Sensei Ernie Dunkelberger
I was born June 25, 1958.
In February 1979 I began training with Renshi James Harlan. Renshi Harlan trained under Hanshi (Sensei) C.T. Patterson in Nashville, Tenn. After he earned his black belt, James Harlan relocated he and his family to Ephrata, Pa.
Biography
I first met Sensei Harlan in a machine shop. Mr. Harlan had a picture of himself in his karate uniform. I "pestered" Mr. Harlan to the point where he finally said "Ok, you have two weeks. If you can get 15 people to join you, I'll begin teaching karate classes." The rest is history.
Ichiban Senpai-A, Mr. Brian Mell
Mr. Brian Mell has been with Wado-Ryu Martial Arts since the year 2006. Mr. Mell is a 4th degree black belt. He has a grown son and daughter as well as a granddaughter. He graduated from Penn State University and Lebanon Valley College. Mr. Mell is a general manager for a company that manufactures electronics for the military & aerospace industry. Mr. Mell enjoys working out, hiking, the beach, and parks. He enjoys all sports. His favorite teams are Penn State, Redskins, and Phillies.
Ichiban Senpai-B, Mr. Brock Bingeman
Mr. Brock Bingeman has been with our Wado Ryu Martial Arts Studio since August 2001. Mr. Bingeman is a 4th degree black belt. He enjoys physical fitness and helping others with, health, nutrition, exercise, and positive attitude. Mr. Bingeman is a four-time men's kata champion at the national Wado-Ryu championship.
Senpai, Mr. Anthony DeSimone
Mr. Anthony DeSimone has been with our Wado-Ryu Martial Arts since 2007 and is a 3rd degree black belt. Mr. Desimone enjoys exploring new places, photography, walking/jogging in his neighborhood, and swimming. He loves spending time with family and friends. Thank You Mr. DeSimone for being an important part of our karate team and a helper in the community.
Senpai, Mrs. Chrissy Rapp
Mrs. Chrissy Rapp. Mrs. Rapp has been with our Wado Ryu Martial Arts Studio since August 2014 and is a 2nd degree Black Belt. She is a Nuclear Medicine Technologist at Penn State Health St. Joseph since 2001. Her hobbies include running, biking, reading, and attending her children's activities. Mrs. Rapp also enjoys watching Notre Dame football, so much that plans her day around the game when it's on TV. Thank You Mrs. Rapp for being an important part of the community and our karate team.
Senpai, Mrs. Nile Wilson
Mrs. Nile Wilson is an orchestra director and a professional violinist who holds graduate degrees in music education and orchestral conducting from Old Dominion University, Messiah University, and Auburn University. She has been a public school music educator for more than twenty years and has performed as a violinist and violist for professional orchestras in the Philippines, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Nile has always had a fascination for martial arts since her youth, but limited opportunities and resources for study during her childhood left little room for other activities outside academics and music. She began her martial arts study in Shotokan Karate in 2016 when she was 39 years old. After two years, Nile went on to study Wado Ryu Karate and earned her Sho Dan in 2022. She has won first place in both kata and kumite at several local tournaments and the USEWF C.T. Patterson Memorial Championships in Nashville, TN. She has since retired from competition to shift to a focus on progressive study and teaching of martial arts techniques and concepts so that they can be effectively applied during self-defense scenarios.
Senpai, Miss. Lara Westhafer
Miss. Lara Westhafer is our dedicated instructor for the children's classes. With several years of instructing experience, Miss Westhafer is a favorite among both children and adults for her engaging teaching style and enthusiasm.
Senpai, Mr. Dylan Pannebecker
Mr. Dylan Pannebecker is an excellent instructor known for his athletic ability and karate expertise. His dynamic teaching approach and deep knowledge make him well-regarded by his students.
Senpai, Miss. Natalie Rapp
Miss. Natalie Rapp, our youngest instructor, excels in communication and connects well with students of all ages. Miss Rapp’s effective teaching methods have quickly earned her praise from everyone she teaches.
Senpai, Mr. Jeremy Rapp
Senpai, Mr. Greg Gerwitz
Senpai, Miss Sophia Wilson
Ms. Sophia Wilson’s introduction to martial arts began with Hayashi-ha Shito Ryu Karate when she was seven years old. After moving to Pennsylvania in 2016, she continued training in traditional Japanese Karate in a Shotokan Ryu dojo. In 2018, Ms. Wilson cross-trained into Wado Ryu Karate and eventually earned her Sho Dan in 2025.
Ms. Wilson is an avid musician who is proficient in many different instruments. She has been playing the violin and viola since she was four years old. She began studying the oboe in 8th grade and later learned to play clarinet, alto saxophone, and English horn in high school. She is a member of her high school’s, string orchestra, symphonic band, musical pit orchestra, and award-winning marching band. She earned placement by competitive audition in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) District 7 Orchestra, District 7 South Band, and Region V Band on both English horn and oboe. In addition to her musical honors, Ms. Wilson is a high achieving student who enjoys mathematics and hopes to major in Aerospace Engineering while actively participating in university music ensembles.
Best Karate instructors around. Sensei Ernie Dunkelberger continues to do a magnificent job teaching and building kids up in our community!
Mike Onenine
★★★★★
Award Winning Instructors and Students
Our black belt instructors are among the top students in our form in the nation. Our students get an opportunity represent our dojo and compete in competitions.
