Karate school closes after three decades

Samarai’s Den ended classes last week

By:Alec Moore
   After nearly 30 years, the Samurai’s Den –– Manville’s original karate school and one of the oldest martial arts schools in central New Jersey –– has closed its doors.
   The school, which originally opened in 1974 at the Route 206 Hillsborough Firehouse, moved to Manville in 1975, occupying the 608 S. Main St. location that was once home to Skoll’s Deli.
   The Samurai’s Den was founded by late Isshinryu Karate Master Bob Malenchek, who was renowned as being one of the world’s foremost martial arts breaking experts in his day.
   Mr. Malenchek had on numerous occasions broken as many as six cement patio blocks with a single strike.
   As all good things must come to an end, however, the Samurai’s Den held its last class in mid-March.
   "It was a bitter sweet thing for me," said Ray Hogan, chief instructor and owner of the Samurai’s Den. The 44-year-old Mr. Hogan, who began studying under Mr. Malenchek as a teenager in 1976, took over the school in 1989 following Mr. Malenchek’s retirement that same year. "I was sad because it’s been such a big part of my life, but at the same time I knew it was time to move on, so I was happy to do that."
   During the school’s last class, held on March 15, one of the school’s original students, who had received his black belt in 1977 and who had trained with Mr. Hogan decades earlier, returned to the school to attend the final class as a tribute to Mr. Malenchek and to express his appreciation to the school.
   Mr. Hogan, who holds a fourth-degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate, emphasized that throughout the school’s 28 years of instruction in Isshinryu — a Japanese martial arts best known for its rapid hand strikes and in-close fighting style — the school has remained true to the ancient roots of the arts.
   "Isshinryu has been a profound force in my life," he said. "My inspiration in teaching the art has always been to pass on to others the benefits that I have reaped through my own training."
   Mr. Hogan added that the school has not "watered down" the physically intensive fighting aspects of the art or made more flexible the discipline that accompanies the rigorous training.
   "A lot of schools today have taken the art out of the martial arts," he said, noting that many martial arts schools, of all different styles, have compromised the traditional roots of their respective art for the profitability of their business.
   A computer programmer at Princeton University, Mr. Hogan noted that his decision to close the Samurai’s Den was based primarily on his recent wedding.
   Despite the closing of the Samurai’s Den, however, Mr. Hogan continues to teach regularly scheduled classes at the Jewish Community Center in Bridgewater.
   For more information on Mr. Hogan’s program at the community center call 295-1135.