• Karate as a method of self defense is a martial art that uses the hands, feet, knees, elbows, joint locks, and throws to preserve life in the face of violence.

    Karate as an exercise is a regimen of physical conditioning meant to improve strength, speed, balance, and coordination.

    Karate as an art is a means to cultivate self-awareness, confidence, and fortitude to bring greater meaning to life.

    Karate as a way of life… Now, that’s something else.

    No matter what you want out of your practice, put in the hard work and you’ll find it!


  • Shorin Ryu Karate is a collection of martial techniques that came together in Okinawa between two and four hundred years ago. It contains within it’s DNA traces of (among others): White Crane Boxing, Kung Fu, Tegumi, and street fighting.

    While the the global popularization of Karate is most often attributed to Gichin Funakoshi, he was not the originator of the art. Funakoshi studied Karate from Anko (Yasutsune) Itosu, himself a student of the great warrior, Sokon Matsumura.

    Since it’s introduction to Japan in the early 1900′s, it has since grown into several major styles and countless interpretations.


  • The practice of basic techniques (kihon waza) are one-phase movements pulled from with the kata for individual practice for refinement in detail. A list of beginner techniques might include:


    front stance
    back stance
    horse stance
    cat stance

    downward sweep
    rising block
    forearm block
    knife edge block
    two handed block


    straight punch
    lunge punch
    reverse punch
    close punch


    front kick
    round kick
    side kick


    elbow strike
    backfist
    spear hand
    palm heel


  • Forms (kata) are the curriculum of Karate. They contain in their movements the teachings of the masters of the past; they give rise to the creativity of practitioners (karateka) of the present; and they preserve the knowledge of Karate-jitsu for into the future.

    Contained in the movements of the kata is the fighting knowledge of soldiers, sailors, monks, bodyguards, and samurai.

    Kata are usually the core measure of skill by which students can measure their advancement. While the forms included tend to be similar across styles, different schools have different lower belt levels and varying expectations of ability for those grades. In our school, the following is the basic template for progression:


    Beginner:
    Pinan Shodan
    Pinan Nidan
    Pinan Sandan
    Pinan Yondan
    Pinan Godan
    Naihanchi


    Intermediate:
    Passai
    Ji’on
    Jitte
    Chinto
    Kushanku


    Advanced:
    Useshi
    Hakutsuru
    Etc…