Sensei Joel Ertl began training in Shotokan Karate in 1973. His instructor is Master Robert Fusaro. Sensei Ertl received his 5th degree black belt from Master Hidetaka Nishiyama in 1995. Sensei Ertl has been teaching karate for the Midwest Karate Association on a full time basis since 1976. Since 1979 he has been the Chief Instructor for the Midwest Karate Association of St. Paul.

Sensei Ertl is a former national kata champion. In 1989 he took first place in Men's Individual Kata in the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF) National Tournament. Sensei Ertl was also a member of the Minnesota Kumite team in 1983 which took first place in the AAKF National Tournament.

Sensei Anita Bendickson began her karate training in 1975 under Master Robert Fusaro. She received her 4th degree black belt in 1996 from Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.

Along with her teaching duties at the Midwest Karate Association of St. Paul, Sensei Bendickson also teaches many self-defense courses around the Twin Cities area. Among these courses are accredited classes at the University of Minnesota, Macalester College and the University of Wisconsin in River Falls. Along with these classes she is in constant demand for self-defense workshops by area corporations (3M, for example) and community groups.

Among Sensei Bendickson's many tournament accomplishments are the AAKF national women's Kumite Championship in 1982 and 1989. She has been a member of the national champion kata team many times. As a member of the USA team she competed in the 1983 ITKF world tournament in Cairo, Egypt.