Koei-Kan Karate-Do first found its way to the United States in 1956. Edward Kaloudis, a direct pupil of system founder, Onishi Eizo, began teaching in New York City at that time. Eventually, in 1965, he opened the first fixed dojo in Clifton, New Jersey, still in operation to this day.

Shihan Frost and Shihan Sabat

Sensei Jack Sabat, pupil of Shihan Brian Frost since 1971, brought Koei-Kan from Michigan to the West Coast in the early 1980's, opening a dojo in Santa Barbara. In 1992 he opened another dojo in San Luis Obispo. Koei-Kan has maintained a constant presence in San Luis Obispo since that time. For a period, Koei-Kan Karate-Do of San Luis Obispo operated as a part-time facility; in 2007 it has re-emerged as a full-time professional dojo.

Currently on the West Coast there are permanent Koei-Kan dojo in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Bellevue, Washington, all under the directorship of Shihan Sabat. There are many other dojo throughout the United States, a list of which is available on the main Koei-Kan website; many other Koei-Kan Yudansha teach privately.

Sensei Rhodes and Kan-cho Sensei Onishi

Larry Rhodes came to martial arts rather late in life, beginning his study of Koei-Kan in his mid-forties in 1995. A pupil of Shihan Jack Sabat, he has practiced his discipline consistently since then, earning his Ni-Dan (second-degree black belt) in 2005. He continues to train with Sensei Sabat on a regular basis. When the opportunity arose in late 2006, he chose to commit himself to re-establishing Koei-Kan as a full-time operation, taking over what had been an American Karate facility.

Sensei Rhodes has owned several small businesses over the years, and has been a professional and fine-art photographer for more than thirty years.