Karate studio owner defends decision to ban student suing for discrimination trends now
The owner of a Long Island karate studio has defended his decision to ban his karate obsessed student trainee.
The woman's husband threatened the business after he learned of his wife's affair with her karate instructor.
After her ban, the woman, Kristin Fabbio-Hamelburg, filed a lawsuit against Jobin George, owner of the Tiger Schulmann Martial Arts Center in Rockville Center, for sex discrimination and minimum wage.
Fabbio-Hamelburg was an unpaid volunteer who taught classes, and whose two young sons also took classes at the center.
When George removed Fabbio-Hamelburg from her position over her spouse's threats, he cited the safety of his students.
'At no point was it about the sexual discrimination about her being an instructor,' George told DailyMail.com. 'I removed her because of the threats her husband [Daniel Hamelburg] threatening the safety of the gym after he learned about the extramarital affair she was having with an instructor.'
Jobin George, who has been in business for 11 years said that his number one concern is the safety of his students and that when he was hit with the suit he said he was 'flabbergasted'
Kristin Fabbio-Hamelburg claims she was a victim of sex discrimination when a Long Island karate center allegedly banned her over an affair with one of their instructors
He said the husband who knew about his wife's infidelity came to the studio numerous times. He described him as hostile and unhinged and many of the parents said they felt uncomfortable in his presence.
One of the parents, in fact, had attempted to place a restraining order against Fabbio-Hammelberg's husband, preventing him from coming to the studio because she has three children who take classes at the center, and feared for their safety.
George said he was unaware of the affair that was happening at his center until an anonymous source came forward.
He said he then confronted his employee who confessed to him what was going on. In order to keep his job, George said the instructor, whose identity has not been disclosed, had to sign legal documents ensuring it would not happen again. Fabbio-Hammelberg did not have to sign any papers since she was only a volunteer.
However, in May 2022, George discovered that Fabbio-Hammelberg had texted the instructor asking to see him. That text was obtained by DailyMail.com.
George said when the husband found out that his wife was still carrying on the threats began to escalate and that is when he forced her out.
The text (picture) that Fabbio-Hammelberg had sent to the instructor asking to see him. George said when the husband found out that his wife was still carrying on, the threats began to escalate and that is when he forced her out
Weeks after she was told to leave, Fabbio-Hammelberg asked George if she could return to her volunteer position, but George denied her request.
Since the story broke, however, he has gotten anonymous calls accusing him of mistreating women.
'The has gotten out of hand. It is spiraling to the point that I am now getting messages of what I have done supposedly and that I have discriminated,' George told DailyMail.com.
'I empathize with people of sexual harassment and sexual discrimination. It was the safety of my children. If I knew there was a threat I would not bring my child to that establishment.
He also said he has not been formally served. And, earlier this week he learned that a complaint had been filed with the state Division of Human Rights that was first reported by the New York Daily News.
DailyMail.com has obtained a copy of the report.
George who owns several martial arts studio and has been in business for eleven years stands by his actions.
'I did nothing wrong. 'Tiger Schulmann is a big entity and they are trying to down my name.'
The Tiger Schulman franchise is independently owned and
