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BIOGRAPHY OF MASTER KEN MAMMEN
Master Ken Mammen with knife and fan
Master Ken Mammen began his martial arts training
in 1982 with a college Judo class. This sparked his continued interest
in the martial arts and lead him to a Goju-Shorei Karate class
at the local community college in Reno, Nevada. After two semesters
of Goju-Shorei Mr. Mammen tried other arts but quickly returned
to Goju-Shorei Karate, studying under Master Joey Walker from 1985
to 1991. Mr. Mammen received the rank of Shodan from Master Walker
in June of 1990.
In 1991 Mr. Mammen began training with Master
Dave McNeill in Carson City. In 1994 Master McNeill promoted Mr.
Mammen to Nidan and Ken began teaching for Master McNeill in Dayton,
Nevada with Mr. Scott Rasner. Rasner left a year later, and Mammen
continued to teach in Dayton. In 1996 Master McNeill promoted
him to Sandan. Later that year, the birth of Mr. Mammen's second
child prompted Mr. Mammen to spend more time at home, leaving the
school in Dayton under Mr. Gene Green, another student of Master
Dave McNeill's. At this point Mr. Mammen began training earnestly
with Master McNeill in Goju-Shorei Weapons, earning the rank of
Shodan in 1997.
Sensei Mammen was promoted to the rank of Yodan
in Goju-Shorei Karate in April of 2001 and received the rank of
Roykudan in Goju-Shorei Weapons in October of 2000. Master McNeill
assigned him the task of developing the fan curriculum for Goju-Shorei
Weapons, which covers the requirements for the 6th Black Rank.
Mr. Mammen has won numerous first place awards
in open competition, in kumite, empty hand Kata and weapons Kata.
He received the Northern Nevada Coalition of Martial Artist's "Instructor
of the Year" award and also placed "First Overall in Kata" as well
as "Second in Kumite" for the year 1994.
Mr. Mammen's current interest is the study of
the healing arts and pressure point methods as he continues his
training with Grandmaster Alexander Archie and Master Dave McNeill,
Soke. Sensei Mammen is the current Director of Goju-Shorei Karate
and a member of the Board of Directors of Goju-Shorei Weapons.
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