Profile and Career Highlights for Shinbukan Director

Michael J. Dunphy, Ph.D.
8th Dan, Menkyo Shidoin
 

Updated 9-2009

Formal Education

Brief Summary of
Dr. Dunphy's
Martial Studies History

   Dr. Dunphy began studying martial arts in 1971 at Hoban High School with a Taekwondo instructor named Harry Howell, who was a student of Il Joo Kim.  Following 6 months of training at Hoban, Dr. Dunphy began training in Copley, Ohio with renowned Judo expert Kiel Soon Park, who was also teaching Taekwondo as well as Judo.  After 4 years with Mr. Park, Dr. Dunphy left for college, and trained with numerous individuals in Canton, Ohio for the next four years, simply training and not earning rank.  During this time, Dr. Dunphy became quite proficient with nunchaku, rokushakubo, karate, taekwondo and judo. In 1979, after arriving in Youngstown to attend graduate school at YSU, Dr. Dunphy met Joe Bonacci, a Youngstown police officer and 5th dan who was an instructor in Shotokan Karate and expert with various weapons, and was trained in the military.  Bonacci Sensei was the head instructor at the YSU Karate Club, and Dr. Dunphy trained with him from 1979-1983, during which time Dr. Dunphy earned his 1st and 2nd dan in Karate.  In late 1980, Dr. Dunphy met Mr. George Anderson, a senior student of Il Joo Kim and a renowned expert in Taekwondo and the instructor for martial arts at the University of Akron.  Dr. Dunphy began training with Anderson Sensei in 1980 and remained with him and the Kwanmukan until 2002.  During those 22 years, Dr. Dunphy was exposed to Okinawan Kobudo, Japanese Karate, Kenjutsu, Jujutsu, more Judo, Hapkido, Aikido, Wushu, and competition-based martial arts.  Anderson Sensei is a world-recognized figure in American Martial Arts, and he strongly influenced Dr. Dunphy's martial skills and attitude.  Dr. Dunphy earned grades over the years up to 7th dan in karate, 6th dan in kobudo and 7th dan in jujutsu through the Kwanmukan, the USA Karate Federation, the US Jujutsu Federation and the Kobudokan, all organizations linked to Mr. Anderson.  Dr. Dunphy was also an internationally success fighter, kata competitor and jujutsu practitioner.
   In 1984, Dr. Dunphy met Mr. John Viol, a native of Ohio who was living in Michigan at the time.  Mr. Viol was regularly training in Japan, serving as an Uchi Deshi in Sogobujutsu while simultaneously operating the Seishinkan Sogobujutsu Dojo in Sterling Heights Michigan.  Through Viol Sensei, Dr. Dunphy gained exposure to classical Japanese-based Budo and Bujutsu, learning the authentic traditions of Sogobujutsu/budo.  The strategic integration of grappling, percussion and weaponry is the hallmark of Sogobudo, and Dr. Dunphy continues to train with Viol Sensei to this day.  Other important martial colleagues include James Caldwell of Nebraska, an expert in Okinawan Kobudo and Karate, John Linebarger of Tuscon Arizona, a world class fighter with expertise in many areas of martial studies, Bryan LaBrecque of Biddeford, Maine, an expert in Karate and Kobudo, Lt. Col. Bruce Bethers, President of the US Jujitsu Federation, and numerous Kwanmukan members including David Ames, Jerry Andrea, Jeff Ellis, Robert Saal, Pat Hickey, Carl Wilcox, Lance Weimer, Brian Pendleton, and many others who remain important friends and colleagues. In addition to his primary instructors named above, over the years, Dr. Dunphy has trained with many senior martial arts instructors including (names listed as Americans pronounce them) Takayuki Mikami, Hirakazu Kanazawa, Chul Hee Park, Robert Trias, Minobu Miki, and others who have influenced both his knowledge base and his tactics.  Currently, Dr. Dunphy is training in Sogobudo, and modern Tactical Martial Sciences with John Viol Sensei through Dr. Dunphy's Sogobudo dojo, the Shinbukan in Canton, Ohio, and he retains affiliations with friends and fellow martial practitioners throughout the United States and in various parts of the world.

Career Path

Dojo & Association
Affiliations/Directorships