Sei Shihan Karen Kells-Pamfilis
7th Degree Black Belt
Owner & Chief Instructor
Sei Shihan Karen has been training in Seido karate since 1984. She has a Masters in Religious Education from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland and a Bachelors in Communication Arts from College of Notre Dame of Maryland.
Karen is an avid cyclist and has completed several century bike rides and long list of organized charity bike rides. In August 2018, she took first place and QOM (Queen of the Mountain) in the Harrisburg 30 mile Gran Fondo. She has also completed 2 marathons and numerous triathlons, including the Diamondman half Ironman.
Fitness is Karen’s passion and she is currently working on certification as a personal trainer. She brings her enthusiasm for fitness, hard work and fun to the dojo floor.
Jun Shihan Tom Culbertson
6th Degree Black Belt
Adult Instructor
Kyoshi Tom started his Karate training in 1980 and attained the rank of 1st kyu. After an extended break from training he returned in 1991 and received his Shodan Blackbelt (1st degree) in the Bushi-Shin style of traditional Japanese Karate. Moving to the Seido style of Karate in 2000 he has now attained the level of Kyoshi, senior teacher. Kyoshi Tom’s profession is a landscape contractor. Working with his wife Jennifer, together they have run a local landscaping company for the past 20 years.
Kyoshi David McManus
5th Degree Black Belt
Instructor
All-ages Instructor – Kyoshi David has been training in Seido Karate since 2000 and teaching since 2005. Due to frequent travel to locations where there are no Seido dojos, Kyoshi David has trained in a number of other styles including boxing, Krav Maga, Tae Kwon Do, and MMA.
He is a Baltimore native and graduate of Loyola Blakefield in 2006 and Loyola University of New Orleans in 2010. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Classical Languages and Religious Studies. Kyoshi David has spent time in 8 foreign countries, including Egypt until the revolution forced his return!
Senpai Mark Vitello
2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor
Senpai Mark is a native of New Jersey. Mark begin training in Seido Karate at Honbu (the Worldwide headquarters of Seido Karate) in New York City during the summer of 1987. While taking college classes close to home, he would commute to NYC to train when his class schedule allowed. Training took a “long pause” when he move to Boston upon transferring to a new college.
Mark has a Masters Degree in Supply Chain Management from Syracuse University, Whitman School of Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.
Mark is married with four sons. After years of moving around the Northeast, the family put roots down in the greater Baltimore area. Full time karate training resumed in 2012. Thirty years after starting his karate journey, Mark achieved his Shodan rank (1st degree) in the fall of 2017. You’re never to old to start! He is thankful for the guidance he receives from senior instructors and strives to “pay it forward”. He and all four of his boys train together at Kells Karate Academy.
Senpai Dan Vaslow
2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor
Senpai Dan has been practicing karate for over eleven years and enjoys teaching students of all ages.
Senpai Mike O’Connell
2nd Degree Black Belt
Instructor
Senpai Mike began his martial arts journey in 1986 in the United Kingdom, training in the Wado Kai style of karate. Over the next 18 years, he expanded his expertise by studying Judo (under the guidance of his uncle, a local instructor), Muay Thai, and Kung Fu. At the age of 22, he earned the rank of Sifu in Kung Fu.
Academically, Mike attended the University of Southampton, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Health Science. He went on to complete a Master’s degree in Biochemical Pharmacology and a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology through a collaborative program with the University of Pennsylvania. He currently works as a Scientific Review Officer at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Mike met his wife while at the University of Pennsylvania, and the couple moved to the Baltimore area in 2006. They now have two sons. After a break from martial arts, Mike discovered Kells Karate Academy in 2018, which reignited his passion for training. He earned his 1st-degree black belt in 2022 and now enjoys sharing his knowledge with students while continuing to develop his own skills under the guidance of senior instructors.
Mel Metro, M. Ed.
Office Manager
Mel Metro is the office manager at Kells Karate Academy.
She has been studying Seido karate for 2 ½ years, is currently a Green Belt and is steadily moving towards her goal of earning her Black Belt. She has a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, and is 2/3 of the way through her Doctorate of Education program. Mel is also working on her martial arts Instructor Training Certification with Satori Instructor Alliance.
Mel’s personal philosophy of forever learning at home, at work and at play is evident in everything she does. If she is in the dojo, her kids are often found there as well, either watching her work or completing their own training. Her experience with her children benefits her greatly in working with the students in the dojo as does her love of teaching.
Mel works hard to meet the needs of every student and their families in the dojo while also making sure that everyone works together to create a close-knit PKA community. Her continued hard work is an inspiration to her fellow karate-ka and she looks forward to seeing you in the dojo!
Nada Eleiwi
Program Director
Nada is the Program Director at Kells Karate Academy and the proud mother of three black belt students at the dojo.
Nada is deeply committed to the students and families at Kells Karate Academy. She shares all the information needed to get started, discusses ways to maximize students’ growth, and works with families to align the program with each child’s goals. She also shares her experience with families, helping them understand the life-changing benefits of martial arts and supporting them in fostering their children’s growth. Her role as Program Director allows her to ensure that every student receives guidance, encouragement, and opportunities to develop the confidence, focus, and resilience they need for life beyond the dojo.
Like many parents, she sought a meaningful activity for her children, one that would teach self-discipline, confidence, and self-defense skills. Karate was the natural choice, and she witnessed firsthand how it shaped her children’s character and confidence.
Saan Rhyne
Front Desk Staff
Saan began his martial arts training in 2015 and started studying Seido Karate in 2021. He currently holds the rank of adult brown belt, and hopes to test for his Shodan (1st degree black belt) before he graduates high school. Outside the dojo, Saan is a student at Eastern Technical High School, where he is enrolled in the Law and Public Policy program and involved in several school organizations. He plans to study cybersecurity or public policy in college.