Olympic Peninsula Shotokan Karate

This dojo in Sequim, Washington on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State came about from the efforts of Mark Jones. From its simple beginnings he has continually strived to gather a group of like-minded individuals who enjoy studying and learning from the ways of Shotokan Karate. The dojo now has a more established location at the Sequim Senior Center in Sequim, WA where it continues to grow and develop.

What is Shotokan Karate?

Karate is a combination of two Japanese characters: kara, meaning empty, and te, meaning hand; thus Karate means "empty hand." Adding the suffix "do" (pronounced "doe"), meaning "way," i.e., Karate-do, implies Karate as a total way of life that goes well beyond the self-defense applications. In traditional Karate-do, we always keep in mind that the true opponent is oneself.

Karate is a martial art involving a variety of techniques including: blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Karate practice is divided into three aspects: kihon (basics), kata (forms), and kumite (sparring). Shotokan Karate is a synthesis of Okinanwan Karate styles: Shorin and Shorei, or Shokei, schools. The Shorin school is characterized by big, dynamic linear movements, while the Shorei/Shokei school is characterized by compact, powerful movements.

Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi has said that "mind and technique become one in true Karate." By polishing our Karate practice we are polishing our own spirit or our own mentality. Beginners are always welcome in SKA. Regardless of your age, sex, or current physical condition, you can begin Karate practice and enjoy it.

 

Ron Thom — Our Senior

Ron Thom began practicing karate in 1966 and joined Shotokan Karate of America in 1968 at Long Beach City College under Caylor Adkins, and attained his black belt in 1969. Throughout his years in Southern California, Ron was profoundly influenced by the instruction of Ohshima Sensei, who visited Long Beach weekly and led Sunday black belt practices. Along with four other SKA members, Ron was selected to represent the United States in the first World Karate-do Championships held in Tokyo in 1970.

Ron received his Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 1978, and now resides in Sequim, Washington with his family, conducting research in restoration ecology for Battelle Marine Sciences Laboratory. He attained the rank of godan (5th degree black belt) in 1990, and now serves as president of SKA.

Rank (kyu) in Shotokan Karate

In SKA, your rank indicates your level within a 13-step system. Master Funakoshi's original ranking system is still used which consists of: White Belt -5 kyus; Brown Belt -3 kyus; Black Belt -5 dans. SKA does not award belts of other colors.

Gradings to determine rank are held in November and April (the months of Master Funakoshi's birth and death). At the grading, a panel of black belts evaluates your level based on your technical ability, your age, your length of practice, special circumstances, the number of Special Trainings you have attended, and your training mentality. Whether and how much your rank increases at a grading is not as important as using the feedback from your seniors to improve your level in the future.

All SKA students begin with a White Belt (unranked) and may advance through different levels of White, Brown, and Black. The ultimate rank achievable is Godan (5th degree Black Belt), the highest rank ever awarded by Master Funakoshi. SKA students should not confuse or compare this original ranking system, maintained by SKA out of respect for Master Funakoshi, to various other groups that award different color belts or higher black belt degrees.

Shotokan Karate of America Seniors in Washington state have devised a modified progression of requirements which appear below.

Black Belt: 5th Dan (godan), 4th Dan (yodan), 3rd Dan (sandan), 2nd Dan (nidan), 1st Dan (shodan)

Brown Belt: 1st Kyu (ikkyu), 2nd Kyu (nikyu), 3rd Kyu (sankyu)

White Belt: 4th Kyu (yonkyu), 5th Kyu (gokyu), 6th Kyu (rokkyu), 7th Kyu (shichikyu), 8th Kyu (haichikyu)

Kyu Kihon Kata Kumite Other
1st All basics + maegeri-fumikomi
Recommend Heians or Tekki kata
as favorite
Bassai as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite
Jiyu-ippon kumite 		Refine all kata through Kwanku
Contributing to dojo & regional activities
Practice with other dojos
Lead kihon, kata, kumite at kyu test
Regular attendance at practice
2nd All basics Recommend Heians or Tekki kata
as favorite
Tekki Shodan
as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite
Introduced to all 19 kata
Gate of Heaven
Contributing to dojo activities
Leadership introduction
Black belt duties introduction
Regular attendance at practice
3rd All basics Recommend Heians
as favorite
Heian 4-5 as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite 		Jiyu kumite introduction
Tekki Sandan introduction
Attend Senior Practice
Duties of dojo senior
Regular attendance at practice
4th All basics Recommend Heians as favorite
Heian 3-5 as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite 		Jiyu-ippon kumite introduction
Bassai & Tekki Nidan introduction
Regular attendance at practice
5th All basics Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite
Heian 3-5 as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite 		Self-defense
Falling practice
Regular attendance at practice
6th All basics Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite
Heian 1-4 as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite 		Ten no kata
Tekki Shodan introduction
Regular attendance at practice
7th All basics Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite
Heian 1-3 as request 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite 		Understand Japanese practice commands
Help clean dojo
Regular attendance at practice
8th All basics Taikyoku or Heian kata as favorite
No requested kata 		Sanbon kumite
Ippon kumite 		Rules of conduct & etiquette from Student Manual
Regular attendance at practice

*The student is free to choose their favorite kata. The recommended kata provide guidance.
If a requested kata is done as a favorite, a second kata will be chosen by the examiners from the recommended list.