Our Instructors & Staff Members

Our Instructors have spent many years devoted to training in the arts of Tang Soo Do and Hapkido and have attained a certain level of expertise to qualify them as teachers and also mentors.

Through extensive testing, certification and tournament level competition, our staff has attained mastery in this martial art and now enjoy sharing their skill and passing it on to their students. Here are a few of Yi's Karate of Cherry Hill's instructors and other staff members, starting with Master Alex Lonabaugh:

Master Alex Lonabaugh   (6th Degree Master Instructor) Master Alex Lonabaugh started his martial arts training with Grandmaster Ki Yun Yi in March of 1983. He achieved 1st degree Black Belt and began teaching in 1985. Master Lonabaugh has successfully tested for 6th Degree Master. His promotion is effective as of June 1st 2009!! In early 2000 he became the Chief Instructor for Yi's Karate of Cherry Hill. Master Lonabaugh has been recognized by Yi's Karate and the International Martial Arts Association as both Student of the Year and Instructor of the Year 2003 among other honors. Master Lonabaugh also teaches women's and children’s self-defense classes for the Township of Cherry Hill and teaches women's self-defense classes at the “Annual Women's Health Conference” held by the County of Camden. ABC NEWS interviewed Master Lonabaugh about the incident involving the alleged beating of pop star Rihanna by her boyfriend Chris Brown. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE. Click here to contact Master Lonabaugh by E-mail.

Master Ed Mills  (5th Degree Master Instructor) Master Ed Mills has been training at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill for over 30 years. He started training with his daughter Regina (now Master Willis) when he brought her in to learn how defend herself from a bully situation she was having. Both he and his daughter have continued ever since. Master Mills received his First Degree Black Belt in 1979 and continued up the ranks of Black Belt achieving Fifth Degree Master Instructor in the year 2000. Even in his 70’s Master Mills continues to remain active at Yi’s Karate and teaches our Friday classes.

Master Regina Willis  (4th Degree Master Instructor) Master Regina Willis has been training in the martial arts at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill for over 30 years. She started training with her father (Master Mills) when he brought her in to learn how defend herself from a bully situation she was having. Both she and her father have continued ever since. Master Willis has won numerous tournament awards over her many years of training and even with time off to give birth to and raise two children she has achieved the level of Fourth Degree Master Instructor.

Master Ramon Morales  (4th Degree Master Instructor) Master Ramón Morales has been training in the martial arts at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill for over 15 years. Master Morales has a wife and four daughters. Two of his daughters have trained to Black belt level, one to First Degree and another to Third Degree Black Belt. He also has a third daughter who is currently working her way up through the color belt ranks. Master Morales has won numerous tournament awards over his many years of training including a Grand Champion trophy in free sparing at the “Garden State Invitational Tournament” in 2004. Master Morales achieved the level of Fourth Degree Master Instructor in July 20004.

Master Lindsay Kerr  (4th Degree Master Instructor) Master Lindsay Kerr has been training in the martial arts at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill since 1994. She started training at the tender age of 7 years old and has continued training even as she attends college. Master Kerr achieved the level of Fourth Degree Black Belt in 2006 and Fourth Degree Master Instructor in December 2008. Master Kerr has won numerous tournament awards over her many years of training including a Grand Champion trophy in free sparing at the “Garden State Invitational Tournament” in 2007.

Mr. James Robinson  (3rd Degree Black Belt - Assistant Instructor) Mr. James Robinson began training in the martial arts at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill in 1999 at the age of 13. He has continued training even as he attends college. Mr. Robinson achieved the level of Third Degree Black Belt in 2007. Mr. Robinson has won numerous tournament awards over his many years of training including a Second place trophy in sparring in the Black Belt division at the I.M.A. bi-annual International Tournament.

Mr. Jonathon McClain  (3rd Degree Black Belt - Assistant Instructor) Mr. Jonathon McClain began training at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill in 2001 at the age of 9. Mr. McClain achieved the level of Second Degree Black Belt in 2006. Mr. McClain has successfully tested for 3rd Degree Black Belt. His promotion is effective as of June 1st 2009!! Mr. McClain has won numerous tournament awards over his many years of training, even competing as far away as England. Mr. McClain has also successfully completed a two-year “Instructor’s Training Program” at Yi’s Karate.

Mr. Nicholas Calzaretto  (3rd Degree Black Belt - Junior Assistant Instructor) Mr. Nicholas Calzaretto began training at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill in the year 2000, at the young age of 4. Mr. Calzaretto achieved the level of Second Degree Black Belt in 2006. Mr. Calzaretto has successfully tested for 3rd Degree Black Belt and his Assistant Instructor's Certification. His promotion is effective as of June 1st 2009!! Mr. Calzaretto has won numerous tournament awards over his many years of training. Mr. Calzaretto is now enrolled in a two-year “Instructor’s Training Program” at Yi’s Karate. Mr. Calzaretto was named “Student of the Year” from Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill for the year 2007.

Mr. Michael Purcell (2nd Degree Asst. Instructor)

Mr. Jacob Wetchler  (2nd Degree Black Belt - Assistant Instructor) Mr. Jacob Wetchler had been training at Yi’s Karate of Cherry Hill since the spring of the year 2000. He started training at the age of 10 years old. Mr. Wetchler achieved the level of First Degree Black Belt in early 2005 and then Second Degree Black Belt in 2007. Mr Wetchler passed away on the morning of October 15th, 2009. Jacob was a caring and true instructor, a loyal friend to many and a well loved student. I am honored and privileged to have been his instructor for so many years. He was the ultimate model of indomitable spirit! WE ALL MISS YOU JAKE!

Jake's Cancer Foundation Many people have asked where we would like donations sent in Jacob's memory. We’ve taken some time to respond because we wanted to be sure that this outpouring of generosity is directed to a cause that would be meaningful to Jake. One of the things that Jake made clear to us was that he considered cancer not just a disease but an injustice. He wanted to do something that would prevent other kids from ever having to go through what he did; specifically, he wanted to fund research and asked us to donate his own savings to that cause. With Jake’s desires in mind, we are establishing the Jake Wetchler Foundation for Innovative Pediatric Cancer Research. The purpose of the foundation is to help achieve breakthrough advances in one or both of the following areas: · Understanding the causes of pediatric cancer and preventing children and young adults from contracting cancer in the first place; · Developing innovative techniques for the treatment of pediatric cancer that will have a major impact on survival rates and/or reduce the suffering experienced by patients during and after treatment. What will be unique about this foundation as compared to other established cancer-fighting organizations is that it will enable scientists to pursue novel ideas that would be difficult to fund through traditional sources. With help from a scientific advisory board, we will further refine these goals, but the desired impact will remain the same: to reduce suffering and help prevent cancer from robbing children and young adults of their futures and their promise. We are in the process of setting up a not-for-profit organization so that contributions will be tax-deductible. Checks can be made out to “The Jake Wetchler Foundation for Innovative Pediatric Cancer Research” and sent to us at 401 Sherry Way, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. Jake was a fighter. We thank you for helping us to continue this fight in his honor. Please visit the website at DontLetTheCancerWin.org

For more information about the Yi's Karate of Cherry Hill staff or training programs, please contact us at (856) 795-2400 or by clicking here.