Mumon Karate

On Sunday, March 8, 2026, Mr. Sadaharu Honda, Paul Kovacs and Ken Maxwell were invited to the International Kwanmukan United Martial Symposium held Friday Saturday and Sunday at the Hickey Karate Center in Stow Ohio.
The Center is affiliated with the International Kwanmukan, USA Karate Federation, United States Jujitsu Federation, Traditional Kodokan Judo, United Martial Arts and USA Sports Jujitsu Alliance. That Sunday, the participants from all over the USA had backgrounds in karate and jujitsu styles, and also fencing, kobudo and Brazilian jiujitsu.

Mr. Honda presented Mumon Karate and its adaptation as an American Budo path to the concept of Budo Karate. Paul and Ken spoke of their experiences with Mumon and performed kata.

The symposium was hosted by Patrick M. Hickey a Mumon advisor who holds degrees in Kwanmukan Karate (9th dan), US Ju-Jitsu & Kwanmukan Jujitsu (9th dan), and Traditional Kodokan Judo (8th dan). Mr. Hickey and his wife Shihan Pamela J. Hickey traveled to Japan this summer with the Mumon group.

Going back in time. Sadaharu Honda and Caylor Atkins after battle.

The year has come to an end with an adult Kyu/Dan test in Pittsburgh on Saturday December 6th, 2025 at the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Center. Examiners included Sihan Paul Kovacs and Godans Chuck Moyes and Ken Maxwell. Nidan David Resto gave the test commands.

Congratulations to:
8th Xue (Meg) Zhang, Ericia Resto,
7th Kyu Robert Ambrosini
3rd Kyu George Resto
Shodan Noah Tan and Florin Toader

Following the exam, TKA 7th Dan Chuck Kerrigan’s youth members demonstrated Tai Sabaki and Kata and Mumon blackbelts demonstrated Kata and IAI. Mumon was pleased to welcome special guest speakers Mumon Saiko Shihan Mr. Sadaharu Honda and Mr. Patrick Hickey (Kwanmukan Karate and Jujitsu 9th dan).

All enjoyed lunch following the event at new Shodan Florin Toader’s house in Mt. Lebanon.
Have a festive Holiday season from Mumon.

The Mumon Dojo at Simi Valley California held the fall Kyu/Dan exam on November 14 & 15, 2025. Thirty-one (31) candidates tested for Kyu ranks and one for Shodan.

Chief examiners were Bruce Kanegai (Shihan), Paul Kovacs (Shihan) William Christopher (Yodan) and Sundans Diane Hasse and Stephen Updike. Howard Zillman (Nidan) gave the commands.

Congradulation to 16 beginning students from New to 6th Kyu (Green belt) who passed on Friday and 16 students who passed their exam on Saturday including one new Black Belt (Shodan) Ron Theaker.

Mumon will have upcoming fall exams at the dojos in Arizona, Elkins West Virginia (December 3), and Pittsburgh (Mt. Lebanon, December 6.)

Pictured below is a page from a magazine article published by the Nippon Budokan (Japan Martial Arts Hall). Top photo Judo, bottom left Naginata, bottom center Kendo and bottom right Aikido. The page is translated by Mr. Honda as follows:

From June 17th to 20th, the Mumon Karate group from the United States made their third visit to the facility, observing and participating in classes at the Nippon Budokan and Budokan Academy (Judo, Kendo, Karate, Aikido, Shorinji Kempo, Naginata, Jodo).

Mumon Karate is an organization founded by Mr. Sadaharu Honda, a practitioner of Shōtōkan karate, dedicated to teaching traditional karate in the United States without being bound by specific styles.

Each day of the week at the Budo Academy, the delegation observed and participated in martial arts training with earnest focus. During the kendo experience, their swift footwork after striking the men (face protector) was evident, revealing how their karate experience was being applied.

Additionally, on June 18 (Day 2), a briefing session on American karate was held by Mr. Honda in a conference room within the Nippon Budokan. At the outset, Director and Secretary-General Masanori Kataoka (at the time) delivered words of welcome.

Following this, Mr. Honda gave a one-hour presentation covering the history of karate's spread in the United States, as well as the mindset and characteristics of Americans. After the presentation, a question-and-answer session and exchange of opinions took place.

