Meet our Coaches and Instructors

Sensei Gael Gettleman

Richland Judo

Sensei Gettelman began his judo journey after his high school graduation in 1971, attending classes that summer taught by sensei Neil Rosenberg
at a community center in Sussex, WI. A low draft number encouraged him to promptly join the USAF in January of 1972. During his stationing with
the 676 Radar Squadron near Antigo, WI he attended classes for one year under sensei Michael (Micky) Shoulders in his backyard dojo in Wausau.
Years later, after having moved to Washington state Gael began judo practice under sensei Mike Purecell with classes held in the Fruitland school gym, located in Kennewick. Purcell finally established a dojo at his residence where he has instructed kata for many years. Gael got busy with family, work and life in general leaving judo to languish a few
years. Then, in 1990 sensei Bruce Lang reopened Richland Dojo at 1930 Saint, Richland. Gael practiced competitive judo under Lang and kata
under Purcell, earning his Shodan in 1998. After several years Gael attained Sandan and took over the head judo instructor position.

In 2024 he retired from the head position, now held by sensei Justin Chambers. Gael still instructs at the dojo and on occasion randori with students. The Richland School of Judo was founded in the late 1950s and the building, once the second story of a women's dormitory, placed at its current location in 1967 where besides judo there are several other
martial arts taught.

Tony Marlow

Tri-Cities Taekwondo

I began my Martial Arts Training over 45 years ago as a Freshman in College.  I have been instructing at the Richland Dojo for the past 20 years.  Our program is different because we are curriculum based.  This makes us very family friendly.  A place where moms, dads, brothers and sisters, ages 7 and older can all train together. There is no Better Family Activity!!

Jim Epperly

Blackbird Training Group

Jim's martial arts journey started in 1997 under Sifu Mark Holowczak training Hsing-i kung fu. In 1999 Jim and his brother Ben joined the Richland Dojo, learning both Judo and Yamashigi Aiki-Jujutsu. He competed in numerous Judo tournaments, winning a few, placing in a few, and managing to learn something especially in defeat.

Jim holds a black belt in Aiki-Jujutsu and a Brown Belt in Judo. He served as an assistant instructor in teaching both Aiki-Jujutsu and Judo at the Richland Dojo, before changing his focus to learn Pekiti Tirsia Kali. Jim began training in Pekiti Tirsia Kali in 2010 and earned his master instructor (Mataas Na Guro) ranking in 2021 under Lamont Glass and Jared Wihongi . He became the head instructor for the Blackbird Training Group in 2023.

He was awarded his Level I Mentor (Regimental Broadsword) through the Cateran Society in 2018. He was the co-founder of the Blackfeather Broadsword Academy and acts as it's lead instructor.

Jim and Ben have also attended several Law Enforcement combatives seminars, such as TriCom Instructor, Ground survival, and Close Quarters Firearms integration Tactics.  Jim and Ben, with the help of Blackbird students with Law Enforcement backgrounds, are in the process of developing curriculum based on these seminars and concepts of Law Enforcement Combatives, with the goal of bringing Law Enforcement style combatives to the Concealed Carry Civilian population in the Tri Cities.

Justin Chambers

Richland Judo

 

 

 

 

Mike See

Tri-Cities Kokondo

Ben Epperly

Blackbird Training Group

Ben began his martial arts career a ahead of his older brother Jim, attending several Karate classes with High school friends.  Ben Wrestled in Middle school and High School and brought those skills to The Richland Dojo when he and Jim attended The Judo and Aiki Jujutsu classes there, ultimately earning a Brown Belt in both disciplines.  In Judo, Ben was an exceptional competitor, traveling across the Pacific Northwest and occasionally into Canada to compete finding success more often than not, and often against more experienced competitors.  As happens, life got in the way for a while, and Ben put his young family first.  Once things got settled, Ben joined his brother in training Pekiti Tirsia Kali.  Taking to it and it's combat focus, Ben is a natural, using his physicality and natural athleticism to great advantage.  Ben has participated in several Dog Brothers Open gatherings, attaining the rank of Dog. 

