Soke Michael J. LaMonica: Menkyo Kaiden-Shihan Sandai-Kichu

(Hakko Denshin Ryu JuJutsu Federations North and South American Director and Chief instructor)

Michael J. LaMonica is one of those exceptional people. A man with experience, enthusiasm, and leadership qualities that 28 years of law enforcement has sharpened to the man he is today. Shihan LaMonica was born one of three (3) children in Akron, Ohio. His parents of Italian decent were born in Akron Ohio and his father worked all his life as an Attorney, both for the City of Akron, and in private practice.

In 1959, young Shihan LaMonica joined the City of Akron’s Police Department where he stayed for 21 years, working as a patrolman, in the Detective Bureau, Department of Community Relations, in command of the Intelligence Unit, S.W.A.T. Unit, and was assistant Director of the Training Bureau. During these 21 years, Shihan LaMonica earned himself a reputation as a dedicated public servant, and an officer anyone would be honored to have as a partner. Shihan LaMonica also received many awards for Police Heroism and Public Service. Among his best assignments, besides teaching young law enforcements students, both at the Police Academy and at the University of Akron, was guarding V.I.P. ? s that flowed through the City of Akron and North Eastern Ohio. Shihan LaMonica has worked with the Secret Service, the F.B.I., and County Agencies during political visits and has also guarded people such as Danny Thomas, who came to Ohio for fundraisers and personal appearances. These duties placed Shihan LaMonica in contact with Presidents Reagan, Carter, Nixon, and Governors Celeste and Rhodes of Ohio, and many others that came to Ohio plus many other show business figures. Shihan LaMonica, a strapping man of 6 ? 4″, is not only a “crack shot”, but in the opinion of his fellow officers, can handle the toughest of the tough.

In May 1980, Shihan LaMonica left his post with the Akron Police Department to take on yet another challenge, Chief of the Fairlawn Police Department. Although this community is small in population, it is the fastest growing commercial area in Summit County, Ohio. Along with his dedicated Police work, Shihan LaMonica has raised his family of five (5) children, all girls. His wife, Chris, is a 6th Degree Black Belt in JuJutsu. Shihan LaMonica has also received many honors over the years. Some of which were:

• Knight Cavalier – National Association of Chiefs of Police
• Liberty & Justice Award – National Association of Chiefs of Police
• Special Citation Award – National Association of Chiefs of Police
• Jaycee Man of the Year – 1972
• Master Firearms Award – (FBI) Academy
• World Ju Jutsu Federation – Ninth Degree Black Belt
• Second Degree Black Belt ? Judo
• Hakko Ryu Jujutsu – Rank of Kaiden-Shihan San Dai Kichu – The highest ranking non-oriental in the World.
• Hakko Denshin Ryu Jujutsu – Was given the title of “Soke or headmaster” in August 2001, by Menkyo Kaiden-Shihan San Dai Kichu Antonio Garcia (European Director of HDRJJ) and Menkyo Kaiden-Shihan San Dai Kichu Yasuhiro Irie (Japanese Director of HDRJJ) – both of the KoKoDo Renmei Association of Japan.

As the first non-Oriental to ever receive the highest rank for the technical excellence, Sandai Kichu (three great pilars), he was often relied upon for council by the founder of Hakko Ryu, Ryuho Okuyama, shodai soke. So trusted is he that in August of 1981, he received a certificate naming him as a personal advisor to Mr. Okuyama.

Shihan LaMonica began his martial arts training while serving in the Marine Corps in the late 1950′s. Then in the 1960′s, he had an opportunity to meet the man who introduced Hakko Ryu to the United States, James A. Benko. As a Police Officer, he quickly saw the value of Hakko Ryu techniques for law enforcement.

Shihan LaMonica began training with Mr. Benko shortly after they met, and continued until 1975 when he was invited by the Okuyama family to live with them as an uchideshi (special disciple). Upon completion of his study, he was awarded the certificate and makimono (hand scroll) of menkyu shihan (master instructor license). In 1979, at the invitation of Mr. Okuyama, Shihan LaMonica returned to Japan to complete the most advanced training given in Hakko Ryu, and was awarded the Kaiden (deepest mysteries) and San Dai Kichu (three great pillars) makimono.

Shihan LaMonica, together with his wife Chris (who was the first non-Japanese women to receive shihan in Hakko Ryu teach various law enforcement agencies in Ohio, and Shihan LaMonica has served as an instructor at the F.B.I. Academy. To compliment his Hakko Ryu and police experience, Shihan LaMonica trained in Tokyo with the Dai Yon Kidootai (#4 Riot Police) under Tsunemori Kaminoda. Additionally, he studied jo (5 foot stick) techniques under Takaji Shimizu and Masakiryu Manrikigusari (10000 power chain) under Yumio Nawa. In the United States, Shihan LaMonica is a graduate of the F.B.I. Academy where among other subjects he completed the course in Anti-Sniper and Survival Tactics. He is also a graduate of the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection School. At present, Shihan LaMonica is the Director and Chief Instructor of the North and South America of Hakko Denshin Ryu JuJutsu, while James Benko acts as an advisor. As a team, they have trained others to become instructors, and have guided the growth of Hakko Ryu and Hakko Denshin Ryu in America.