Kyoshi Karen Kells-Pamfilis, 5th Degree Black Belt, Chief Instructor and General Manager – Kyoshi Karen has been training in Seido karate since 1984. She has a Masters in Religious Education from St. Mary’s and a Bachelors in Communication Arts from College of Notre Dame.
Sensei Tom Culbertson, 4th Degree Black Belt, Adult Instructor – Sensei Tom started his Karate training in 1980 and attained the rank of 1st kyu. After an extended break from training he returned in 1991 and received his Shodan Blackbelt (1st degree) in the Bushi-Shin style of traditional Japanese Karate. Moving to the Seido style of Karate in 2000 he has now attained the level of Sensei. Sensei Tom’s profession is a Landscape contractor. Working with his wife Jennifer, together they have run a local landscaping company for the past 20 years.
Sensei Eric Luebehusen, 4th Degree Black Belt, Adult Instructor – Sensei Eric grew up in Baltimore, MD and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology from Penn State University. He began his karate training in 1993 in the Bushi-Shin style of Japanese Karate, an offshoot of Seido, where he attained Shodan Rank. He joined Sensei Tom in moving to the Seido style of Karate in 2000, and has since promoted to Yondan (Sensei). Sensei Eric does much of his martial arts training during his lunch break at the fitness center at his work, the USDA in Washington, DC, where he is joined by Kyoshi Helen Malin (from Australia) and Senpai Brian Morris (Herndon, VA). Eric works as a meteorologist for the USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board assessing weather impacts on crops on a global scale. He is married and has two young boys who keep him very, very busy!
Senpai David McManus, 3rd Degree Black Belt, Children Instructor – Senpai David has been training in Seido Karate since 2000 and teaching since 2005. Due to frequent travel to locations where there are no Seido dojos, Senpai David has trained in a number of other styles including boxing, Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do, and MMA.
He is a Baltimore native and graduate of Loyola Blakefield in 2006 and Loyola University of New Orleans in 2010. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Classics Studies and Religious Studies. Senpai David has spent time in 8 foreign countries, including Egypt studying Arabic until the revolution forced his return! He is currently continuing his Arabic studies at the University of Maryland at College Park.
Senpai Patrick Polvinale, 2nd Degree Black Belt, Children and Adult Instructor – Senpai Patrick began his martial arts training at age 12 in Goju Ryu Karate. He achieved the rank of Sandan, (3rd degree black belt), in Goju Ryu before joining the World Seido Karate Orgainization in 2005. Senpai Patrick attained the rank of Nidan in April, 2011.
Senpai Patrick is a graduate of Stevenson University in Business Information Systems. He has grown up in the Baltimore area and currently lives with his wife, twin sons and their older brother Matthew in Perry Hall. Matthew obtained his 1st degree junior black belt with the World Seido Karate Organization in Ocotober 2010. Patrick’s occupation is a network engineer.
Senpai Nick Gaiano, 2nd Degree Black Belt, Adult Instructor – Senpai Nick grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from MIT. After moving to NYC, he began Shotokan Karate training in 2000 and earned a Brown Belt before relocating to Baltimore, MD. In 2003, Senpai Nick began Seido Karate training and was promoted to 1st Degree Black Belt in 2008, and 2nd Degree Black Belt in 2011. He has competed in numerous karate tournaments, and has been an Adult Instructor at Pamfilis Karate Academy since 2008. Senpai Nick lives with his wife Michelle and sons David and Andrew in Columbia, MD. David also trains in Seido Karate.
