Pioneers

Our lineage traces back to the influential Ankō Itosu (1831-1915). Sometimes called the “grandfather” of karate, Master Itosu was a major figure in the move to popularize Okinawan karate throughout Japan. His 1908 letter outlining ten precepts to guide training is a key part of our martial philosophy.

Karate-do Kyōhan by Gichin Funakoshi and Notes on Training by Tsutomu Ohshima, as well as videos by them and their students (including Hirokazu Kanazawa, not seen below, but coming soon!) are our major resources. Our training is also heavily influenced by a number of other practitioners, many of whom are Korean. For a history of Korean karate, click here.