In 2024, Ben and Jim took over the day to day running of Blackbird Training Group, Jim as head instructor and Ben as co-owner and Co-Combatives Instructor.  In the Summer of 2024, Lamont Glass promoted Ben to Lakan Guro, or Apprentice Instructor.   

Ben also joined Jim attending several Law Enforcement combatives seminars, such as TriCom Instructor, Ground survival, and Close Quarters Firearms integration Tactics.  Jim and Ben, with the help of Blackbird students with Law Enforcement backgrounds, are in the process of developing curriculum based on these seminars and concepts of Law Enforcement Combatives, with the goal of bringing Law Enforcement style combatives to the Concealed Carry Civilian population in the Tri Cities.

 

 

Alexandria Cristescu 

Richland Judo

 

 

 

Spain Abney

Yamashigi Aikijujutsu

Lamont Glass

Blackbird Training Group

Lamont is the Founder and now Instructor Emeritus of the training group. He holds Senior Instructor (Mandala Maginoo) ratings in Pekiti Tirsia Kali under Tuhon Jared Wihongi and Full Instructor in Kenpo Karate under Sifu Jim Dean. He is a Level 1 Mentor in the Cateran Society.

Lamont has been active as a martial arts instructor for 21 years. In 2008 he moved to Kennewick and established the Blackbird Training Group to promote the art of Pekiti Tirsia Kali in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2​017 Lamont helped co-found the Black Feather Broadsword Academy to popularize the rediscovery and recreation of the historical fighting arts of Europe. He received his Level I Mentor (Regimental Broadsword) from the Cateran Society in 2018.

He is an active participant in weapon based competitions and has been named as a Full Dog Brother (Wile E. Dog) by the Dog Brothers Tribe. Lamont is the co-founder of the Warrior Tipon-Tipon an annual weapon oriented fighting event.

Daniel Gerber

Old Warrior Horse Kung-fu

Daniel Gerber has been practicing Chinese martial arts since 2015, having first obtained a junior black belt in Tae Kwon Do at age ten, and dabbling in Karate, and Yoga. He obtained his black belt in 2019 with Old Warrior Horse Kung Fu Academy and his 2nd degree in 2023. 

Tri-Cities born and raised, Daniel has a love of the martial arts, but also of archery, art, language, writing and philosophy, all of which bring added depth to his teaching. He believes in learning by making mistakes and continued practice to obtain high levels of skill, and that martial arts can bring not just physical health, but also peace of mind.

Any student is welcome. We have had students as young as age 13 (with parental support) all the way up to students in their seventies, both men and women. Kung Fu is not just a way of fighting, it is a way of learning and a way of living.

Michael Jaramillo

White Owl Martial Arts

Guro Michael Jaramillo is a specialist in advanced empty hand combat, edged weapons combat, and impact weapons combat. He has been teaching publicly in Tri-Cities, WA since 2019. His goal is to share his knowledge and the effectiveness of the martial arts he has studied over the years. He believes that through the combining of the arts, a person can learn to develop a high level of skill with a wide range of tools faster than a single art alone. He attributes much of his ability to Master at Arms, James A. Keating of Comtech. He holds a Tactical Instructor's Certification and Bowie Knife Instructor's Certification from Comtech with 10 years of training. Guro Michael has a combined 17 years of martial arts experience and has studied concepts from various arts such Kali, Silat, Jeet Kune Do, Red Boat Wing Chun, Fencing, Bowie Fencing, Western Boxing, Tai Chi Chuan, and Jujitsu.

Scott Goodgame

Blackbird Training Group

Scott began Martial Arts training in 2002 in the art Kung Fu San Soo under Master Mark Goodson and Master David Woods in Bakersfield, California. He earned his first degree black belt in 2011 and his second degree black belt in 2013.

Scott is one of the founding members of the Black Feather Broadsword Academy and has earned a Level 1 Mentor (Regimental Broadsword) through the Cateran Society.

Scott began training in Pekiti Tirsia Kali in 2015 and and earned his Lakan Guro (Apprentice Instructor) ranking in 2021.