Testing Board Bio - Master Ken Mammen

So when I first met Master Ken Mammen, I was scared to death of him!  He was so serious, he knew so much, and he was so quick and formidable!

Then he started teaching me the knife kata on a beach in Hawaii (I know, tough life right?) and... again I realized just what a phenomenal martial artist he was!  I grew as a martial artist that trip, and Master Mammen was a big part of that - not just in what he taught me, but because of his kind and genuine interest in my welfare and development as a black belt in a martial art he clearly loves.

Thank you Sir, for always being a part of the fabric of my journey.

Respectfully,
Kathy Wiz

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 led 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 returned to Goju-Shorei Karate, studying under Master Joey Walker from 1985 to 1991. Mr. Mammen received the rank of Shodan (1st Dan) from Master Walker in June of 1990.

In 1991, Mr. Mammen began training with (then) Master Dave McNeill in Carson City. 

In 1994 Master McNeill promoted Mr. Mammen to Nidan (2nd Dan) 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 (3rd Dan). 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 (1st Dan) in 1997.

Master Mammen was promoted to the rank of Yodan (4th Dan) in Goju-Shorei Karate in April of 2001 and received the rank of Roykudan (6th Dan) in Goju-Shorei Weapons in October of 2000. Master McNeill assigned him the task of developing the fan curriculum for Goju-Shorei Weapons, which covered the requirements for the 6th Black Rank.

Master 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.

From 2001 through 2008 Master Ken Mammen served as the 1st appointed Director of Goju-Shorei Karate.