WOrLD-CLASS INsTRUCTION
All of our instructors are dedicated to continuing the legacy and teachings of Fusaro sensei.
Al Kotula, Gina Wood, Jon Hodapp, Bill Rossi, Dave Pinske, Tom Meagher, Mark Abeln, Jerry Huffine, Walter Heinen, and more
6th Dan
Al kotula
Al Kotula began his training in 1968. He developed his skills under the instruction of Senseis Robert L. Fusaro, Masatoshi Nakayama, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Yutaka Yaguchi, Keinosuke Enoeda, and Teruyuki Okazaki. He was awarded his dan ranks from Masatoshi Nakayama and Hidetaka Nishiyama. Sensei Kotula ran his own dojo and two college clubs for a number of years, on the Iron Range and clubs in Burnsville and Lakeville. In 2016, he was a coach and competitor with team USA at the World Traditional Karate Federation Tournament, held in Krakow, Poland.
Today Sensei Al teaches and trains primarily at Shotokan Karate MN and assists the North Central Region of the American Amateur Karate Federation.
Memorable Experience:1976 AAKF Championship in Philadelphia, PA.
2ND DAN
Gina Wood
Sensei Gina Wood began her training in 1994 in College Park Maryland with Senseis Ali Tabassi and Michael Tabassi before moving home to Minneapolis. In Minneapolis she began training under Sensei Robert L. Fusaro in 1995. She currently holds a 2nd degree (Ni Dan) black belt.
Sensei Gina believes that traditional karate training is a life-long study of movement and intention that increases confidence, stamina, flexibility and the mind/body connection that can be sorely lacking in many of our daily activities. She has personal experience with dramatically changing her own body awareness and athleticism, leading to increased confidence and safety walking through the world. Her many years of teaching karate to children have only reinforced those beliefs as she’s been able to observe the same awakening taking place for many of her students.
She is the lead sensei of the children’s program at Shotokan Karate Minnesota (formerly Midwest Karate). During the summer she conducts multiple, week-long karate day camps for kids through her company Midwest Karate Kids, LLC.
Sensei Gina received her Sho Dan (1st degree black belt) from Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama in 2003 and her Ni Dan from Sensei Robert L. Fusaro in 2013. She won the gold medal in Women’s kata in the 2024 AAKF National Championships, which led to her traveling to compete internationally in Lima, Peru.
4TH Dan
jon hodapp
Jon Hodapp started his training in 1978 at a college club at Western Illinois University (WIU) with a Sensei Ed Kuras. He also trained under the Sensei Sugiyama in Chicago IL when he lived in Rockford, IL and later Milwaukee, WI. He moved to MN in 1984 and trained under Sensei Robert Fusaro until his passing.
He loves teaching and training Shotokan Karate-Do because it is very technical; you get all the personal and physical benefits while striving to continuously improve. It has developed his confidence over the years. He finds that working with students, helping them to get better and grow their confidence, is deeply rewarding, and that the people he has trained with in Shotokan to be of high character and sincerity.
Sensei Jon received all of his Dan ranks from Sensei Nishiyama, whose instruction in semiannual seminars over the years Jon found truly inspirational. About his long-time Sensei, Jon says, “Training under the always technically superior Master Fusaro was an honor.”
Competing often over the years on the regional, national, and sometimes international level further inspired him to improve, making changes when preparing for competitions or rank exams. He competed in team kata for many years with Sensei Al Kotula and Dennis Olson. He has been fervently supporting the growth and stability of our dojo for the benefit of all!
5th dan
Bill Rossi
Sensei Bill Rossi started training with Sensei Fusaro at the University of Minnesota in 1972. He received his 5th Dan from Sensei Fusaro in 2017, after "only " 45 years of training . At 72, he still practices almost every day .
Sensei Bill believes that karate is the fountain of youth in a workout. The training conditions almost every muscle in the body and is mentally challenging as well.
In Sensei Bill’s classes, we work on understanding the relevance of the kata moves, adding realism to the art. He emphasizes helping fellow Karateka really USE their speed , power and brains. We roll! This builds confidence, spirit, and character ( plus cardio capacity!).
Speaking of character , another great benefit of karate is the fine people you will meet . According to Sensei Bill, At SKM you can see and be part of the best dojo in the Upper Midwest.
4th Dan
David Pinske
Sensei Pinske has been training for 52 years. He trained with countless senseis, but most notably under the renowned Nishiyama and Fusaro Senseis. He was awarded his 4th dan by Nishiyama Sensei May 1995 at the Minneapolis Midwest Karate dojo.
Sensei Pinske gained valuable karate experience training all over Europe. In his competitive experience, he’s perhaps most proud that in a crowded field at the 1993 US Nationals, he placed in Kata. His commitment to the art of karate is driven by the principle that there is always room to improve. Sensei Pinske enjoys how karate training is an opportunity for mind and body to work as one to strive for this constant improvement.
4th dan
Tom Meagher
At the time of this writing, Sensei Tom Meagher has been training for 42 years. He began his training with Sensei Robert Fusaro and continued with Sensei Nina Chenault. He has trained with Sensei Nishiyama, Michael Fusaro, Minneapolis MN, Shojiro Koyama, Phoenix AZ, and Satoshi Takahasi, Toykyo Japan (JKA honbu dojo).
He earned his first three dan ranks from Sensei Hidetaka Nishiyama. His Yondan was awarded by Sensei Mahmoud Tabassi.
Sensei Tom says, “Even though I have been a science teacher in public schools, earned a PhD in science, and teach graduate coursework for teacher licensure at the U of M, it is my life of karate that makes me who I am. Osu!”
2nd Dan
Mark Abeln
Sensei Mark Abeln began his training 43 years ago under Sensei Robert Fusaro and trained predominantly with Sensei Fusaro until his death. He was awarded his Shodan by Sensei Robert Fusaro at the Minneapolis dojo and achieved his Nidan rank from Sensei Michael Tabassi in 2019.
Sensei Abeln has spent many years (and hours) as a judge at karate tournaments both national and international, and he considers those experiences some of the most compelling of his karate life. He hopes to continue honing his craft in the years ahead.
3rd dan
Jerry Huffine
Sensei Jerry Huffine has been training since 1983, studying primarily under Fusaro Sensei and now Sensei Kotula. He received his Shodan and Nidan ranks from Sensei Nishiyama and he earned Sandan from Sensei Tabassi in 2017 at the Midwest Karate Assoc. dojo in Minneapolis.
He views Shotokan karate as a lifelong endeavor where there is always more to learn! Additionally, meeting and training with other karateka is both compelling and rewarding.
4th dan
Walter Heinen
Over the past 45 years, Sensei Heinen has trained under many of the most renowned senseis of the era, notably: Nakayama, Nishiyama, Fusaro, Enoeda, Shirai, Kanazawa, Kase, Yamaguchi, Tanaka, and Yahara. He was awarded his 4th Dan by Sensei Robert Fusaro at the Minneapolis dojo on September 3, 2010. He was the former Chief Instructor for MKA in St. Cloud, teaching for St. John’s University, CSB, and St. Cloud State University, as well as School districts 742 and 748.
Guided by the belief that discipline is freedom, Sensei Heinen brings his knowledge and enthusiasm to each class. “I started as a child and the confidence karate has instilled in me has affected everything I’ve done, from work to parenting. It’s an incredible way of life.”