About Our Instructors

Hanshi Kevin Huunjin Cullen

Kaicho/Headmaster

The Academy exists under the leadership of Hanshi Kevin "Huunjin" Cullen. Mr. Cullen has dedicated his life to the study and instruction of traditional Japanese fighting arts and has been involved in the Goju Karate since 1973. Mr. Cullen was a member of N. Gosei Yamaguchi's organization for 13 years and traveled to the Castro Hombu to take part in 1 and 2 week long intensive gasshukus with and received his black belt in Goju from Gosei Yamaguchi (Son of the Cat Gogen). He also trained for 13 years with Motoo Yamakura, past all Japan kumite champion. Mr. Cullen has aided his training by participated in seminar with many Naha and Shuri Te masters over the decades including Hidetaka Nishiyama, Taika Oyata, Stan Hart, George Alexander in Shuri-Te, White Crane Kempo and many more.

Hanshi Cullen holds a 10th Dan Soke (2002)  in Ateru Goju and was honored to be vetted and then recognized by the famous World Head of Family Sokeship Council as a legitimate Soke and Grandmaster in 2013. He also has earned black belt in the following styles: Judo, Jujitsu, and Okinawan Kempo, White Crane Kempo and Sei Roku Zen Yo combat Karate. Mr. Cullen received his 4 year Bachelor Degree in Japanese Language and Culture from the University of Findlay, Ohio in 1995 and trained, worked and lived in Japan. The Japan experience occured via an ALL-STATE UNIVERSITY language based competition held through The Ohio State University, where he was one of five Japanese students out of hundreds chosen to represent the State of Ohio to our sister state Saitama, Japan. OSCI. He also earned a Masters in Business in 2000, a bachelor in Law and the Liberal Arts (Summa Cum Laude) 2018, and has defended his masters thesis and received his Masters in TESOL and Applied Linguistics May 2021. He was asked to present his Thesis at the first ever Ohio TESOL Graduate Symposium and is now a professor at the University of Findlay teaching English at the IELP. 

Cullen recently was invited to the Northern Shaolin Temple in China to teach his famed 5 hands systems and Ateru Goju. He is a featured instructor on the Martial Oceans shipboard seminar series and from 2012-2017, was the ONLY traditional karate expert in Ohio invited to teach seminars yearly at the world famous Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. He is the only instructor from Ohio who regularly instructs at the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honors, is a sought after public speaker and is a charter member of the Mondo Silente' stealth deep diving team with Hanshi George Alexander and Kyoshi Dana Abbott. Cullen has taught seminars in Japan, USA, China, Europe and the Caribbean and has performed bodyguard services for Arnold, Wesley Snipes and Japanese dignitaries and businessmen. His student base has included US NAVY S.E.A.L. team members, ARMY RANGERS, Secret Service. LAPD RAMPART and a host of elite professionals. .

Hanshi Cullen's students have won the US Open, ISKA national titles, Canadian National Goju Championships, Gold Medals at the Arnold Sports Festival and have fought in various UFC events.

Renshi Jim Zellner

Chief Instructor

Sensei Zellner (The Stalwart) holds his Yon Dan (4th Degree Black Belt) as well as Renshi Teaching Credentials (Master Teachers) and has been training with Hanshi Cullen off and on since 1992. He is a traditional Goju practitioner and is dedicated to bringing out the best in our karate kid and adult students. Sensei Zellner is also a student of Shihan Dana Abbott and teaches Toyama Ryu Sword classes on Thursday nights. Sensei Zellner has a bachelor degree in marketing and also some graduate business classes.

Sensei Michael Cook

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Sensei Cook (The Warrior) holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Ateru Goju Ryu from Hanshi Cullen. He handles higher level sparring instruction for the Kyu Ranks. He has been training with Hanshi since he was 8 years old (He is 23 now!). He pays strict attention to detail and imparts that level of perfection to the student base. Cook has held security jobs at huge distribution complexes and Cooper Tire and Rubber.  

Sensei Harley Ferris

ASSITANT INSTRUCTOR
Sensei Harley (The Brains) holds a 1st Degree Black Belt and has been teaching a variety of classes since he received his brown belt. Harley is a PhD in Rhetoric and Writing and teaches at teaches at the University of Findlay. He is also a seasoned musician and songwriter, dedicated husband and father. 

Sensei Brad Bowen

ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR
Sensei Brad (The Road Warrior) holds a 1st Degree Black Belt and has also been teaching a variety of classes since he received his brown belt. Brad is a business owner, dedicated husband, father and grandfather. He is a past soccer coach who created an amazing legacy with some of the counties best teams over the years.

Alexis Caroline (Lexi)

 Lexi (The Zoo Keeper), runs our Tiny Tigers program under the supervision of Hanshi Cullen who has been teaching tiger age students (age 3-6) for decades. She is currently a 4th Kyu (Green belt with 3 brown stripes) and is looking forward to testing for brown belt in the future. She is currently a PhD Candidtate in Occupational Therapy.  

Additional Part-Time Staff 

The following instructors are some of the best of the best, are still active in Ateru Goju Ryu Karate Jutsu and all have received their most current ranks from Hanshi Cullen. We are blessed to have a a wide and deep pool of knowledge to draw from and share with our student base.

Kyoshi Michael Galose 7th Dan Okinawan Goju 6th Dan Ateru Goju (Back in action: Assistant to Hanshi Cullen)

  Mr. Galose (Goju Mike as named by Morio Higaionna), trained with Hanshi Cullen for 13 years and was his emissary to Okinawa. He made trips for a week or two to the motherland of karate for years.  Mr. Galose was quoted as saying " I have been to Okinawa multiple times for tough intensive training there, weeks at a time with all the best, Higaonna, Kuba, all of them; and Hanshi Cullen is as knowledgeable on kata, bunkai and all other aspects of Goju karate as every one of them. I guess I had to travel to Okinawa to find this out for myself. We are extremely lucky to have a sensei of this caliber as part of our teaching staff. (This profile is long overdue for a re-write, which will include a host of accolades for our beloved Mr. Galose - coming soon)

Renshi James Kindle 

Sensei Kindle began his training some thirty years ago when Mr. Cullen was still teaching at the old Fremont Goju Ryu. He is a 5th Degree black belt and Renshi. The big man is a very dedicated student of the art of Goju.

Renshi Larr Etzler

Sensei Etzler holds a 5th Degree Black Belt with MENKYO KAIDEN AND Renshi Teaching Credentials in Ateru Goju Ryu. 

Renshi Larr has moved back to the area and drives an hour each way to the Academy to train and teach.