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American Samurai Shotokan Karate Club is a traditional school dedicated to teaching Shotokan Karate. We maintain standards set by the JKA. Our emphasis is to promote the development of character through sweat and hard work. (click here for Directions & MAP)

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We'd like to introduce you to our staff of volunteers, in addition to Bill Bly
We have Dr Glenn Fowler, Steve Nash from UK and Ryan Bly

Adult Classes:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
7:00 PM

Children Classes:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday
6:15 - 7:00 PM

We welcome you to come by and train with us!

Coming soon: Photos of many of the activities that we've been involved with... It's quite a big list
In our 4th year we've been working hard at raising the level of Karate in the region

Hope to see you soon - Bill Bly

Here are some pictures of our dojo in action.

Background
We practice Shotokan Karate in traditional fashion as was taught by Nakayama and the JKA. The emphasis here is on character development. Members here may hone their skills for a number of different reasons. We are members of the USA-NKF, the national governing body for karate in the USA.
Instructors here continue to travel around the country and abroad, attend camps, clinics, and seminars to improve their skill. We also bring in guest instructors for seminars. We regularly interact with some of the top instructors available and continue to grow and evolve.
The initial inspiration for the club came from training in Europe with the Karate Klub Tempo. During a period of war and instability the director and his son had a chance to train with some of Europe's top coaches and competitors.

Benefits of Karate

Properly taught Karate is an excellent life-long fitness activity that can be done by people of all ages, body sizes, and physical abilities.
It is the perfect family activity, because everyone progresses at their own pace while working out together.
It can be used to build and maintain cardiovascular health, flexibility, coordination, and muscular strength.
It is a fascinating study fully engaging the mind as well as the body. It can be done alone or with a group. Practices can be short or long.
Karate practice can be done in a very small space without any equipment.
Karate Training can be a practical means to develop certain positive character traits.
It is perfect for busy people because the training sessions are relatively short and efficient.
It is an effective means of self-defense, teaching the necessary mental and physical skills to prevent and handle attacks.
As an international art and sport it is a great way to meet people from many different cultures. Karate students develop life-long friendships from having a shared activity.
Karate training is very energizing and relaxing. It is a great stress-reducer, because it lets people release pent up tension in a safe and healthy activity.
Karate offers the kind of mental challenges and social atmosphere that can keep one’s interest for a very long time.

What is Shotokan Karate ?
Shotokan Karate has millions of practitioners around the world. Karate-Do (meaning "Empty-hand Way") is a modern Japanese Martial Art that began its development in the 1920’s in mainland Japan. It is a blending of the unarmed fighting techniques of Okinawa with the strategies and philosophies of Japanese Martial Arts (Budo). The principles of Budo are centering of the mind, body and spirit, and moving with minimal effort and maximum efficiency.

Shotokan Karate uses various blocking, punching, striking and kicking techniques in combination with other related movements.

Historical Overview
Gichin Funakoshi, an Okinawan school teacher and outstanding exponent of an unarmed self-defense system first introduced karate into mainland Japan in 1922. It was he who guided its development into a true Martial Art and who actually coined the term "Karate." Funakoshi and some of his students formed the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in the 1950's. The first All-Japan tournament was sponsored by the JKA in 1958. The JKA is dedicated to promoting the scientific study of karate around the world.

Masotoshi Nakayama carried on the tradition of his teacher, Gichin Funakoshi. Nakayama was the chief instructor of the JKA from 1955 until his death in 1987. Nakayama was a ninth degree black belt and was among the first to send instructors overseas and to encourage the development of karate along scientific lines. Top students underwent an intense, comprehensive instructors' training program. After graduating, the instructors were sent to many countries. Graduates from the JKA instructors program include Keinosuke Enoeda, Hiroshi Shirai, Takeshi Oishi, Toru Yamaguchi, Masataka Mori, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Shojiro Koyama, Teruyuki Okazaki, Yutaka Yaguchi, Shirgeru Takashina, and Takayuki Mikami.

This term "Karate" once referred only to the specific art founded by Funakoshi and his contemporaries, but it is now widely used in a generic sense to include any punching and kicking activity. It is important to understand that today in America there are nearly as many varieties of "Karates" as there are "ball games".

Karate Training
Karate training can be organized into four areas of study

Kihon (basics) - consists of blocks, punches, kicks, and striking techniques
Kata (forms) - include basic techniques as well as body shifting and changes in stance; series of movements that simulates patterns of defenses against multiple attackers. There are 15 basic katas in Shotokan style and 10 advanced katas.
Kumite (sparring) - controlled, non/light-contact, simulated fighting with an opponent; some prearranged sequences of attack and defense patterns
Bunkai - application of karate techniques in self-defense applications
Every class includes time for warm-up, kihon, kata, kumite or bunkai, and stretching and a cool down. American Samurai Shotokan Karate Club instructors focus on various themes including: Body dynamics, punching, kicking, blocking, and striking.
More info about the dojo:
Karate classes meet Monday Wednesday and Friday children at 6pm and adults at 7pm, there are extra class time available when possible. Cost $75 month
Note: The club travel frequently to seminars and tournaments. We bring in top instructors for seminars and training. The club is dedicated to raising the level of martial arts in the region and developing the character of it's participants.

Competitions
Competitors are divided by age, rank, and size.
Competitors may choose a kata to perform.
Kumite is free-sparring for all ranks.
For more specific information on kata and kumite competition, please visit the official website of the USA-NKF

Competition is an optional part of karate training. It is recommended because it allows students to face their fears and overcome ego issues that may arise in a competitive situation. The amount of time and emphasis placed on competition depends on the individual.

Safety
Shotokan Karate as a physical fitness activity does result in some injuries - generally from pulled muscles due to inadequate warming up or from accidents. Shotokan Karate is a non/light-contact Martial Art. When people train with an opponent, the attack target is outside of the body of the person being attacked. Martial Arts have a better safety record than many other sports. The dojo is equipped with first-aid supplies. The students are responsible for their own health and costs related to any injuries. Reasonable efforts are made to ensure the safety and health of the students at American Samurai Shotokan Karate Club. It is the responsibility of each student training to control their techniques and assist anyone they have accidentally hurt.

It is the instructor’s responsibility to be aware of the abilities of the students and not to allow practice with a partner of uncontrolled techniques. If a student is injured during a drill, the student should make every effort to finish the drill, because this will build the needed fortitude to deal with a real self-defense situation when an injury must not allow the person to lose their wits or will to live.