Dr. Paul Kovacs, Shihan (Master Instructor)

Dr. Kovacs began his martial arts training while in high school at the Judo School of Pittsburgh. He began is karate training in 1972 as a student at Pennsylvania Western University (California PA) training with a Japan Karate Association club in Uniontown Pennsylvania. In 1974, Paul began graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh and began training with the Pitt karate Club. Paul received his Shodan (1st), Nidan (2nd) and Sandan (3rd) black belt ranks from Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima and his Yodan (4th) and Godan (5th) Black belt ranks from Sadaharu Honda and Caylor Atkins.

Before becoming the Master Instructor at the Mt. Lebanon Dojo, Paul was chief instructor of the University of Pittsburgh karate club.

Dr. Kovacs is a University Professor Emeritus of Computer and Information Systems at Robert Morris University.

Mr. Doug Gilbert, Deputy Instructor 

Mr. Doug Gilbert,(Yodan-4th Degree Black Belt), began his karate practice as a student at the University of Pittsburgh in 1980. He continued to practice at Pitt and augmented his training at Carnegie Mellon University and Duquesne University.

Doug received his Shodan and Nidan from Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima after 27 special trainings and his Sandan from Mr. Sadaharu Honda at the Grove City, PA dojo. Mr. Honda awarded Doug the rank of Yodan (fourth degree Black Belt) in May 2025, at the Elkins dojo in Elkins, WV.

  

Mr. David Resto, Instructor

Mr. David Resto earned his Shodan (First Degree Black Belt) in 1989 from Mr. Herb Match in New York at the Police Activity League in Nassau County, Long Island.

Dave later trained at Takahashi Dojo in Amityville, Long Island, New York with Takahashi sensei of the Kenkujuku Association and practiced Shuri Ryu karate in Tucson Arizona under Mike Dennison sensei.

Dave also practiced Tai Chi Chuan, Japanese and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Kendo and Philippino stick fighting.

Dave began training with Mumon Karate at the Mt Lebanon Dojo in 2022 and received his Nidan (2nd degree black Belt) in Pittsburgh from Sadaharu Honda of Mumon Karate in 2024.