Congratulations to the students at the Waseda University Karate Club in Tokyo who just completed a 7 day special training. The training was held near Lake Kawaguchi at the foot of Mount Fuji. The karate club is one of the oldest in Japan, formed in 1931 under the direction of Gichin Funakoshi.

Mumon Karate is recognized by the Wasada karate Club and has practiced with the club in Tokyo over the years (see past posts) the most recent being this June. Mr. Honda joined the Waseda Karate Club in 1957 and became Captain in 1961.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2025 the Mumon Dojo at Simi Valley California lead by Bruce Kanegai (Shihan) held a Kata-thon and raised $2,211 for the Simi Valley Samaritan Center.
23 students participated including 2 on Zoom and completed 103 Tekki Shodan katas in a row.
The ages ranged from from 7 years old to 78 years old. This was also part of Simi Valley dojo’s Karate Special Training to break through mental and physical blocks.

Mumon Karate’s two week Budo Tour of Japan (June 15 to June 29 2025) was just as eventful as the previous two visits The first week was spend in Tokyo and started with a Monday practice with Mr. Arakawa of Wado Ryu, followed by exchange practices the rest of the week at the Nippon Budokan Martial Arts hall with masters of Naginata, Shorinji Kempo, Jōdō, Judo, Aikido, Karate and Kendo. On Saturday, the group practiced at Waseda University with the karate club.

During the second week the group stayed in Takatsuki City and toured the Himeji and Osaka Castles as well as various shrines and temples in the Kyoto, Nara, Osaka area. The week ended with lunch in Kobe with Mr. Kawaguchi, who at 101 years is the oldest alumni of Waseda’s Karate Club. Lunch consisted of fresh Kobe beef (Yummy).

A thank you to Mr. Kojima and Mr. Ueshima former Wasada karateka who guided us during the second week. And of course, a thank you to Mr. Honda for arranging a first class trip.

Five adults tested for Kyu ranks at the Mt. Lebanon Dojo in Pittsburgh on June 4, 2025. Conducting the test were Shihan Paul Kovacs, Yodan Doug Gilbert, and Nidan David Resto.

Congratulations to the following:
Robert Ambrosini (8th Kyu), Peter Naulls (7th Kyu), Clark Jamison (5th Kyu), Florin Toader (1st Kyu) and Noah Tan (1st Kyu)

Lead by Mr. Honda, Paul, Doug and David are among the group visiting Japan the last two weeks of June.

The Mumon Dojo at Simi Valley California held its spring Kyu exam on Friday May 9 and Saturday May 10. Twenty-nine (29) candidates tested for kyu ranks of which Ten (10) were new Mumon members.

Chief examiners were Bruce Kanegai (Shihan), William Christopher (Yodan) and Sundans Diane Hasse and Stephen Updike. Howard Zillman (Nidan) gave the commands. Several brown belts will soon be candidates for either the youth Black Belt or the adult Black Belt.

The test results:
8th Kyu – four, 7 Kyu – six, 6th Kyu – three, 5th Kyu – four, 4th Kyu – three, 3rd Kyu. six, 2nd Kyu two, and first kyu, one.

Mr. Honda will lead guests and Mumon members to Japan the last 2 week of June. Waseda University, here we come!!!

Mumon Karate held its Eastern region spring kyu/dan test and festival on Saturday May 3, 2025 at the Elkins West Virginia Dojo. Senior examiners included Saiko Shihan Mr. Sadaharu Honda, and Shihan’s Mr. Bob Bakos and Dr. Paul Kovacs. Nidans Mechele Dilks Elkins dojo and David Resto Mt. Lebanon dojo contributed to the event.

Congratulations are extended to the following:
Elkins Dojo
8th Kyu Taylor Bright, Gio Jackson-Caliqiuri, Ronnie Nguyen, Liam McElroy
7th Kyu Cian Taylor, 6th Kyu Garrett Swecker

Nidan Logan Mullennex (Elkins Dojo)
Yodan Doug Gilbert (Grove City/CMU Dojos).
Godan Ken Maxwell (Elkins Dojo) and Chuck Moyes (Carnegie Mellon University dojo)

Mumon members lead by Mr. Honda will be visiting Japan the last two weeks of June, 2025. Updates will follow.