central Region

Art Wong
5th Degree (Godan)
North Central Region

Jim Wade
4th Degree (Yondan)
North Central Region

Jon Hodapp
4th Degree (Yondan)
North Central Region

Thomas Meagher
4th Degree (Yondan)
North Central Region

Vassil Peytchev
4th Degree (Yondan)
Great Lakes Region

John Hyatt
4th Degree (Yondan)
South Atlantic Region

Adam Blanchard
3rd Degree (Sandan)
Southwest Region

Hai Nguyen
3rd Degree
South Atlantic Region

Michael Ching
3rd Degree (Sandan)
North Central Region

Anjali Krishnan
2nd Degree (Nidan)
Southwestern Region

Bill Badlo
2nd Degree (Nidan)
North Central Region

Deirdre Layne
2nd Degree (Nidan)
North Central Region

Frederick Turner
2nd Degree (Nidan)
Southwestern Region

Gina Wood
2nd Degree (Nidan)
North Central Region

J Robert Todd
2nd Degree (Nidan)
Southwest Region

Lanny Little
2nd Degree (Nidan)
Southwest Region

Mark Abeln
2nd Degree (Nidan)
North Central Region

Asim Haracic
1st Degree (Shodan)
Mid-Atlantic

Atul Kotamraju
1st Degree (Shodan)
Mid-Atlantic Region

Brandon Kammer
1st (Shodan)
South Atlantic Region

Chris Penning
1st Degree (Shodan)
South Atlantic Region

Donna Lee
1st Degree (Shodan)
Mid-Atlantic Region

Dr. Phil Smith
1st Degree (Shodan)
South Atlantic

Ethan Nyberg
1st Degree (Shodan)
Mid-Atlantic Region

Mike O’Malley
1st Degree (Shodan)
Northwestern

Uzma Rasheed
1st Degree (Shodan)
Mid-Atlantic Region