Mr. Madani is the Founder and Chief Instructor of the International Martialarts Association (IMA), which he established in 1991. Mr. Madani began his Shotokan karate training in 1966 and continued his training in several countries, including in the United States, with the Japan Karate Association (JKA), with which he was affiliated until 1987. Mr. Madani came to Colorado in 1979 with many years of experience and professional instruction in karate training and dojo management. He organized and taught Shotokan karate programs and self-defense at several colleges and universities while pursuing his own academic education.
Mr. Madani is currently a Pan American and World Karate Federation (WKF) Karate Referee and has been refereeing over 30 years. He also served as regional vice president (2004-2007) and as a member of the technical committee (2002-present) for the USA Karate Federation (USA-NKF). USA-NKF is the only national governing body of karate in the United States.
Master Masatoshi Nakayama, Chief Instructor of the Japanese Karate Association, demonstrates the application of kata called Bassai-Dai with Hanshi Madani in 1977
During his long career, Mr. Madani has developed new methods for teaching traditional and sport karate, and includes comparative analyses between them and other methods in his seminars. He has developed new concepts for generating inner power and strength in karate techniques through proper breathing and has pioneered teaching methods for developing speed and agility at any age. Mr. Madani teaches his students a wide range of martial arts, including traditional and sport karate, Kobudo, and Iai-do. He emphasizes the philosophy and history of martial arts in all his seminars and classes. Mr. Madani’s students, who train with him for competitions at the national, Pan American, and world levels, bring home medals each year.
Karate is a family affair for the Madani’s. Mr. Madani’s wife (5th Dan), son (1st Dan and the bronze-medal winner at the 2011 Jr. World Championships), and daughter have been training in karate for many years and participate in many national and international championships. Mr. Madani’s wife, Sensei Fariba Madani, is the first woman karate referee from the United states to be licensed by the WKF as a Karate Referee. Mrs. Madani is a member of the USA-NKF Referee Council and the WKF.
Mr. Madani, through his dedication, determination, and devotion to martial arts over forty years, has achieved 2nd degree black belt in Iai-do, 3rd degree black belt in Kobudo, 6th degree black belts from the USA National Karate Federation, and 8th degree black belt in Shotokan from FSK. These certifications are recognized nationally and internationally. In addition to his accomplishments in the martial arts, Mr. Madani has extensive experience developing successful karate programs throughout the United States and around the world.
Mr. Madani holds a BA in Business Administration, a BS in Electrical Engineering, and a Master of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Colorado. He also completed two years toward a Ph.D. in Engineering. Mr. Madani spent 17 years in research and development and management. In 1996, he left the corporate world to devote his life to being a full-time karate instructor.
