Richard Callahan
CO-OWNER / SENIOR INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Callahan is a native of Bedford and has co-owned and operated Callahan’s Karate since 1994 with his wife, Winnie Callahan. Mr. Callahan is an 8th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and a long time student of Tenth Degree Kenpo Grand Master Eliud Sanchez of Vernon, CT. With 36 years of experience, Mr. Callahan has helped thousands of students achieve success in martial arts, as well as help them make positive lifestyle changes through their training.
Winnie Callahan
CO-OWNER / SENIOR INSTRUCTOR
Mrs. Callahan is a Sixth Degree Black Belt in Kenpo. She is also a Senior Instructor and has been teaching at all age levels for more than 29 years. She has extensive tournament competition experience from the 1990’s in both Kenpo forms and fighting. In addition to her role as an Instructor, Mrs. Callahan manages community outreach for Callahan’s, including special self-defense workshops and programs.
Martin Clements
SENIOR INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Clements is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and a Senior instructor. He has been a full-time member of the Callahan’s team since 1997. As the primary Instructor for Mini and Little Dragons, Mr. Clements is known for his unparalleled patience while teaching young children. He also has an extraordinary ability to work with students of all age groups and those with special needs.
Jay Gonzalez ("Mr. G.")
SENIOR INSTRUCTOR
Mr. G is a 6th Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and has been a full-time team member since 2000. Mr. Gonzalez has a tremendous ability to inspire and connect with his students, bringing out the best in them. He encourages and inspires his students to strive for excellence but provides a great balance of hard work and fun in the classroom.
Rob Ackerman
INSTRUCTOR
Robert Ackerman has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2001 and is a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Kenpo. Rising through the ranks from a "Tiny Tiger” at age 3 to becoming an instructor in 2014. Mr. Ackerman is a multi-talented instructor who does classes, camps, private lessons, birthday parties, as well as local community programs. Mr. Ackerman has earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s of Education in Special Education from Endicott College in Beverly MA; he implements these skills as a Grade Five Math and Science Teacher at Chenery Upper Elementary School in Belmont MA. He enjoys bringing his enthusiasm to classrooms and karate students at every age and ability level. With additional training under world champion martial artists, Mr. Ackerman uses the skills he learned to also instruct our leadership team in performance-based martial arts. He is most notably known for his skills with the double sword. He has competed at national tournaments since 2015 and enjoys challenging himself alongside the world’s best. His sense of community has also led Callahan’s in the “Breaking Through ALS” Challenge for ALS, raising over $17,000 over five years. Finally, he is often found behind the lens of a camera, using his photography skills to produce professional content for our social media and website.
Brianna Attardo
INSTRUCTOR
Ms. Attardo has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2008 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. She is attending Middlesex Community College, majoring in Early Education. Ms. Attardo is currently living in Orlando, Florida completing the Disney College Program where she will be working at the Magic Kingdom!
Amanda Hewage
INSTRUCTOR
Mrs. Hewage (formerly Ms. Callahan) is a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and has been teaching kids of all ages for 15 years. She began her karate training as a junior student in 1994 when her parents opened Callahan’s Karate. She worked her way up through the ranks and started helping out in classes as a young teenager on the Leadership Team. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Berklee College of Music while pursuing Music Education, then later went on to teach English as a Second Language in Thailand where she lived for 2 years and did some training in Muay Thai Kick Boxing. After returning to the states in 2018, Mrs. Hewage rejoined the team at Callahan’s. Along with teaching many kids classes, private lessons and introductory lessons, Mrs. Hewage creates Callahan’s Character Development Program, a monthly positive message that students learn about at the end of each class. In 2021, she completed a Graduate certificate program in Applied Behavior Analysis from UMass Lowell, then became a Behavior Change Specialist through NASM and a certified Health and Wellness Coach through AFPA. She continues to contribute her knowledge of behavior change and habit development to her teaching.
Julia Goding
INSTRUCTOR
Ms.Goding has been training at Callahan’s since 2002 and is a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Kenpo. She is currently Living abroad in Thailand where she is teaching and training in Muay Thai Kickboxing. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Management at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Ms. Goding is well-known for her impressive demo work involving open hand forms and kamas. She is also known for connecting quickly with students and is a great role model, particularly for our female karate students.
Laura Jewer
INSTRUCTOR/OFFICE MANAGER
Mrs. Jewer, BS Leadership, first started training at Callahan’s Karate in 2013 and received her Third Degree Black Belt in 2023. Shortly after receiving her First Degree Black Belt, Mrs. Jewer joined the Instructor Team in 2018. In early 2019, she accepted a position at Callahan’s Karate where she will be able to alternate time between teaching on the mat and administration/project management to improve processes and elevate our customer’s experience.
Joe Mola
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Mola has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2010 and is a Fourth Degree Black Belt in Kenpo. Mr. Mola joined the Instructor Team in 2017 and has been helping to train both children and adult students. He most appreciates the intricate style and purpose found in American Kenpo forms, and finds teaching to be one of the most rewarding things he’s done.
Kohtaro Shimada
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Shimada has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2006 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2024 at Western New England University.
Noah Southard
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Southard has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2010 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the Class of 2023 at Temple University.
Sophia Lando
Ms. Lando has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2010 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. She is a member of the class of 2024 at Boston College.
Will McIntosh
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. McIntosh has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2011 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2026 at Duke University, majoring in Biology.
Cole Parks
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Parks has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2009 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2024 at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Tori Postler
INSTRUCTOR
Ms. Postler has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2010 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. She is a member of the class of 2022 at Concord-Carlisle High School.
Tyler Rauch
Mr. Rauch has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2010 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2026 at Bentley University, majoring in Business.
Jordan Vinh
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Vinh has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2009 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2024 at the University of Michigan.
Kevin Falco
INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Falco began his martial arts journey at Callahan’s Karate in 1999 at the age of four. He has since achieved the rank of 4th degree black belt in American Kenpo and been an instructor at the studio since 2009. His primary duties revolve around instructing the studio’s Leadership Team, including curriculum development. Mr. Falco has experience in the creation of open hand forms as well as those utilizing kama, bo staff, and nunchaku. He has also been assigned the role of Special Teams Director, overseeing the demonstration team as well as choreographing performances. In life outside of the studio, he graduated from the University of Massachusetts with his Master's in Biomedical Engineering and is working in medical device research and development. He enjoys spending time outdoors; training for his next triathlon, hiking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, or doing photography.
Devon Das
Mr. Das has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2015 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2024 at Lincoln High School.
Logan Isabelle
Mr. Isabelle has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2012 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2025 at Bedford High School.
Evan Iverson
Mr. Iverson has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2011 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2027 at Trinity College in Dublin.
Vivian Liu
Ms. Liu has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2015 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. She is a member of the class of 2025 at Bedford High School.
Charlotte McIntosh
Ms. McIntosh has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2011 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. She is a member of the class of 2025 at Concord Academy.
Angelina Vinh
Ms. Vinh has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2010 and is a 3rd Degree Black Belt. She is a member of the class of 2024 at Bedford High School.
Michael Herbster
Mr. Herbster has been training at Callahan’s Karate since 2014 and is a 2nd Degree Black Belt. He is a member of the class of 2025 at Concord-Carlisle High School.