Instructors
Passion & Excellence
SEICHOU KARATE INSTRUCTORS
Students come to Seichou Karate for a variety of reasons including self-defense, physical fitness, and because they’re interested in learning about Japanese culture. They rely on Master Karate Instructor and Seichou Karate Founder Richard Romero and his team of instructors to provide quality Japanese martial and cultural arts education in an environment that is characterized by safety, learning and growth and enjoyment.
All of our instructors possess masters degrees or doctorates and can demonstrate and articulate the techniques, concepts, and philosophies of the disciplines they instruct.
SEICHOU LIVE - LAUNCHPAD
Ensure that a Seichou LIVE session is scheduled. You can do so by checking the calendar.
Ensure that you have downloaded and installed ZOOM.
As a Seichou LIVE member, you will have received a PASSCODE via email. Please ensure that you input your password when ZOOM Launches! If you did not receive a Passcode, please email us at info@seichoukarate.com
Current Students
- Four and five-year-olds are entitled to attend 2 karate classes and 2 Story Time classes per week via Seichou LIVE.
- Children six and older are entitled to attend 2 karate classes and 2 Karate Talks each week via Seichou LIVE.
- Current Seichou Karate students will have access to live online classes and recorded content via Seichou Tracker free of charge. We will continue this until we reopen the dojos.
Richard Romero - Master Instructor & Founder
Richard Romero is a Japanologist and former full-contact Kyokushinkai-kan Karate champion with more than 50 years of experience, including 20 years as a disciple of renowned karate master Shigeru Oyama.
In addition to the wealth of practical karate knowledge that Romero Shihan brings to his students, he has a deep respect for the non-violent philosophy that underlies Japanese martial arts, and an intimate understanding of the laws that impact of the lives of martial artists because he is an attorney admitted in New York and Washington, DC. Most importantly, he is a gifted communicator who makes the tenets of bushido relevant, intelligible and exciting for students of all ages by virtue of his remarkable educational background and professional experience.
Romero is a graduate of Columbia University (BA) and Yeshiva University (JD) and possesses certificates in Japan studies from Cornell University and the Inter-university Center for Japan Studies in Yokohama (Stanford Center).
Romero is unique in the U.S. karate world because he is the only non-Japanese to have been selected by Master Shigeru Oyama to teach karate in Japan as his personal representative, and he has five years of other professional teaching experience in Japan, including Public Educational Consultant at the Kani City Board of Education and Lecturer on Japanese martial arts at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Seichou Karate® Dojo is the culmination of Romero’s fifty years of Japanese martial arts experience earned through sweat, blood and perseverance. In it, Romero has distilled and combined practices and philosophies of various martial arts including the rigor and practicality of Kyokushinkan-kan karate, the ingenuity of Aikido, the philosophy of Kodokan Judo, and the introspection of Kyudo (traditional archery).
Students who wish to learn the most rigorous Japanese karate that is founded upon the highest ethics of the bushido tradition will appreciate the rare opportunity to train under this spirited leader in person at his northern Virginia schools, in live online classes or by utilizing his extensive library of recorded instructional videos.
Romero is a graduate of Columbia University (BA) and Yeshiva University (JD) and possesses certificates in Japan studies from Cornell University and the Inter-university Center for Japan Studies in Yokohama (Stanford Center).
Romero is unique in the U.S. karate world because he is the only non-Japanese to have been selected by Master Shigeru Oyama to teach karate in Japan as his personal representative, and he has five years of other professional teaching experience in Japan, including Public Educational Consultant at the Kani City Board of Education and Lecturer on Japanese martial arts at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.
Seichou Karate® Dojo is the culmination of Romero’s 40-plus years of Japanese martial arts experience earned through sweat, blood and perseverance. In it, Romero has distilled and combined practices and philosophies of various martial arts including the rigor and practicality of Kyokushinkan-kan karate, the ingenuity of Aikido, the philosophy of Kodokan Judo, and the introspection of Kyudo (traditional archery).
Students who wish to learn the most rigorous Japanese karate that is founded upon the highest ethics of the bushido tradition will appreciate the rare opportunity to train under this spirited leader.
MALIK K. CUTLAR - Assistant Karate Instructor
Malik K. Cutlar has been studying Seichou Karate® since June 2004. A 3rd degree black belt, he is a pillar at our dojo who holds himself to an extremely high standard of technical expertise. In teaching and supporting many dojo events, Cutlar Senpai inspires our students with kindness and a positive mental attitude. He is a fierce fighter who also deeply appreciates kata (karate movement patterns). Thus, he gives credence to both the “yin” and “yang” sides of his personality. When he’s not teaching or training at Seichou Karate®, Cutlar Senpai has enjoyed a successful career in the law.
