Staff

Jonathan Exaros

Head Instructor / Owner & Operator

Jonathan has been training in martial arts since 1973. With fifty years of experience, he holds multiple ranks is several styles of karate and traditional weapons training, including Hachi-Dan / 8th Degree Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate. He is also a Brown Belt in BJJ. He has authored two books, “A Teacher’s Inspiration” and “A Village Murder,” which can currently be found on several platforms like Amazon, Google Play and Itunes.

Kevin Ferguson

Kevin is a 6th Degree Black Belt and Mr. Exaros’ longest-training student. He is a senior instructor of the Academy. He currently works as a computer programmer and software developer.

Neil Zieselman

Neil Zieselman is a 6th Degree Black Belt who has been studying martial arts for over 42 years.  He is one of our senior instructors who lives in NJ, works for a major finance company, is married with four children, and travels in to PA to teach black belt classes, seminars and various special events.  

Steve Parys

Steve holds a 6th degree Black Belt in Karate and is a Purple Belt in BJJ.  He is married with two children and is an Accountant for a local company in Lansdale. Both his children now train in the Academy’s karate program.

Dallas Strachan

Dallas is a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate and a Purple Belt in BJJ.  He teaches students of all ages in the Academy and was one of the first students to sign up in the Dojo over 32 years ago.  He works in the heating and plumbing field.

Kevin Cunningham

Kevin is a 6th degree Black Belt in Karate and a Brown Belt in BJJ.  His wife, Josa also trains and teaches in the Academy and they have two daughters.  He currently works as a software engineer in Philadelphia.

Shannon Lynott

Shannon is a 4th degree Black Belt in Karate.  She especially likes working with younger kids and is currently the Head Instructor of our Doylestown Rec Karate Program.  She was a Goddard School instructor for several years, is a graduate of PSU and is a teacher at Central Bucks South High School.

Kevin Jensen

Kevin Jensen is a 3rd degree black belt in Karate and a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  He is a CPA and works for a firm out of Doylestown and Lansdale.

Diane Pilch

Diane is a 4th degree black belt in Karate and teaches on Monday and Thursday nights at the Horsham Dojo. She is a pediatric physical therapist working with disabled preschoolers in Bucks County, and is married with two grown children.

Metani Exaros

Metani is the daughter of the Head Instructor and has been training in the arts since she was just four years old. She holds a third degree black belt in Karate and is a Blue Belt in BJJ. She owns her own photography and videography company, teaches horseback riding in Souderton, and is also a competitive horseback riding enthusiast.

Alan Exaros

Alan is the son of the head instructor and has been training in the arts since he was just four years old. He is a second degree Black Belt and has studied BJJ. Alan is currently attending Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus to become a commercial pilot. He also has a strong interest in music and the arts.

Paul and Amanda Schmidt

Paul and his daughter, Amanda are co-head instructors at the Springfield Rec Center Martial Arts Program. Paul is a 6th degree Black Belt in Karate and a Blue Belt in BJJ. He is an environmental attorney with a firm in Springfield. Amanda is a second degree black belt in karate and studies BJJ. She is currently attending college at Drexel University.

Eric Enger

Eric is a graduate of PSU and has done a lot of work with childhood education and development. He is a 4th degree black belt in karate and brings a lot of energy to the Academy with his passion for teaching. He is currently a teacher at a middle school in the district, is heading up the marching band program, and is the Saturday 9am instructor at our Academy. You can also often find him attending and assisting in the Monday and Wednesday evening classes.

Brad Umfer

Brad is a 5th degree Black Belt in karate. He lives in NJ, but travels often to train and to cover classes when another instructor is absent. He is also one of our tech support specialists for this website. He is married with two young daughters.

Vinnie Santacroce

Vinnie is a 2nd degree Black Belt in Karate and currently attends PSU. He’s been training with us since he was just six years old and he teaches and assists in various classes throughout the week when he is back from school.

Josa Hanzlik

Josa is a Black Belt in Karate and a Blue Belt in BJJ. Her husband, Kevin, also trains and teaches in the Academy and they have two daughters. She currently works as a Toxicologist for a blood/plasma supplier and services company.

Russel Graef

Russel is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Isshinryu Karate and has been teaching high school science since 2004. He has a B.S. in microbiology from Northwestern State University, and an M.S. in biotechnology from Stephen F. Austin. He is currently a Physics teacher in the School District of Philadelphia. Russel teaches at the Doylestown Rec Center on Saturday mornings and can be found teaching and assisting in the Horsham Dojo throughout the week.

Richard Wren

Richard has a competitive background in both Olympic Weight Lifting and Judo as a Brown Belt. He currently holds the rank of purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-JItsu.. Rich is a graduate of Temple University (Tyler School Of Art) and is a world renowned tattoo artist. He owns and operates the Relic Tattoo Studio in Horsham. Rich’s partner, Gabbie recently gave birth to their newborn daughter.