Our Staff|Randolph Martial Arts Academy

Our Staff

Head Instructor D Hopler Randolph Martial Arts Academy relax

Mr. D. Hopler started studying the martial arts in the late 1980’s as a young member of the junior (children's) class and grew up in the dojo. He started teaching karate in 1992 and has been teaching all age groups from young children to adults ever since. In addition to his teaching at the dojo, he has been on staff at his association's annual summer karate camp since 1996, teaching all age groups, and helping to run & supervise the camp. He is both a Certified Instructor and a Certified Renshi (Head Instructor). He was promoted to RokuDan (6th Degree Black Belt) at Karate Camp 2015. In his teaching, he emphasizes strong character building and the personal development of his students in core values such as integrity, focus, respect, and self-confidence, as well as good self-defense skills and fitness.

As a child and young adult, Mr. D. Hopler grew up in Rockaway, NJ and started his martial arts training at the Rockaway Karate Academy under his Sensei, Miss Felenczak. He moved to Randolph in 2009, and is proud to be a Randolph resident and part of the community. His goal is to bring the strong character-based martial arts training that he’s learned and taught as a Certified Instructor within the American Budo Kai association to the town of Randolph and its community, and for him and his staff to help as many families as possible.

Certified Instructor E Hopler Randolph Karate relax

Mr. E. Hopler started studying karate on May 25th, 1990 as a member of the junior class and has continued training constantly ever since. He joined the FIST (Future Instructor Special Training) program in 1994 and became a certified instructor in 2003. As part of being a certified instructor, he’s attended many continuing education seminars and special classes through the years to sharpen his instruction and martial arts skills. Mr. E. Hopler has taught all age groups, from young children to adults. In addition to his teaching at the dojo, he was a part-time staff member at our association’s summer camp week in 1997 and a full time staff member at our karate camp program since 1998, teaching all ages, and helping to run & supervise the camp. His instruction emphasizes strengthening core values such as integrity, discipline, & perseverance, while making the student a better person both in & out of the dojo. Also, he focuses on instilling self-confidence and wants the student to have fun. Mr.. E. Hopler is currently teaching our Dojo's Tuesday night Junior and Teen/ Senior classes.

Originally, Mr. E. Hopler is from Rockaway, NJ and started his karate journey at another American Budo Kai member school - the Rockaway Karate Academy. He lived in Randolph, NJ for 6 years before moving to Wharton, NJ in 2010 where he currently resides with his wife, Leeann, their daughters, Ava & Jayde, and son, Eric Jr. His goal is to pass on his passion for the martial arts and to help others in the same way that his instructors & the martial arts have helped him in his development and life.

Leeann Hopler Cerified Instructor Randolph Martial Arts Academy

Mrs. L. Hopler began studying karate in 1998 at the age of 10 as a member of the junior class and has been studying continuously since. She was promoted to the rank of Shodan (first degree Black Belt) at our annual karate camp in 2006 and was promoted to her current rank of Yodan (4th degree Black Belt) in Dec. 2016. She started teaching as an assistant instructor in our F.I.S.T. (Future Instructor Special Training) program in May of 2004. She has worked with various instructors, as she continued to round out her teaching and training to become a fully certified instructor. She has trained and assisted classes in four different member schools, and is both proud and excited to be in Randolph to continue her teaching, especially with young children, which is her specialty. Mrs. Hopler was promoted to Certified Instructor by our Dojo's Head Instructor, Mr. D. Hopler, in April 2016, and currently teaches the Saturday morning children's class.

Originally, Mrs. L. Hopler is from Roxbury, NJ and started her martial arts training at the Kenvil Karate Academy. She moved to Randolph where she lived for 2 years before moving to Wharton in 2010 where she currently resides with her husband, Eric, her daughters, Ava & Jayde, and her son, Eric Jr. One of her main goals in the martial arts is help bring fun, safe, and principle-based martial arts training to Randolph and its neighboring communities, and to pass on what she's learned to all students, esp. children.