Rob Burns – Assistant Instructor
Rob Burns Senpai began his Seichou Karate® training in October 2009, and he earned his shodan in November 2016. A patent attorney with the United States Department of Energy, Burns Senpai is a deeply committed karateka who inspires our students by providing a sterling example of fair play and dedication. In particular, when the dojo needs help with a special event, Burns Senpai is often the first to volunteer. Burns Senpai is retired Navy Reserve officer and loving husband. In their spare time, he and his wife are active in church activities and community events.
Aki Tsuda – Assistant Instructor
In 1994, Aki Tsuda began his study of Japanese Kyokushinkai-kan Karatedo in his native Kyoto, Japan and he earned his shodan in March 1998 from Koichi Kawabata Shihan. A former diplomat for the Japanese government, he began training at Seichou Karate® in June 2013 after beginning his career at the World Bank where he is a Senior Social Development Specialist. In his current role, Tsuda Senpai works with developing countries in Asia and Africa to manage environmental and social risks in investment projects. He personifies strength, humility and perseverance, which are the finest attributes of Japanese karatedo. Thus, through his strong fighting skills and personal example, Tsuda Senpai is making a powerful contribution to Seichou Karate® students. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, visiting museums and horseback riding. He speaks Japanese, English, German and French.
James Collura – Assistant Instructor
Jim Collura Senpai began his martial arts journey at Seichou Karate® in April 2011, drawn to the discipline, structure, and character-building aspects of traditional Japanese martial arts. After more than a decade of dedicated training, he achieved the rank of Shodan (first-degree black belt) in October 2022. Collura Senpai brings unique perspectives to his role as assistant instructor. Outside the dojo, he serves as President of a non-profit trade association representing home comfort businesses, following a distinguished career in government relations that began as a staffer in the United States Congress. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science with certificates in Russian and Asian Studies from Saint Anselm College, and has completed graduate coursework at Catholic University. Collura Senpai’s path to shodan (first degree black belt) exemplifies the perseverance and dedication required to excel in martial arts. He believes strongly in constantly learning and keeping an open mind to new experiences. Passionate about guiding others in their martial arts journey, Collura Senpai is committed to helping students of all ages discover their own strength and capability. He believes deeply in Seichou Karate’s philosophy of personal growth, appreciating how the dojo’s training builds confidence and character that students carry into every aspect of their lives. Whether helping beginners learn the basics or working with advanced students refining their techniques, he brings the same dedication and enthusiasm to every class. Originally from Boston, Collura Senpai embraces both the warrior spirit and the principle that training partners must learn and grow together. His teaching approach emphasizes patience, leading by example, and the understanding that true strength comes from developing self-control, then helping others achieve their potential. Students appreciate his encouraging presence and genuine commitment to their progress. When not training, he enjoys quality time with friends and family, watching NFL football, and collecting vintage comics and vinyl records.John Vogel – Assistant Instructor
Jon Vogel Senpai began studying Seichou Karate® in August 2017, and earned his first degree black belt (shodan) in May 2022. While his initial interest in Karatedo was rooted in physical fitness and self-defense, his studies unlocked the benefits of focus, patience and managing stress. After all, if one can manage their breathing, remain calm, and stay focused while sparring with more senior students, there is very little outside the dojo one cannot manage. As an instructor, Vogel Senpai seeks to help fellow students unlock these benefits through basic technique (kihon waza), movement patterns (kata) and free-fighting (kumite). A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Vogel Senpai graduated Magna Cum Laude from Connecticut College and has spent the past three decades working in electoral politics. He is a managing partner at MVAR Media, a national political media firm that specializes in television, digital and radio advertising. In this capacity, Jon has helped elect five United States senators, two governors, and over two dozen members of congress. Vogel Senpai and his wife live in Washington DC with their two daughters. During his free time, he enjoys hiking, traveling with his family and cheering for his hometown Philadelphia Eagles.Sarah Romero – Assistant Instructor
High school student Sarah Romero Senpai began her Seichou Karate® journey at the age of four. Since then, she has trained diligently to exert dominance over our techniques, movement patterns and free-fighting. She earned her first degree black belt (shodan) in November 2023. Romero Senpai is passionate about helping beginners grow and succeed because she remembers what it felt like to take those first steps on the mat. As such, she has taken a leadership role at the dojo by teaching classes and mentoring newcomers of all ages to develop confidence in the essential elements of our practice. She believes that karate is not just about physical strength or martial prowess, but also about developing focus, humility, and a positive mindset – traits she strives to manifest every day in her academics and other extracurricular activities. Romero Senpai is a competitive figure skater and varsity letter-winning wrestler. She speaks Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, native English, and has just begun studying Japanese. Romero Senpai is committed not only to inspiring the next generation of karate students through her love for the art and example but also to nurturing healthy human relationships with her friends and fellow karateka.