Meet Coach Charles

I'm Coach Charles Kreie, a second-degree black belt with 22 years of judo experience and 16 years of teaching and coaching.

I originally started judo to get into better shape, but it quickly became much more than exercise. The lessons passed down to me by Sensei Parker Shelton of Bushido Sports Center and Sensei Vasile Malutan Sr. shaped how I approach training, adversity, discipline, and personal growth. I continue teaching because I want those lessons to remain alive through the students I coach and to help judo continue growing in Fort Wayne.

During my competitive years, I became a multiple-time state judo champion throughout the Midwest. As a coach, I have helped students earn numerous state championships and coached a student who earned a silver medal in the 73 kg white-through-green belt division at the 2019 USA Judo National Championships in Las Vegas.

Although competitive accomplishments are meaningful, I am most proud of the lasting relationships I have built with my students. Some began training with me when they were five or ten years old and carried the values of judo with them into adulthood—even when they never pursued competition.

My coaching is not based on a one-size-fits-all program. Every student comes to the mat with different abilities, experiences, and goals. I provide personalized instruction and significant one-on-one development, whether a student wants to improve their fitness, learn practical self-defense, compete, or simply become a stronger and more confident person.

My goal is to provide a structured environment where adults experience confidence, belonging, and measurable personal progress. Through judo, I work to develop self-respect, self-confidence, self-discipline, inner balance, and emotional resilience—qualities that help students handle the difficult situations life places in front of them.