Charlottesville Yoseikan Karate School

Teaching Staff

Sensei Linda Gage
Founder Charlottesville Yoseikan
Chief Instructor

1994 Began training Kenpo Karate WPB, FL

1998 Began training under Sensei Matthews, Chito-ryu Karate-do, WPB Yoseikan

2002 Founded Charlottesville Yoseikan

Former professional dancer with The American Ballet Theater followed by a second career as a commercial airline pilot. Ms. Gage now devotes all of her time to teaching and training in both Karate-do as well as Iaijutsu.

Sempai Emma Gage
Co-Founder Charlottesville Yoseikan

1996 Began training Kenpo Karate West Palm Beach, Florida

1999 Began training Chito-Ryu Karate West Palm Beach Yoseikan

2002 Co-Founded of Charlottesville Yoseikan

2005 Promoted to Ik-Kyu by United States Chito Kai National Test Board

2007 Promoted to Shodan by United States Chito Kai National Test Board

2009 Promoted to Nidan by Hanshi & Kyoshi Dometrich

Emma is currently a student at James Madison University majoring in International Affairs.

Richard Rike
Adult Assistant Instructor

2004 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do under Sensei Gage, Charlottesville Yoseikan

2008 Promoted to Ik-kyu by the National Test Board, United States Chito Kai

2009 Promoted to Shodan (1st degree black belt) by the National Test Board, United States Chito Kai

Mr. Rike is a former wrestler and distance runner. He is the owner of RIKECORP of Charlottesville Va

Gus Monge
Adult Assistant Instructor

2005 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do under Sensei Gage, Charlottesville Yoseikan

2008 Promoted to Ik-kyu by the National Test Board, United States Chito Kai

2010 Promoted to Shodan by the United States Chito Kai Regional Test Board under William J. Dometrich, Hanshi

Mr. Monge has experience in hand to hand combat, developed while serving in the US military. He is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at UVA in Charlottesville,VA

Wes Grammer
Adult Assistant Instuctor

2004 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do under Sensei Gage, Charlottesville Yoseikan

2008 Promoted to Ik-kyu by the National Test Board, United States Chito Kai

Mr. Grammer brings to the Charlottesville Yoseikan a knowledge of the Japanese language and customs. He is a Senior Electronics Engineer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Charlottesville,VA

Erin Hagedorn
Adult Assistant Instructor

2006 Began training Tae Kwan Do Richmond, Virginia

2008 Began training Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Charlottesville Yoseikan

2010 Promoted to Ni-Kyu Charlottesville Yoseikan Test Board

Ms. Hagedorn graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor's Degree in History and Political Science. The Virginia Department of Education awarded a teaching certification to Ms. Hagedorn in 2006. She is currently teaching at Kate Collins Middle School in Waynesboro, VA and is a certified Firefighter & EMT.

William (Buck) Bailes
Adult Assistant Instructor

2007 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do at Charlottesville Yoseikan under Sensei Gage

2010 Promoted to Ni-kyu by the Charlottesville Yoseikan test board.

Buck has been a Research Technician at University of Virginia for 21 years. Before joining Charlottesville Yoseikan he studied Oh Do Kwon Tae Kwon Do and Wing Chun Kung Fu.

Fred Siebenmann
Adult Assistant Instructor

2007 Began training Chito-Ryu Karate-Do Charlottesville Yoseikan

2008 Began Iaijutsu training under Sensei Gerald Meade

2009 Promoted to San-Kyu Charlottesville Yoseikan Test Board

Following a 30 year sedentary lifestyle, Mr. Siebenmann changed his life with Chito-ryu Karate-do and Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaijutsu. Fred works in accounting at the University of Virginia.

Patrick Keese
Adult Assistant Instructor

Began training in Chito-ryu-Karate-do under Sensei Gage at the Charlottesville Yoseikan

2007 Promoted to Ni-Kyu by the Charlottesville Yoseikan Test Board

2008 Promoted to Ik-Kyu by the United States Chito Kai National Test Board

John Grammer
Assistant Youth Instructor
Assistant Iaijitsu Instructor

2004 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do at Charlottesville Yoseikan under Sensei Gage

2007 Promoted to Ni-kyu by the Charlottesville Yoseikan test board.

2008 Began Iaijutsu training under Sensei Gerald Meade

Danny Monge
Youth Assistant Instructor

1997 Trained White Kenpo Karate Long Island, NY

2004 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do under Sensei Gage, Charlottesville Yoseikan

2007 Promoted to Ni-kyu by the Charlottesville Yoseikan

2009 Promoted to Ik-Kyu by the United States Chito Kai National Test Board

Megan Payne
Youth Assistant Instructor

2004 Began training Chito-ryu Karate-do under Sensei Gage, Charlottesville Yoseikan

2007 Promoted to Ni-kyu by the Charlottesville Yoseikan Test Board

Iaijutsu Teaching Staff

Sensei Linda Gage
Founder
Senior Instructor

2008 Began training Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu, Charlottesville Yoseikan

Doug Gellman
Adult Assistant Instructor

1977 Began training in Judo in New York, acheiving rank of Green belt.

2008 After a nearly 30-year absence from Martial Arts, Doug began training in Iaijutsu at the Charlottesville Yoseikan Dojo under Sensei Gage.

2010 Promoted to 4th Kyu in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido at the Charlottesville Yoseikan Dojo by Sensei Carl Long under the charter of the Jikishin-Kai.

Doug currently works for Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Charlottesville, where he has worked since 1994. He is an avid outdoor adventurer and has completed thru-hikes of the Appalahian Trail, Vermont Long Trail, John Muir Trail, and Scottish Highland Trail. He holds a BA in Environmental Science from Connecticut College, and he served as a Dispatch Officer for the Charlottesville-Albemarle 911 Center for a period of four years.

John Grammer
Assistant Instructor

2008 Began training Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iaijutsu under Sensei Gage, Charlottesville Yoseikan.

2010 Promoted to 4th Kyu in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido at the Charlottesville Yoseikan Dojo by Sensei Carl Long under the charter of the Jikishin-Kai.