Shotokan Karate Of Hampton Roads

Welcome to Shotokan Karate, where we invite individuals of all ages and fitness levels to participate in our Shotokan karate practices. Our dojo (training hall) in Newport News is open to children aged five and above, and adults who are eager to improve their strength, flexibility, coordination, and self-defense skills through the emphasis on healthful exercise and strong basic techniques. Despite the physical nature of our practice, our focus is on safety, sweat, and continuous improvement for all students.

Shotokan Karate is a worldwide practice, and you can find Shotokan dojos and communities around the globe. You can practice karate with us in Newport News, but you can also take it with you wherever you go. Our practice emphasizes kata (formal exercise), kihon (basics), and kumite (sparring) at a level appropriate for the age and rank of the student. Through regular practice, students can expect to see improvements in their physical fitness, weight loss, toning, and endurance.

Our Practice Schedule

During the pandemic, we offer Zoom options twice a week for both youth and adult practitioners. Youth can practice on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:00 pm, while youth beginners should practice on Mondays and Wednesdays until they are accustomed to dojo etiquette and behavior standards. Adults can practice on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at 6:00 pm, with a Zoom training option available on Wednesdays. Fridays and Saturdays are dedicated to training together, with youth and adults training on Fridays at 6:30 pm and kids training on Saturdays at 10:30 am. Adults start at 12:00 pm on Saturdays, with a Zoom training option available.

Promotional exams are held several times a year, and all ranks are awarded through the ISKF by certified Instructors and Examiners. Our instructors are skilled and experienced practitioners, dedicated to sharing their knowledge and passion for Shotokan Karate with new and experienced students alike.

The History of Modern Karate

Modern karate began hundreds or perhaps thousands of years ago in Asia, with its likely origins among the Kshatriya warrior caste of India. From India, martial arts skills and practices were transmitted to Chinese monks at the Shaolin monastery and then to Okinawa and Japan through trade and commerce. With weapons outlawed for centuries in Okinawa, karate became an essential form of self-defense for the island's inhabitants.

In the 20th century, Okinawan karate masters saw a need to reformulate karate practice and teaching if it were to survive and thrive. They sent representatives to Japan to expand karate practice outside the island archipelago. These representatives changed the names of techniques, kata, and the art itself from "China Hand" to "Empty Hand" to appeal to a Japanese populace that was not receptive to foreign concepts and practices. They also adopted Japanese names for techniques and kata and introduced the belt ranking system and the white uniform, or "gi."

Funakoshi Gichin, a schoolteacher, was one of the first instructors to settle in Japan, where he is credited for many of the changes made to karate practice. He introduced the belt ranking system and the white uniform, among other changes. With sparring becoming more popular, tournaments were eventually permitted in 1957 as a way of introducing karate to the public and increasing membership. However, traditional karate organizations are still careful to include these special trainings in a limited way, as a means of improving karate rather than an end in and of themselves.

In the 100 years since Funakoshi Gichin and other masters took their art to Japan, karate has spread to the world at large. Inevitably, the art has been adapted to fit into new cultures while technical improvements have been made through the scientific study of kinesiology. However, the essence of Shotokan Karate remains the same: a practice that emphasizes healthful exercise, strong basic techniques, and self-defense skills.