Ed Profacci, Shihan
A 5th degree black belt (Godan) in Kyokushin Karate with over thirty years of full-contact training. A product of the old-school Kyokushin system, he was forged through impact, endurance, and the kind of rigorous training that demands absolute commitment. What began in his teens became a lifelong pursuit built on discipline, pressure, and continual evolution.
Shihan Profacci fought full-contact Kyokushin and expanded his skillset through Dutch kickboxing, Jujitsu, and weapons-based combatives to create a complete and practical approach to combat. For more than 20 years, he has coached and cornered fighters in Kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Kyokushin, developing athletes who can execute under stress, stay composed under fire, and push far beyond their limits. Kyokushin remains his core, but everything he teaches has been tested, refined, and proven under pressure.
As a coach, Shihan Profacci is known for his precision, intensity, and honesty. He builds fighters from the ground up, mechanics first, mindset second, and resilience every step of the way. He has trained beginners, competitive fighters, law-enforcement, military personnel, and anyone willing to put in the work, always with one mission: produce capable, confident martial artists who can perform when it counts.
"What I teach and recommend"
KYOKUSHIN KARATE
Kyokushin is a full-contact striking art built on power, conditioning, and the ability to function under real pressure. It develops strong basics, disciplined movement, and a mindset that is forged through rigorous training and honest contact. Kyokushin emphasizes low-line kicks, body conditioning, explosive power, and the resilience needed to fight through resistance. It is a practical, efficient system that produces martial artists who can absorb impact, generate power in close range, and apply technique with intention. In every way, Kyokushin training builds a fighter’s body and spirit simultaneously.
DUTCH KICK BOXING
Dutch kickboxing is an aggressive, high-output striking system that blends Kyokushin-style kicks with Western boxing and rapid-fire combinations. It’s built for real exchanges—balanced footwork, tight guard, powerful low kicks, and constant pressure. This style became world-famous through K-1, where its efficiency and adaptability were proven against top-level fighters. Training emphasizes sharp combinations, clean defensive structure, precise angles, and the ability to stay dangerous in every range. It is a practical and highly effective striking method for developing speed, power, timing, and fight-ready conditioning.
SELF DEFENSE
Practical self-defense focuses on what works in close, chaotic, real-world situations. Training includes escapes from grabs and holds, throws, takedown defense, close-range striking, and the use of improvised or traditional weapons when necessary. The goal is efficient survival: creating space, breaking control, and ending the threat quickly. Techniques are simple, direct, and designed to hold up under stress—not flashy or theoretical. Students learn how to stay calm, react decisively, and use leverage, positioning, and striking to protect themselves in unpredictable situations.
KYOKUSHIN VIDEO CLIPS
Wondering what Kyokushin really looks like?
This is it — from serious dojo training to full-contact tournament battles and real-world application, across different dojos and organizations. Check out this month’s video.
OUR NEWEST BLACK BELT
Gionni "Bear" Profacci
After twelve years of dedicated training, Gionni “Bear” Profacci earned his Shodan (Black Belt) in Kyokushin Karate in 2024 under the instruction of his father, Shihan Profacci. His test was a full-day gauntlet of endurance and spirit, including a 5-mile run, weightlifting standards, technical kihon and kata evaluation, and two continuous hours of full-contact fights against fresh opponents.
This achievement marks him as the newest black belt in our lineage. In addition to Kyokushin, Bear has cross-trained in Boxing and Judo, building a well-rounded and effective skill set.
Gionni proudly serves in the United States Navy and is a devoted husband and new father. He now teaches as an assistant instructor in his home city of Honolulu, Hawaii, continuing his development under Shihan’s guidance.
