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Starry Night

MEET THE SENSEIS

The Best Educators

David Ames,

Hanshi

9th dan Kwanmukan Karate

8th dan Kang Duk Won Taekwondo

7th dan Changmookwan Taekwondo

7th dan Kwanmukan Jujitsu

7th dan USAKF (USA Karate Federation)

7th dan USJJF (US Jujitsu Federation)

6th dan World Kobudokan

6th dan Dragon Wah Lum Tai Chi Association out of Hong Kong

3rd dan Kwanmukan Judo

3rd dan USJJF Traditional Kodokan judo

1st dan USJA (US Judo Association)

Favorite Quote: "We do not have excellence because we have virtue, rather we have virtue because we have excellence.  You are what you repeatedly do, excellence therefore is not an act, but a habit." ~Aristotle

​Kyoshi Ames' inception in the martial arts began in January of 1976 with the Ohio university karate club where he trained through May of 1976. In September of 1976 he began training with the Akron University karate club under the direction Mr. George Anderson. Mr. Ames remained a student of Hanshi Anderson until his death on August 6, 2009.

In August of 1978 Mr. Ames achieved his black belt in KwanMuKan karate. In 1984 he was placed on the USA team pool and selected for the PanAmerican Games to be held in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. It was in these games that Mr. Ames became the first man in the United States to win the PanAm gold medal in kata. From this point in international competition Mr. Ames gained many accolades and medals in his 8 years as a member of the USA Karate Team.

In 1985 he established David Ames Karate with a series of clubs throughout the Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Seville and Medina areas. In 1991 David opened the Cuyahoga Valley Center for the Martial Arts Inc.  Beginning in January 2009, Cuyahoga Valley Center for the Martial Arts Inc. ceased to exist in name only, re-emerging and relocating to a new, larger facility as KwanMuZenDoKai Martial Arts Academy, LLC.  In 2020, two of his senior students took over dojo ownership, allowing him to semi-retire and thus the Josho Academy of Martial Arts was born.

​In addition to Kyoshi Ames’ numerous advanced marital arts ranking, in 1974 he became an Eagle Scout. He is also an 8th Dan member of the senior masters caucus with the USA National Karate-Do Federation (national governing body to the USA Olympic committee); chairman of the athletes advisory committee with the United States Karate Federation (USAKF); chairman of the referee council of the USAKF; on the referee education committee; International kumite referee; and holds a National A kata license with the USAKF.

Anthony Harmon,

Shihan



7th dan Kwanmukan Karate
7th Dan United States Karate Federation
6th Dan World Ju Jitsu Federation
6th dan World Union of Karate-Foundation

5th dan Kang Duk Won Taekwondo
4th dan Kwanmukan Jujitsu
4th dan Central Taekwondo Assoctation
2nd dan  World Kobudokan
USAKF Executive Director of Sports Karate
Chairman of the  USAKF referee council
Chief Referee of the USAKF
AAU Regional A Referee
International WUKF  Judge B

 
 Anthony Harmon started his Karate training in 1998 with Kyoshi David Ames and is still with him today. He spent a few years in the early 2000s with Hanshi Anderson, traveling with him on his Kwanmukan USA team, competing at the national and international level.
Mr. Harmon had the honor and privilege at that time to train with many other Shihans and Senseis. In 2004, he was recognized by Mr. Anderson as a Kwanmukan Sensei. Since them he has earned his national referee certification with USAKF/Kwanmukan. In 2002, he started teaching for Kyoshi Ames at his satellite school and continues to teach there. In 2019 he was inducted into the USAKF Hall of Fame as an Athlete and distinguished services. In October 2020, he and long-time friend Chris Bader, took over the Kwanmuzendokai and re-opened it as Josho Academy of Martial Arts. There he continues his training under Kyoshi David Ames.

Keith Dougherty, Sensei

7th Dan Kwanmukan Karate

5th Dan Kang Duk Won Taekwondo

4th Dan Kwanmukan Jujitsu

4th Dan World Union of Karate-Do Foundation

3rd Dan Central Taekwondo Association

1st Dan World Kobudokan

Sensei Dougherty’s training started in 1998.  His draw to the martial arts was his desire to get more out of his exercise than simply strengthening his body through running and weight lifting; he wanted to also strengthen his mind and spirit.  What helped keep his training going since then is the martial arts’ ability to continually help him learn more about himself and others.  It has helped him keep an open mind, both inside and outside the dojo, to look at problems from different directions in search of a solution.  While initially an introvert, Sensei Dougherty believes the martial arts helped teach him how to go beyond his comfort zone and step forward to lead when needed.

Sensei Dougherty works as an accountant for a scrap metal company in Cleveland.  He and his wife have two kids, both of whom have trained with him in the past.

Christopher Bader,

Sensei

6th Dan Kwanmukan Karate

5th Dan Kang Duk Won Taekwondo

4th Dan Kwanmukan Jujitsu

2nd Dan World Kobudokan

Sensei Bader’s introduction to the martial arts occurred in 1991 in eighth grade via a mini-course at his school taught by Kyoshi David Ames.  He became a formal student in 1994, trained for a few years until he took time off to finish college and then returned after graduation in 2001.  His continued training – now over 22 years - is fueled by his view that few other endeavors can simultaneously develop one’s body, mind, and character like the martial arts do when properly taught.  Through the study of violence, one obviously learns self-defense, but also how to deal with stress and chaos in general.  When tempered with the philosophies of Budo (the martial way or path) this training develops a strong, rooted sense of self; a foundation for healthy self-confidence, discipline and integrity, and distaste for violence in all but the most necessary of circumstances.  Additionally, unlike sports the martial arts focus not on athleticism, but natural movement and one’s physical qualities/abilities, thus allowing continued training throughout one’s life.                  

Sensei Bader is a registered architect focusing primarily on school design, including a handful of the new Akron Public Schools’ Community Learning Centers.  He has a strong love of Nature, a value fostered during his time in the Boy Scouts (he is an Eagle Scout) and which can be seen in his passions for gardening, camping and hiking, and conversations around a fire.  Other interests include cooking (food is way more than just sustenance), art, the fantasy/sci-fi genre, and oddball humor.  He has three kids.  

Tom Pillitiere,

Dojo Sensei

3rd dan Kwanmukan Karate

1st dan Changmookwan Taekwondo

Tom started his training in 1983 as young kid and to this day remains inspired to learn more and share his experiences and passion in his teaching.  Tom has a strong family presence in the Kwanmukan; his mother, sister, and oldest son are black belts too.  Outside of karate Tom spends his time listening to and playing music.  He has been playing in bands since 15 and plays guitar, bass, drums, and sings.  He also loves the outdoors and spending quality time with his wife and two sons.

Dan Chech,

Dojo Sensei

3rd dan Kwanmukan Karate

1st  dan Central  Taekwondo Association 

Dan started training in 2010 when he was 12 at the Cloverleaf satellite school and received his 2nd degree black belt in karate in 2017. He graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering and is involved in the universities Aero Design team building RC planes for international competitions. Dan is a student pilot flying out of Medina Airport and owns two 3D printers. Outside of martial arts, he is an amateur woodworker and ukulele player. As shown in his picture, he is deathly afraid of haircuts.

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Emma Boyes,
Dojo Sensei


3rd dan Kwanmukan Karate





 

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Vernon Shelton Jr.
V-Jiu-Jitsu,
Head Coach

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