Current/Upcoming Events/Announcements: In our kata-of-the-month cycles, we are currently doing advanced kata, Wankan (8:30-9:15am) and beginner kata Heian Shodan (9:30-10:15am) on Saturdays. No classes Monday, May 29, due to the Memorial Day holiday. Special training 7pm on Tuesday, May 30. All those who know at last Heian Shodan are welcome to attend this session, normally […]
The next kata for our Saturday classes is Wankan (王冠). Wankan literally means “king’s crown.” The second character in the name can also mean a “great achievement,” suggesting that this kata could be the crowning achievement of someone who has practiced for many years. We don’t see this kata practiced often, so the coming month will be a good […]
Our kata-of-the-month is now Gojushiho Dai (五十四歩大), the companion to Gojushiho Sho, which we just completed. Gojushiho means “Fifty-four Steps.” Gojushiho Dai is “Gojushiho the Greater.” In Shotokan karate we typically practice these two variants of the older Gojushiho kata. If it looks like the movements in Gojushiho Sho are in fact bigger than those in Gojushiho […]
Do you want to feel more confident in a variety of situations? Do you want to better understand what dangers exist and how to avoid them? We are offering Self-Defense Workshops for teens & adults on Saturday, April 29. Separate classes for teens and adults (we plan to run another workshop for younger kids in […]
We were in the news, providing some very quick self-defense tips: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/california-live/easy-self-defense-tips/3121260/
We are now onto the kata Gojushiho Sho (五十四歩小). The name of this kata is similar to the one we just completed, Nijushiho. Gojushiho means “Fifty-four Steps.” Sho, “small” (or here, “the lesser”) distinguishes this kata from its companion Gojushiho Dai (or “Gojushiho the Greater”). In Shotokan karate we typically practice these two variants of the older Gojushiho kata. If it […]
On February 11, 2023, two Silicon Valley Karate members passed their tests for: Shodan – Kazuo N Sandan – John P Both have put much time & effort into their Karate training. Kazuo has over eight years’ experience and has been helping teach kids classes. John started doing Karate in the 1980s and began teaching […]
This month, we are studying the kata Nijushiho or Nijuushiho (二十四歩). This kata’s name is less poetic than some others. It means “Twenty-four Steps.” Although a relatively short kata, in Nijushiho we practice a wide variety of techniques and applications of power. It features most of the basic Shotokan stances and some less common stances, and slow application of power as well as […]
We are now studying the kata Meikyo (明鏡) for four weeks. The name of the kata literally means “Polished Mirror” or “Bright Mirror,” which may prompt us to think about how our training is like the work of polishing something that ultimately reflects who we are and what we are capable of. Some research points to the idea […]
We are having our traditional “Kangeiko” (literally “cold training”) January 29 (Sunday), starting at 9:00am. The traditional Kangeiko normally involves a short jog (if raining, calisthenics in the dojo) followed by training at the dojo. Each day’s training is typically led by a different instructor, working up in seniority. That said, this year we will […]
