Learn About Our Professional Martial Arts Staff
All martial arts instructors at JK Lee Black Belt Academy in Milwaukee, WI are trained to ensure that our martial arts classes are safe, effective and fun.
Our instructors and instructor assistants are trained to focus on more than just teaching martial arts skills. Instructors also learn how to work with all students, tailoring their martial arts teaching methods to fit the individual child. Emphasis is put on encouragement and positive correction.
We are committed to teaching the physical skills of martial arts while applying attitude-shaping exercises aimed at bringing out the best character and physical potential in each student. Through weekly martial arts training, instructors advance their own martial art and educational knowledge to become even more effective martial arts teachers.
The JK Lee Black Belt Academy instructors are required to maintain their personal level of martial arts knowledge and a high level of personal growth. They are expected to take class on a regular basis and test at least once per year.
Our Milwaukee Martial Arts staff at JK Lee Black Belt Academy looks forward to working with you.
Brief Biographies of the staff at JK Lee Black Belt Academy
Master Chan Lee
Master Lee, Grand Master Lee’s son, started studying Tae Kwon Do when he was five years old. He took over the business aspects of the school after graduating from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a degree in communications. Master Lee is the former Wisconsin state Tae Kwon Do coach and has been featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and on CNN. His message and mission to improve his students lives was recently the focus of an MTV Made episode. Master Lee has trained staff at the Miller Brewing Company, worked with local schools and universities including the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and helped train airline pilots and crew following the September 11th attacks. Master Lee has appeared in many martial arts publications. He is an active participant of the Ultimate Black Belt Test and provides consulting to martial arts schools across the country.
Master Susan Miller (Brookfield)
Master Miller began studying martial arts in 1974. She has trained in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Milwaukee. As a teen she competed in Eastern USA, Canada and Puerto Rico. Master Miller has been training and teaching at J. K. Lee since 1990. She implemented a Tae Kwon Do program in the public school system where she works as a school psychologist. When she started at J. K. Lee, Grand Master Lee’s holistic concern for the health and well being of his students impressed her and she wishes to continue that work. Master Miller believes that Tae Kown Do is an effective tool for bringing out the best in children and for the self improvement of adults.
Mr. Mike Mortl (Brookfield)
Mr. Mortl is a fourth degree black belt. He began training with Grand Master Lee in 1986 when he was 14 years old. He is a former United States Marine. He has studied many of the martial arts including Jow Ga Kung Fu rank black sash, Kempo Karate, Muay Thai and Hung Gar Kung Fu. He became a full time instructor at the Brookfield location almost two years ago and runs a challenging high belt class. He encourages his students to reach their full potential both mentally and physically. He works with students in advance sparring and form intricacies. Mr. Mortl is a 3 time Grand Champion in the forms competition, took silver medal at the Nationals Open Style Sparring Karate Championships 1991 and two-time gold medal champion at the US Hanmadang 2010. He was a referee at the US Hanmadang National Tae Kwon Do competiton. Outside of school, he is an avid mountain biker.
Miss Christine Lee (Waukesha)
Miss Lee, Grand Master Lee’s daughter, began her training at five years old. She attended college at the University of Wisconsin, Madison but returned home every weekend to help teach classes. She helped to open and became the principal of the Waukesha location in 1998. She leads the J. K. Lee Demonstration Team which participates in events all across the state including a half time show for the Milwaukee Bucks. Miss Lee also helps coordinate charitable events like the annual Board Break-a-Thon which raises money for Wisconsin’s Children’s Hospital cancer research. She worked on the Hanmadang National Tae Kwon Do competition committee. Miss Lee also helps martial arts schools across the country grow through the Martial Arts Marketing Network.
Ms. April Frank (Waukesha)
Ms. Frank, a first degree blackbelt, has been working and training with J.K. Lee since 2006. Her two daughters train along with her. She helps coordinate all J. K. Lee’s major events including the Board Break-a-thon and the two annual tournaments. She enjoys teaching and working with children. She appreciates all she learns as a student and is excited to pass it along to others. Ms. Frank works with all the local grade schools and daycares, providing them with programming and fund raising opportunities.
Mr. Jeff Gendelman (Fox Point)
Mr. Gendelman began studying martial arts over 35 years ago. He has trained in New York City, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles and holds advanced ranks in four different styles. For many years he has devoted himself to Grand Master Lee’s incomparable Tae Kwon Do curriculum. His life experience, teaching credentials and years of instructing children and adults make him uniquely qualified to bring out the best in people. Mr. Gendelman is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. He also graduated from Outward Bound Survival School, is a certified instructor in the award winning Safety Kids program, and completed the Verbal Judo program at Northwest Technical College. He is currently a team leader for the Ultimate Black Belt Test. Mr. Gendelman has earned many trophies at tournaments, including Grand Champion at the 2008 Tournament of Champions. His two children, wife, sister, brother, cousins and some neighbors and friends are also J.K. Lee students.
Mr. Paul Hein (Fox Point)
Mr. Hein began studying Tae Kwon do in 1990 when he was 10 years old and started teaching in January of 2000. After studying education, Mr. Hein became a full time instructor at J.K. Lee Black Belt Academy. He has managed all the J.K. Lee locations and is one of the most knowledgeable instructors on staff. Mr. Hein spends his free time playing the trumpet, volunteering at area art camps and working with youth through mentoring programs. He participated in the 2009 National Hanmadang Championships.
Mr. Duke Lee (Germantown)
Mr. Duke Lee started his training 20 years ago in South Korea and has been the head instructor at the Germantown academy since 2007. He has a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee in Finance. Mr. Lee also holds a red belt in Gum Do – a Korean sword martial art. He began teaching at 17 years old. He started at J. k. Lee in 1997. Mr. Lee has worked at the Brookfield and Waukesha locations before moving to Germantown. He was the Demonstration Team Leader and developed the team’s bo staff form. He has considerable competitive experience. Mr. Lee was the Tri State Tournament sparring champion in 2000 and won a Grand Champion trophy at the J. K. Lee Tournament. He was a referee at the Hanmadang World Championships and acted as a translator and committee member at the National Tae kwon do Championships. He is a member and team leader for the Ultimate Black Belt Test. But what he enjoys most is making a difference in people’s lives, whether through charitable events like J. K. Lee’s annual Board Break-a-thon for Wisconsin’s Children’s Hospital, or the Ultimate Black Belt Test trip to Alabama where they helped build houses and restore an old school.
Mr. Jin Lee (Pewaukee)
Mr. Lee, Grand Master Lee’s nephew, worked for ten years as a DNA engineer before deciding to make Tae Kwon Do his career. Mr. Lee, presently a fourth degree black belt had been a student at J.K. Lee since 1980 and began teaching in January of 2002. Mr. Lee opened the Pewaukee location in 2005. He assists at all the major events including the two annual tournaments, the Board Break-a-thon for Wisconsin Children’s Hospital and testings. He is also studying Brazilian Jui Jitsu. Mr. Lee’s wife and two children are also J. K. Lee students.
