Upcoming Events Master's Seminar | October 19, 2024 Black Belt College | November 17, 2024 Stinson Beach Training | June 8, 2025 ISKA Summer Camp | August 15-17, 2025 Stinson Beach Training | Sept. 28, 2025 Dojo Location 949 Grant Street, Suite B Benicia, California 94510 Call or Text (707) 745-1275 Click here to email us. |
About Shotokan Karate
Shotokan Karate originated in Okinawa, a small island south of Japan. It was popularized in Japan by Gichin Funakoshi in the 1950s. The name "Shotokan" comes from the name "Shoto," which was Funakoshi's pen name, meaning 'waving or billowing pine'. Shotokan Karate is a traditional martial art. This means that improvements in character and mental discipline are as important as physical skill, if not more so. Shotokan Karate is meant to be accessible to all, including, women, children, and those with or without great athletic ability. The Shotokan Karate Academy (SKA) offers a caring, safe environment where children and adults can learn the art of karate. Its practice leads to:
A typical class at our dojo consists of Kihon (basic techniques - blocks, punches, kicks, and footwork), Kata (forms- pre-arranged series of techniques designed to teach specific concepts and applications), Kumite (sparring - both free sparring and sparring with specific constraints, always with the safety of the student of the utmost concern), and Fitness and Flexibility (strength, endurance, and mobility exercises to assist in the development of overall karate skills). |