Mountaintop
Martial Arts Center
We are
Mountaintop
Martial Arts Center
We have been in operation for over three decades in the Mountain Top area. Founded by Grand Master David Sparks, we are a traditional Karate school with a specialty in modern self-defense. Master Sparks has been training and teaching for over forty years and in that time he has developed a unique form of self-defense and training that makes it so everyone can learn to defend themselves, and he has passed his passion for the arts down through the years to his masters and black belts and we pass it down now to our current students. It is our foundational belief that everyone deserves to be able to defend themselves.​
Fudoshin Kai Karate
To face adversity with a calm spirit.
Fudoshin Kai was founded by Grand Master Sparks after he received his black belt in Zen Budokai Karate. His goal in creating Fudoshin Kai was the modernize traditional Karate and create a system that focused more on technique over strength. This allows for more people to use the techniques in the system earlier in their training and lends a more innovative view on the brute force of some traditional systems. While this is still a traditional Karate, there are elements that bring it up to modern expectation.
Kumade Nobushi Kyokai Karate
The Bear Handed Warrior Society
Kumade Nobushi Kyokai has roots in the Wyoming Valley since 1968. Kumade Nobushi Kyokai is comprised of three different styles of Karate, including Shito Ryu Karate-Do, Chito Ryu Kempo and Goshin Budo JuJitsu. It is a system that focuses on the traditional martial arts training and teachings while bringing in modern day self defense. Its characteristics are a blend of traditional hard line karate with a circular, flowing Kempo and the throwing, locks and takedowns of Jujitsu. A unique hybrid of two sides of a coin.
Aiki Jutsu
The art of harmony.
Aiki Jutsu is a modern martial art that is geared toward realistic, dynamic, self-defense. It was created by Grand Master David Sparks, who remains the head of the system today. Aiki Jutsu was born of the idea that one shouldn't have to be physically intimidating, or go through the more intense physical training of the Karate systems to be able to defend themselves. Taking principles from other martial arts as well as his own understanding of body dynamics, Master Sparks created Aiki Jutsu, a purely self-defense art. Aiki Jutsu's core principle is to teach people to get away effectively and efficiently despite age and fitness level. This is an art that utilizes soft tissue, joint locks, and throws to give everyone a fighting chance.
Our Instructors
"Civilize the mind, make savage the body."
Our instructing team is made up of Masters and Black Belts who have dedicated countless years to the arts. With decades of experience, we take our roles seriously in helping others gain the physical and mental benefits of martial arts training.
Founder
Grand Master David Sparks
9th Dan
Grand Master David Sparks is the founder of both Fudoshin Kai Karate and Aiki Jutsu. He earned his black belt in Zen Budokai Karate and from there moved on to create his own system. He has been training and teaching for over 40 years.
​Master Sparks has a love for teaching others how to defend themselves. His goal is to help anyone despite age or physical fitness get away and go home.
“I’m a teacher, I want my students to all be better than me,” -GMS
Master
Scott Kaminski
5th Dan
Master Scott Kaminski began his training in 1994 under Huntzinger's Karate. He received his black belt in 1999 and from there instructed until 2004. In 2004 he moved to Sembach Martial Arts with his Sensei, Master Cominsky where he stayed and trained with Master Duda. He has since moved to Mountaintop Martial Arts Center and holds master rank in Fudoshin Kai, Kumade Nobushi Kyokai and Aiki Jutsu.
Sensei
Angie Schuler
3rd Dan
Sensei Angie Schuler originally started training through the CACE program offered at Crestwood High School. where Master Sparks was instructing women's self-defense classes in 2014. In 2015 she began regular classes at Mountaintop Martial Arts Center, with a real focus on learning how to defend herself. She earned her black belt in Aiki Jutsu in 2020. With a drive to help other women she began her own women's self-defense class and runs it currently.
Head Instructor
Shihan Joseph Duda
7th Dan
Shihan Joseph Duda has been training and teaching for over 30 years. Starting at Sembach Martial Arts in Nanticoke under Master Charles Yurkin he went on to gain his black belts and subsequent master's ranks in Kumade Nobushi Kyokai, Fudoshin Kai and Aiki Jutsu.
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Shihan has dedicated his life to the arts and is currently the head instructor for us at Mountaintop Martial Arts Center.
Master
Ron Zugarek
5th Dan
Master Ron Zugarek began training in 1999 under Master Jeff Cominsky at the Fudoshin Kai Karate Union Independent School of Fighting Arts. He then began training under Grand Master Sparks in 2005. He has since received his master's ranks in Fudioshin Kai, Kumade Nobushi Kyokai and Aiki Jutsu.
He was inspired to join the arts by watching Dragon Ball Z, and regrets to report that he still cannot fly or shoot energy blasts.
Master
Alyssa Cost-Byrne
5th Dan
Master Alyssa Byrne has been training since childhood. She started at Rothrock's Kung-Fu and Tai Chi under Sifu David Belsky and gained her black belt. She then began training at Mountaintop Martial Arts Center where she received her black belts and subsequent master's ranks in Fudoshin Kai and Kumade Nobushi Kyokai and her 2nd Dan in Aiki Jutsu. ​
Sensei
Gavin Southworth
3rd Dan
Sensei Gavin Southworth originally trained at Sembach Martial Arts under Master Charles Yurkin. He gained his black belt with Master Yurkin and later received his ranks in Fudoshin Kai and Aiki Jutsu from Master Sparks. After a break from the arts he has come back in full force and has received his third dan in Kumade Nobushi Kyokai, Fudoshin Kai and Aiki Jutsu.
Sensei
Doc Bohn
3rd Dan
Sensei Doc Bohn began his training with Grand Master Sparks in Aiki Jutsu. He proceeded to earn his black belt in Aiki Jutsu. Sensei Doc has also been training in Cuban Cane combat and is a second degree brown belt.
Sensei
Ryan Thomas
2nd Dan
Sensei Ryan Thomas started training in 2012 and received his black belts in Fudoshin Kai, Kumade Nobushi Kyokai and Aiki Jutsu in 2021. He has been actively instructing and training since.
Sensei
Thomas Basar
2nd Dan
Sensei Tom Basar started training in 2015 and received his black belt in Aiki Jutsu in 2022, he has been instructing and training since.
