On January, 12 2017 Shihan David Pickthall
made an official announcement naming Shihan Michael A. Monaco as the Americas Regional Lead/Coordinator/Director of the IFK for the Western Hemisphere. Shihan Monaco will head the leadership committee to unify the existing IFK organizations within these countries.
Kyokushin Karate has been a way of life for Shihan Monaco. He currently holds the rank of 7th Dan (Nanadan) and has dedicated over 50 years to mastering numerous forms of martial arts. His extensive training in Kyokushin Karate includes 16 years as a direct student of the “late” Soshu Shigeru Oyama, Founder of “World Oyama Karate”. He also had the unique and special honor to train directly under the legendary founder of Kyokushin Karate, Sosai Mas Oyama in the USA and in Japan for over 10 years. For the past 20 years, he has been a direct student of Hanshi Steve Arneil, Founder and President of the IFK. His extensive martial arts experience also includes dan rankings in Japanese Shotokan Karate and Judo/Grappling in addition to Kobudo (weapons).
Shihan Monaco founded “The United States International Federation of Kyokushin Karate” (USA-IFKK) Organization for which he remains actively involved in as President. He also currently resides on the elite IFK Executive Committee Board of Directors working with Hanshi Steve Arneil. In addition to his roles in the IFK Organization, he is Vice-President of the “World Fighting Kyokushin Organization” WFKO, an elite “professional” Knockdown Fighting League that host bouts internationally around the world.
Shihan continues teaching at his over 20 dojos in the USA today. His teaching style combines traditional and conventional methods in order to train his students to adapt to modern day encounters, while still preserving the honored traditions of Martial Arts.
Please join in congratulating Shihan Monaco as he takes on this prominent role and continues to shape the Kyokushin community for the generations to come.
