Our Team
Mr. Jason Dutton
Mr. Jason Dutton is the Master Instructor and Owner of Elite Karate Studios. He is the primary instructor for all classes.
Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: Mr. Jason Dutton has trained in the martial arts for almost 40 years, and has been teaching for 32 years. His true passion is teaching, and he has been able to fully pursue this passion since 1997 when he became Master Instructor of Elite Karate Studios. While he primarily teaches American Freestyle Karate, he also is proficient in many martial arts weapons, being able to instruct classes in Escrima, Kamas, Bo Staff, and Katana. Mr. Dutton has taught a wide range of students from as young as four to older than sixty years old. This teaching is not limited to the studio, however, as he also enjoys teaching Women Self Defense Seminars, Board Breaking Seminars, and Child Safety Presentations. While he enjoys competing at the local and national level in forms and sparring, he feels his greatest accomplishment is not that of his own competition record, but that of his students; to date, they have earned over fifty national titles in competition! Mr. Dutton continues to look forward to helping his students succeed in the martial arts and grow to be the most disciplined, respectful, & honorable black belts in the nation.
Mrs. Michelle Dutton
is a Master Instructor & Program Director for Elite Karate Studios. Contact:kataeks@yahoo.com
Other Information: Mrs. Michelle Dutton began studying the martial arts in 1995 while attending college for the benefit of self defense. It quickly became a passion of hers and she became an active competitor in forms and sparring, placing as number one competitor in the women ages 18-29 under black belt division for the ‘98-’99 competition season. Also, she is a 1st place winner of Diamond Nationals in Forms. The creator and leader of the women’s competition team for Elite Karate Studios, Mrs. Dutton helped her teammates achieve competition success as well. She also created and implemented a self defense seminar for women and a board breaking seminar for her students. On Jan 5th, 2001, she became the 1st black belt in the 21st century at Elite Karate Studios. After continuing her studies, she was promoted to 5th degree black belt and Master Instructor on January 16th, 2015. She has been teaching students since 1997 and continues to enjoy being a strong, female role-model for her students. “There is nothing better than seeing one of your students succeed. I love seeing them experience the joy and empowerment that karate can grant someone.”
Mr. Nicholas Wood
is a 4th Degree Black Belt and the Head Instructor for Elite Karate Studios.
Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: Mr. Wood began his training at Elite Karate Studios in 2007, received his Black Belt in 2015, and achieved the rank of 4th Degree Black Belt in 2021. In 2023 he was promoted to Head Instructor at Elite Karate Studios. Outside of the martial arts, he is a graduate of UW Stout with a degree in computer science. Elite Karate Studios is a home to Mr. Wood, as he has found the discipline, respect, and friendships to be invaluable.
Mr. Franklin Roberts
is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Instructor for Elite Karate Studios.
Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: In 2011, Mr. Franklin Roberts began training alongside his brother, Mr. Joseph Roberts. After earning his black belt in August of 2017, he studied Radio/TV/Film at UW Oshkosh, where he also trained and helped teach Tae Kwon Do and Tung Soo Do. After graduating in 2021, Mr. Roberts moved back to Eau Claire and has since been helping teach at Elite Karate Studios in Chippewa Falls. Both his brother and father, Mr. Hugh Roberts, are also black belts, which makes teaching and training at the studio even more rewarding. In addition to teaching, Mr. Roberts is also pursuing a career in independent publishing, with his second novel due to be released in 2023.
Mr. Eric Walters
is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Instructor for Elite Karate Studios.
Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: Mr. Walters started Karate in 2003 and achieved the rank of Black Belt in May of 2009. Mr. Walters loves teaching sparring and teaching weapon defense. Favorite weapon for forms is the katana. Mr. Walters also has an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Law Enforcement.
Mrs. Victoria Schulte
is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and Instructor for Elite Karate Studios.
Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: Mrs. Schulte started her karate career when she was seven years old. Mrs. Schulte obtained her black belt on March 31st, 2006 when she was twelve years old. She trained for her black belt test while her dad was deployed in Iraq. Mrs. Schulte has won one national amateur championship in sparring and has won around 20 tournament grand championships. Mrs. Schulte loves teaching the students and seeing how they progress through the belts. She also likes helping the students prepare for their black belt tests and tournament sparring.
Ms. Hailey Rykal
is a 2nd degree black belt and Assistant Instructor for Elite Karate Studios. Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: Ms. Rykal started her journey at Elite Karate Studios at the age of nine and earned her black belt on February 13th, 2021. From there, she immediately began teaching and has since been promoted to Assistant Instructor. She has a great passion for teaching and her students, and especially enjoys working with our youngest martial artists. She is currently attending UW Eau Claire where she is an education major, but still spends plenty of time at the studio, which feels like home.
Mr. Kenny Schafer
is a 2nd degree black belt and Assistant Instructor for Elite Karate Studios. Contact: elitekaratestudios@yahoo.com
Other Information: Mr. Schafer began karate at the age of 4 with inspiration to follow in his brothers footsteps, Mr. Gordy Schafer and Mr. Spencer Schafer, and become a Black Belt as well. He currently attends McDonell Central Catholic High School and also participates in the boys basketball team. He enjoys teaching karate as well as competing in karate tournaments. When asked he will say "Karate has made me a better person overall."