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USAMAF Biography Information

Michael Dunphy, Ph.D
Member, Board of Directors
United States (USA) Martial Arts Federation

Michael DunphyDr. Dunphy was born in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio in 1957. His family, parents and three siblings, lived in Akron, Ohio, and he attended Hoban High School from 1971-75, graduating with high honors (GPA 4.2/4.5). An avid athlete, Dunphy participated in wrestling, track, tennis, handball, weightlifting, cross-country and basketball. He starting martial arts in 1971 at Hoban under Harry Howell, a black belt with Il Joo Kim, a practitioner of Song Moo Kwan (Korean Shotokan) under Ro Byung Jick. The program at Hoban lasted about 8 months, and then Dunphy joined with Kiel Soon Park. Mr. Park was a respected Judo-ka, and was teaching both Judo and Taekwondo in Copley, Ohio. Although Dunphy’s training in the early years was primarily Taekwondo, Mr. Park integrated a considerable number Judo techniques and methods into the Taekwondo curriculum, and so ukemi-waza, nage-waza and ne-waza were part of his early martial arts education.

In September 1975, Dunphy left Akron and Mr. Park’s dojang to attend Walsh College on an academic scholarship to major in Chemistry. Dunphy continued training and teaching at Walsh College by starting the Walsh College Karate Club, and training regularly with local martial artists. While at Walsh, Dunphy maintained his high academic standards, participated in various sports, served a student government President and even was hired to teach undergraduate chemistry labs as a senior. Dunphy graduated magna cum laude in 1979 with his B.S. in Chemistry, accepting a full academic scholarship and teaching assistantship to pursue a Master’s Degree in Clinical Chemistry at Youngstown State University.

While at YSU, Dunphy met Joe Bonacci, a Youngstown police officer and practitioner of Okinawan Karate. Bonacci had started the YSU Karate Club earlier that year, and Dunphy was immediately asked to help teach and promote the club. During this time, Dunphy travelled to many tournaments winning in kumite, kata and weapons regularly. It was during late in 1979, that Dunphy met Mr. George Anderson in Youngstown at a police seminar that Bonacci had invited Mr. Anderson to teach. Following the seminar, Dunphy asked Mr. Anderson if he could train with him as a member of the Kwanmukan. As Bonacci was a student with Mr. Anderson at the time, the transfer was official.

In January of 1981, Dunphy had completed all of his coursework for his master’s degree, (3.9 GPA) and chose to complete his research in Canton, Ohio as the head of toxicology at Timken Mercy Medical Center. From this point forward, Dunphy trained directly with Mr. Anderson in Karate, Kobudo, Judo and Ju-Jitsu at the main dojo in Kenmore. He also began teaching as a part-time instructor in Chemistry at Walsh College, and completed his master’s research in 1982, graduating with a commendation from the Dean of Arts and Sciences for a superior thesis. In 1982, he met Gail Ellen Penrod, whom he married in April 1983. During this same year, Dunphy competed in the AAU nationals in Cleveland, Ohio and earned a spot on the USA National Karate Team in kumite. In 1984, Dunphy was selected to compete in the WUKO world championships in the 75 kilo division along with Dale Beam. After losing a heartbreaking 6 to 5 match in his quarterfinal bout, Dunphy finished 9th overall (out of 70), and qualified to participate in the 1985 World Games in London. Fighting with broken ribs, Dunphy finished 7th in the world in kumite. During the same time period, from 1980 forward, Dunphy earned both an AAU and a USAKF national referee license in kata and kumite. He continues to referee regularly.

During the late 1980's Dunphy continued to train in Karate, Kobudo, Ju-Jitsu and Judo at the hombu, compete, and do research in the martial arts. In September 1985, Dunphy was hired as a full time Instructor in Chemistry by Walsh College. That same year, he began his doctoral studies in biochemistry at the University of Akron, under Dr. Daniel Smith, a Cal Berkeley graduate in the lab of Paul Boyer. Dunphy also served on the USA Karate Federation and medical committee, athlete’s advisory committee and the referee corps. In 1988, he and Gail had their first child, Lindsay, with their son Christopher being born in 1991. In 1989, Dunphy and a friend and colleague, Jerry Andrea, opened the Cuyahoga Valley Karate Center in Akron. Dunphy had been maintaining the Walsh College Karate Club since 1975, and this was his first commercial dojo. Dunphy and Andrea worked together until 1991, when Dunphy decided to relocate to North Canton at a facility closer to Walsh College. In September 1991, Dunphy opened the Center for the Martial Arts in North Canton which is currently flourishing and has branches in three locations.

In 1990, Dunphy traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark with Hanshi George Anderson to the International Ju-Jitsu Federation annual congress. Hanshi Anderson and Dunphy secured the membership of the US Ju-Jitsu Federation into the IJJF. Dunphy was appointed the first President of the USJJF and Mr. Anderson assumed the position of IJJF Commissioner and Technical Director of the USJJF. In 1993, Dunphy and one of his students, Daniel Passerini, competed as the first US men’s duo kata team in the IJJF world games in Denmark. Dunphy continues to serve the USJJF as a member of the technical board.

After the birth of his son, Dunphy curtailed his international activities and focused his energies at home and in his dojo. Since 1991, the CMA north Canton has gained a reputation as an outstanding resource to the Stark county and surrounding communities. Not only does the CMA offer a variety of outstanding martial arts classes, but Dunphy has pioneered the development of unique educational martial arts programs for young children and for those with special challenges like Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and other behavioral disorders. Dunphy’s work with children has been lauded by local school boards, child psychologists, school couselors and pediatricians. He is a frequently invited speaker and lecturer. Dunphy has appeared on the Emmy Award winning Newton’s Apple program (The Physics of Karate) and he has authored two books, "Inspiring the Teacher Within", DLC Press 1997 and "The Kid’s Book of Karate", Workman Publishing, 1999. Currently, Dunphy is Professor of Biochemistry and Chairman of the Department of Natural Sciences at Walsh University, he is an active Shihan of the Kwanmukan under Hanshi George E. Anderson, and he continues to teach and train every week at his dojo in North Canton. He resides in Stow, Ohio with his wfire Gail and his two children.

EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Memberships in Professional Organizations

MARTIAL ARTS Research Interests

IMPORTANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE MARTIAL ARTS

Awards

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