About Us
Head Instructors
Below is a list of the main instructors of each program. We have a number of other instructors who assist teaching in a variety of capacities. The Martial Art Fitness Center was established in 1975 and has produced over 100 black belts, more than 50 of which are actively training and/or teaching.
Master
Fred Gommels
Director: MAFCI Since 1986
Master G. began his martial arts training in 1973. He has trained in Shotokan Karate, Aiki-Jujitsu, KongSooDo, Taekwondo, TangSooDo, Yawara, Hapkido, Judo, Yusool and martial art weaponry.
Master G currently holds the following ranks:
6th Dan Korea Simmudo Association
5th Dan Korea Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan
5th Dan Korean Shin Moo Hapkido Federation
5th Dan Korea Taekwondo Chang Moo Kwan
4th Dan Yusool - Martial Arts USA
Master
Kirby Strissel
Administrator of Leadership
Master Strissel began training in the martial arts in 1990 and has trained with some of the finest Masters and GrandMasters in the USA and South Korea. His training is in: KongSooDo-Taekwondo, TangSooDo, Hapkido, Judo, Yusool and martial art weaponry. Master Strissel also heads up the Instructor Leadership Program at the MAFCI.
He currently holds the ranks of:
5th Dan Korea Simmudo Association
4rd Dan Taekwondo ChungDoKwan
3rd Dan Hapkido - MAFCI
1st Dan US Judo Association
Andy Kruse
Taekwondo, Hapkido
Master Kruse has been training in the martial arts since 1994 with some of the finest Masters and Grandmasters in both the USA and South Korea.. His training is in: KongSooDo-Taekwondo, TangSooDo, Hapkido, Judo, Yusool and martial art weaponry.
He currently holds the ranks of:
4th Dan Taekwondo - MAFCI
4th Dan Korea Simmudo Association
3rd Dan Hapkido - MAFCI
Sifu Gretel Quiñones has trained in the martial arts since 1981. Her most beloved art is Tai Chi Ch'uan and Tai Chi Tui Shou. She also has more than 20 years experience in competitive Taekwondo.
Contact Gretel at:
Shihan Frank and Sue Crow are joint owners and head instructors for OKKR. They have been teaching Okinawan Koburyu karate & kobudo since 1986. Karate is the Okinawan empty handed martial art while kobudo involves practice with a variety of martial arts weapons.
Shihan Frank and Shihan Sue both hold the following ranks:
Kyoshi Hachi Dan (8th degree) in Okinawan Koburyu Karatedo
Kyoshi Hachi Dan (8th degree) in Okinawan Koburyu Kobudo
They founded the Okinawan Koburyu dojo in Kalamazoo, Michigan and taught there for 15 years. They moved to Rochester in 1999, founded the OKKR and have been teaching in Rochester ever since.
Contact Frank or Sue Crow at:
Sensei Piotrowski has practiced Aikido since 1998 and currently holds the rank of Nidan 2nd Dan. He is a member of the United States Aikido Federation.
His primary instructors have been Calvin Blanchard Sensei, Bill McGourik Sensei and Neil Segal Sensei.
Contact Bruce Piotrowski at:
Lawrence Marcuson
Coach Lawrence Marcuson of Rochester, is the owner of and is a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor through the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association. His specialty is weight loss "boot camps".
Contact Lawrence at: