Meet the Instructors

Mark Muranaka  Head Instructor

Shichidan (7th DAN)
Professor Mark was promoted on Nov. 8, 2018 to the rank of Shichidan (7th degree black belt) at the USJF Promotions Meeting in Seattle.  Professor Mark has been named the PRESIDENT of the USJF (United States Judo Federation) for the upcoming term starting in late 2018!!  Professor Mark has been donating his time and knowledge of judo since the beginning of the Judo program held at the Mililani YMCA.  Presently, he is also an Assistant Instructor at the Kaimuki YMCA Judo Club. 

A while ago, Professor Mark was also the Head Instructor at the Mililani Hongwanji Judo Club for many years until giving the club up to his former student, Sensei Terry Otsuka.  Yes, he was at all three clubs at ONCE!  and trained at Shobukan Judo Club at the same time!  At that time, it was said that Sensei Mark was married to JUDO.  Professor Mark has also served on the JBBAH (Judo Black Belt Association of Hawaii) as President.  He is currently the Vice-President of Hawaii Judo Inc.  (HJI).  A few of his accomplishments in judo, besides reaching the rank of Shichidan (7th degree), was becoming the Gold Medalist at the 2001 USA JUDO SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS held in Orlando, Florida. 

He was also the Gold Medalist at the 2002 USA JUDO SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS held in San Diego, California.  In 2003, Professor Mark became the Bronze Medalist at the 5th WORLD MASTERS JUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS held at the Kodokan in Tokyo, Japan!!!!!   Keep in mind, there is more to Mark’s accomplishments but these are the most recent.  Sensei Mark has since gone through medical therapy for an eye injury and was told by his doctor NOT to compete anymore!  Not many know, but Sensei Mark is also the owner of MURANAKA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC., so if you have an asbestos problem at work or home, give him a call.

Dean Shiraki, Guest Instructor

Head Instructor at the Mililani Seidokan Judo Club
Godan  (5th DAN)

Sensei Dean has been helping Sensei Mark for many years at the Mililani YMCA Judo Club, while heading his own Judo Club at the Mililani District Park Gym.  Sensei Dean was once the Instructor/Coach for the McKinley High School Judo Team.  At every local tournament here on Oahu, you can find Sensei Dean behind the computers, making sure the brackets for each weight division is running smoothly and organized.  His work for each tournament begins way before the actual tournament, as he is the one that handles the pairing for the brackets and making sure everyone is in the right weight division, among many other things.  Sensei Dean has been a very valuable asset to the 50th State Judo Association.  He has also been a very valuable asset to Sensei Mark, getting the kids ready for tournaments with both of their knowledge of tournament play and techniques for those competitors and the non-competitors as well.  Without asking him, I know some of his passions are diving and fishing.  His long overdue promotion to Godan (5th degree), was awarded to him on September 2014.

​Shaena Peralto, Assistant Instructor

Shodan (1st Dan)

Sensei Shaena has been a student under Sensei Mark since she was about 5 years old!  She is our Multiple HJI State Champion.  She is also our 3-time Junior National Champion.   PHEW.  If you haven’t noticed, Sensei Shaena practices a lot with the big boys and the men…which has made her as strong and determined as she is.   Sensei Shaena was the Coach for Waianae High School girl’s team for the  2017 season.  That was Waianae High School’s first year participating in judo, so Sensei Shaena has a lot of work ahead of her.  Sensei Jensen Hernandez is now the coach for Waianae High School.