Rocky Mountain Budokan
About
Rocky Mountain Budokan offers traditional martial arts training in MMA and karate disciplines. The gym is led by experienced instructors including founder Hideki Iwakabe, an 8th Dan in Shotokan Karate, along with Leigh DeVita and Monica Iwakabe who bring decades of combined expertise in karate, kendo, and iaido. This deep instructional knowledge creates a foundation where students receive substantial individual attention during training sessions.
reviewsWhat Members Say
Members praise the excellent instructors who are passionate about teaching and provide substantial individual attention to students. They describe a supportive, friendly dojo culture where both children and adults feel welcome, with specific appreciation for the approachable onboarding process for new students. One reviewer expressed concerns about facility cleanliness and perceived reluctance to teach newcomers, but most emphasize the healthy environment and positive energy.
rate_reviewGoogle Reviews (4)
Aleksey Nikolaev
4 years ago
Quite and respectful place, very traditional, students get a lot of attention. Great energy.
Peter McFarland
2 weeks ago
Current Iaido student. This dojo is amazing. Very supportive, teachers are excellent, students receive a lot of attention and instruction. Other students are also very friendly and supportive - very healthy Dojo culture. Onboarding as a new student is also very approachable. Would recommend to anyone 10/10.
Julie S
4 years ago
Best place for karate! Great instructors. They're good with children and adults. They truly love karate and teaching, that's what makes them the best!
Adam-Prime
a year ago
Dirty facility and nobody wants to teach new students.
Contact
3301 W Hampden Ave, Englewood, CO 80110, USA
scheduleHours
Monday: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Tuesday: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Thursday: 6:00 – 8:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
groupCoaches & Instructors
Leigh DeVita
Instructor - Karate
Rokudan (6th Dan) in Karate
Dojo member since 1985.
Monica Iwakabe
Instructor - Karate, Kendo, Iaido
Godan (5th Dan) Karate, Yondan (4th Dan) Kendo, Rokudan (6th Dan) Iaido
Dojo member since 1993. Started Karate in Germany (1991), Kendo in Colorado (1996), Iaido in Colorado (2000).
Hideki Iwakabe
Founder / Head Instructor
Shotokan Karate - 8th Dan, Kendo - 5th Dan, Iaido - 6th Dan
Founded Rocky Mountain Budokan (formerly Mountain States Karate Association) in 1965. First and oldest Karate school in Englewood, first Kendo and Iaido school in Colorado.