Please Click The Picture To Email Renshi-Go Daniel Muñoz

     Renshi Daniel Muñoz started his Martial Arts career at the young age of 13.  His father is the person who made Sensei start Karate.  While in Junior High School Renshi Muñoz used to get stuffed in lockers for gum.  After a few times of this happening, his father forced him to take Karate.  Renshi Daniel Muñoz started his classes at the Punxsutawney Health and Fitness Center in Punxsutawney, PA.  Mr. Muñoz would stay at the class to make sure Sensei would not leave and stay to learn.  Renshi-Go Muñoz's Sensei at this time was Mr. George Wilson, Sho Dan (First Degree Black Belt).  Mr. Wilson taught his class in the style of Isshinryu Karate Do.  After one (1) month of class, Sensei Muñoz knew that this would be something he would want to do for the rest of his life.

     Renshi Muñoz appreciated his time with Mr. Wilson and learned a lot about Isshinryu. In one (1) year time, Sensei Muñoz was ready for his Brown Belt test.  Mr. Wilson was waiting for his Sensei, Shihan Peter Brown, Roku Dan (Sixth Degree Black Belt) who was a student of Hanshi William Duessell of Pittsburgh, PA.  Shihan Brown was from New Bethlem, PA and found it hard to find time to travel to Punxsutawney.  After a while Mr. Wilson's teaching interfered with his family time and eventually quit coming to teach class.  Sensei Muñoz was devastated.  Sensei Muñoz tried other style over the next few years, but felt that these other styles were not for him.  He still continued to work on his Isshinryu Katas.

     One day at the age of 18, Sensei Muñoz and a friend were visiting a nearby town of Du Bois to hang out at the mall.  On the way home, while travelling through the downtown section, they saw a building that on the top floor, the windows spelled out KARATE.  Not having a dojo to workout in was difficult for Sensei Muñoz, so the next class day he visited the dojo.  Upon observing class, Sensei saw a lot of what he knew from Mr. Wilson class and much more.  This would be his new Karate home for the next few years.

         Renshi Muñoz learned all he could, being like a sponge.  He was always the first to volunteer to be an uki (Partner) for demonstrations.  The school was called The Du Bois Isshinryu Martial Arts Academy;.  This was special in the fact that it didn't have just one (1) Black Belt but five (5).  There were 3 Yon Dan (Fourth Degree Black Belt) in Daniel Staples, Gary Spadaro, and John Sierzega.  Plus two (2) new award Sho Dan by the name of Rick Park and James Sarvey.  The school was oversaw by Sensei Kenneth Lees of Brockway, PA who's real rank in unknown to this date.  On August 24, 1991 Sensei Muñoz earned his Sho Dan (First Degree Black Belt).  At this time the three (3) Yon Dans were losing interest in the school due to some disagreements with Sensei Lees.  Rick Park was elevated to Yon Dan and James Sarvey was promoted to San Dan.  Due to work, Renshi Muñoz chose to leave the school and travel for his job in 1995.

     Sensei travelled to NC, CA, and NH over the next few year.  At every stop Sensei Muñoz would try to find an Isshinryu school to continue his training, but was unsuccessful and went back to training himself in his Karate.  In 2000 Renshi Muñoz came back to the Du Bois area.  He reunited with an ex-girlfriend by the name of Amy and moved in with her.  On June 5, 2001 was the first day that the Muñoz Isshinryu Martial Arts Academy started and in August of 2001 had his first child in a boy named Damien Mathias.  Yes Sensei got his son's name from the movie The Omen.  In Aug of 2002 Sensei and Amy got married and have remained married since.

     The school was going great.  It had some great students.  Sensei Muñoz got promoted to Ni Dan (Second Degree Black Belt) and San Dan (Third Degree Black Belt) by Sensei Kenneth Lees by 2003.  Sensei Lees announced his leaving karate and appointed another man to watch over the Isshinryu Schools in the area.  This man didn't give the attention it should to the students and instructors of the area, so Sensei Muñoz chose to find another Sensei.  After letters to Okinawa addressed to Hanshi Angi Uezu, Ju Dan ((Tenth Degree Black Belt) and son-in-law to the founder of Isshinryu Karate Do) and visiting several other dojo near and afar, Sensei decided to ask Kyoshi Phillip Furgason (1975 student of O'Sensei Kirchiro Shimabukuro, son of the founder of Isshinryu Karate Do and leader of all Isshinryu in the world) to be his Sensei.  Shihan agreed and a great relationship grown.  While on a trip to Carlisle, PA in April of 2004, Kyoshi Furgason promoted Sensei Muñoz to Yon Dan and gave him the title of Renshi-Go.  Through the years Sensei and the school learned more about Isshinryu Karate Do than they could ever imagine.  Kyoshi Furgason and Renshi Muñoz travelled to Okinawa in March of 2006.  They stayed on the island for ten (10) days and had a great time learning about the culture, Isshinryu,  and doing a lot of sightseeing.  They were privileged enough to have Hanshi Angi Uezu tour them around the island.

     Another great relationship was being formed with Hanshi William Washington, Ju Dan(10th Degree Black Belt).  Renshi Muñoz would every year since 2004 attend Hanshi Washington's tournament and help out in any way he could.  Hanshi Washington would attend Black Belt tests and put on seminar for Renshi Muñoz. 

     On September 22 Kyoshi-Go Phillip Furgason would get elevated to the rank of Ku Dan (Ninth Degree Black Belt) and given the title of Hanshi-Go by Hanshi William Washington.  Also on September 23 Renshi-Go Daniel Muñoz was promoted to Go Dan (Fifth Degree Black Belt) by Hanshi Phillip Furgason.

     Now after having 20+ years into Isshinryu Karate Do, Renshi Muñoz has produced some great Black Belts and hopes to produce more in the future.