Shorinji-Ryu Karate
Adult Karate
Our Adult Karate class is ideal for beginners or advanced practitioners. Our method is Richard Kim’s Shorinji-Ryu style, featuring rapid footwork and realistic self defense methods. Shorinji-Ryu Karate is a powerful martial art, with its origins traced back from Okinawa to the Shaolin Temple. Contrary to many modern Karate systems that use muscular tension and external strength, this one focuses on the idea of soft technique, explosiveness, and the expression of deep breathing to express its power. Refined into a very complete, well rounded fighting art, Shorinji-Ryu Karate maintains its fighting prowess, discipline, and elegance through an intensive training curriculum. Combined with the approach of versatility and innovation as its principals, this fully trains the practitioner to be a well-rounded Generalist, capable of adapting to any situation.
Adult Karate Classes are open to all adults and teens beginning at Ages 12 and up.
The Martial Arts Academy
Principles & Training Methodology
Kata: Karate’s Library
Kata is taught properly in a practical and non-mysterious fashion at The Martial Arts Academy, and is fully explained in a way that many large commercial dojos and other schools fall short. Each technique is learned thoroughly, with the underlying principles of body dynamics, coordination, power generation, movement quality, and proper fighting spirit are clearly shown in a step by step fashion.
Basic Techniques: Karate’s Foundation
How Karate Basics Work:
Structure: Structure refers to making proper skeletal alignments in order to get the most out of each move you do, while using your muscles efficiently. This is always done from a spine held straight, proper stances and footwork along with arm proximities so you can maximize your force to absorb and project power properly.
Footwork: You cannot mention footwork without talking about Karate’s famous Horse Stance (Kiba-Dachi), or the other two main stances: Front Stance (Zenkutsu-Dachi), or Back Stance (Kokutsu-Dachi). Stance, or properly translated to “shifting leg stance” doesn’t imply that you are fixed in space, rather you are moving constantly, shifting your leg weightings front to back, or to a neutral position. Each of these stances translate into rapid and stable movements, that promote fight-winning evasions and angles to maximize your force, while minimizing your opponents’ strengthOnce all these principles are properly understood, you can then begin employing Karate’s powerful punches, Kicks and Throws, actualizing it into a live and functional fighting form. Proven over centuries, the ability and strength of the practitioner is always shown through knowledge of the basics, and most importantly, Kata. Many so-called great masters that only specialized in fancy techniques have fallen in combat to those who possess the ability of the basics and fighting spirit of the Kata.
Oyo Bunkai & Kumite: Karate’s Fighting Applications & Sparring Methods
Community
Philosophy & Meditation
Lineage & History
Matsumura spent time being educated by the Satsuma Clan in Japan in sword and Bo techniques as well, bringing them back with him to Okinawa. He was also honored with the title of Bushi (Samurai), a significant achievement, and went on to serve three Okinawan Kings Sho Ko, Sho Iku, and Sho Tai as Chief Martial Arts Instructor and Bodyguard, respectively
Later in his life, he spent a great deal of time systematizing and refining Tode, the original name of Karate meaning “China Hand”. By the time he was finished, the art, while much of it’s early structure was based in Shaolin Kung Fu, had become totally of it’s own, and eventually would be christened with the new title of Karate, or “Empty Hand” in the early 20th Century. He went on to teach several highly skilled Karate practitioners such as Itosu Anko, Yabu Kentsu, and Gichin Funakoshi.
Kentsu Yabu (1866-1937) Sensei Kentsu was a prominent teacher of Shorinji-ryu Karate in Okinawa. Yabu put his skills to the ultimate test when he fought in the Sino-Japanese war, perfecting his art on the battlefield. His teachers included both Matsumura Sokon and Itosu Anko, and was among the first people to demonstrate Karate in Hawaii during the 1920s. A young Richard Kim had attended these demonstrations, and joined the class under the instruction of Yabu, and later Arakaki Ankichi. His experiences in real life combat battle hardened him, and he defeated any challengers, including the mighty Choki Motobu. He was a stickler for the basics and preferred the training and fighting techniques of Nihanchi and Gojushiho Katas.
Richard Kim (1917–2001) Widely considered to be the best martial artist of the 20th Century, Sensei Kim was a master instructor. When he was a child, he began his training in Judo, and later, Shorinji-ryu Karate under Yabu Kentsu and Arakaki Ankichi. Before World War II, his service in the US merchant marines took him to east Asia. While there, he trained in Taiji Quan with Chen Chen Yuan, I-Quan with Wang Xiang Zhai, and Bagua Zhang with Chao Hsu Lai.
After the war, he moved to Japan. He studied Daito-Ryu Jujitsu under Kotaro Yoshida and lived with him for seven years. Yoshida fully instructed him in his system, and imparted to Kim a wealth of martial arts philosophy and Shugendo spiritual training. In 1959, Kim began teaching martial arts in San Francisco. He taught extensively throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He had many great students, including Will Yturriaga’s teacher, Sensei Samarrai to whom he taught his entire system, including the full Shugendo spiritual tradition.
Get a FREE week trial!
One Week Free Trial
