Lead Instructor: Mark Weinberg

Sensei Weinberg was awarded his 4th Degree Black Belt in 2008 by Sensei Paul Harris. He has been training for 20 years and teaching Karate for over 12 years. He earned his certification as a sports weaponry instructor from the International Sports Chanbara Association following his training with Shihan Dana Abbott and is currently studying Kobudo with Sensei Harris. He has additional seminar training with Grand Master Ron Van Browning, Mike Swain, Tom Callos, and Dave Kovar among others.

Sensei Weinberg's unique combination of skills include a Ph.D. in Theatre and 36 years of teaching Theatre and Communications. With his wife Jenny Wanasek he founded the Center for Applied Theatre which uses theatre techniques to do problem solving work with youth and adults in schools, businesses, and service organizations. His daughter Rachel and son Noah are 3rd Degree Black Belts and have been successful as national competitors and karate instructors in the Madison area.

Sensei Weinberg's accomplishments as an individual competitor include two Diamond National Tournament divisional championships in Sparring, first place in Forms at the Capitol City Classic (Washington, DC), Open Forms divisional championship at the Cheesehead Nationals (Milwaukee), and several divisional championships from the Wisconsin Professional Karate Association. More recently he has competed as part of Team Generation (Divisional Championship in Forms at the World Cup in Green Bay). However, his most important accomplishments can be found in the positive actions, attitudes, and accomplishments of his students.

Instructor Kevin Nelson

Mr. Nelson began his karate training while a sophomore at Milwaukee Lutheran High School, from which he graduated in 2006. He earned his Black Belt and completed his Instructor Training Program in 2007. He was certified as a sports weaponry instructor by the International Sports Chanbara Association following his training with Shihan Dana Abbott and is currently studying Kobudo with Sensei Paul Harris.

Mr. Nelson is an avid competitor who was WPKA weapons and sparring champion as an underbelt and recently won the sparring grand championship at the Norse Open. He has taken first place in three recent tournaments as a member of the Academy's Team Generation.

Assistant Instructor Ariel Lerner:

Ms. Lerner earned her Black Belt in Karate in 2008, the same year in which she certified in Krav Maga at Level 2. She is currently studying Kobudo with Sensei Paul Harris. She worked for the Academy as program director in 2006 and completed her Instructor Training Program in 2007. She has previously worked as personal manager for computer professionals and as an aid to a candidate for Alderman. She won the adult advanced belt forms competition at the Harris Open Championships in Green Bay as a brown belt and is looking forward to returning to competition.