Our Philosophy
Our dojo is dedicated to practicing karate in the tradition of the old Okinawan masters. We view karate as an effective means of self-defense, but more importantly, as a philosophy in which to develop the body and spirit to their maximum potential. To us, character development, mental and physical discipline and self-reliance are just as important as the development of fighting skills.OUR SYSTEM
The Four Pillars of a Yudansha
Be proactive with your health.
Train with the very best, do what is necessary to get better every day.
Cultivate your integrity and strive to be a compassionate human being.
Share your karate with others.
This is real Okinawan Karate.
The system of karate that is taught in our dojo is Okinawan Kobayashi Shorin Ryu karate. It was developed hundreds of years ago. These forms and techniques have passed down from sensei (teacher) to deshi (student) in an unbroken direct lineage for hundreds of years. This system of karate uses both hands and feet evenly for a well rounded close in self defense system. Okinawan karate can further be defined by a profound respect for life. This is manifested by the Okinawan master’s example of humility, patience, and courtesy. While it is easy to describe karate by its physical appearance, it is much more difficult to understand the Okinawan attributes without proper context. That is why we study Okinawan history to value the depth of its rich culture.
OUR DOJO
The San Francisco Shorin Ryu Shorin Kan Okinawan Karate and Kobudo Dojo was founded in 1992. We continue to grow into a unique karate community. We have deep roots in Okinawa. We belong to the Shorin Ryu Shorin Kan Kyukai, a strong national karate organization. We take the best customs of Okinawan karate to create an environment of learning and hard work. We use a minimum of structure and regimen. The focus is self defense and extracting the principles from kata. We demystify karate and de-emphasize rank. In fact we only have three color obi (belt); white, brown and black. We fully understand that karate gives you back exactly what you put into it. We practice karate as a lifetime of effort.
GETTING STARTED
In your decision to train at this or another dojo, the most important issue will be your relationship with the sensei. You must feel good with what you are taught, with the way you are taught and how you are treated. In return there must be mutual respect and you must train with passion. Come by the dojo any time during classes and observe and ask questions. Try us out for a week at no cost. Keep an open mind as we try and dispel myths and misconceptions. Visit other martial art schools so you can compare. I can suggest other dojo according to your goals.