Caltech Karate Club

Ohshima Dojo (SKA central Dojo)

News:

On Wednesday evening 05/09/2012, the Caltech Karate Club held its Spring Kyu Test. Congratulations to the 5 karateka who tested! Results as follows:

Stephanie Tsuei: 2nd kyu
Ousmane Sy: 3rd kyu (Brown Belt). Special congratulations Ousmane!!!
Robert Johnson: 5th kyu
Maxim Neumann: 5th kyu
Matthieu Clog: 6th kyu

Welcome to the homepage of Caltech Karate Club, an affiliate of Shotokan Karate of America (SKA), a nonprofit organization teaching traditional karate in the United States since 1955.

The Caltech Karate Club, founded by Mr. Tsutomu Ohshima in 1957, is the oldest university Karate club in the United States. Mr. Ohshima is widely regarded as one of the top Karate masters in the world. He was on the Caltech faculty for 37 years and directly taught those who now serve as the Club's teachers. He is also the chief instructor for all SKA and affiliate dojos.

As a part of SKA and its more than twenty southern California dojos (schools), we participate in regional special events such as the Nisei Week tournament, Special Trainings, exchange practices, and classes with well-known instructors around southern California.

More broadly, we are affiliated with more than one hundred dojos around North America in regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, New York, Chicago and many other places, as well as in thirteen countries including France, Israel, Switzerland, Japan, and Hong Kong. Students relocating to one of these places after graduation can be assured of opportunity to continue their training.

We adhere strictly to the instructional system created by Master Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate. Therefore we do not, for example, award non-traditional colors of belts, award black belts higher than Godan (5th degree), invent new kata (forms), or place emphasis on flashy techniques at the expense of effectiveness.

Our club is open to all members of the Caltech community, and all members of the local community 18 years of age or older (age 16 or 17 possible with instructor approval). Caltech's PE44 (Shotokan Karate) is closely affiliated with the club, and members of the club have frequently come from the PE44 class.

Click here for information about club membership.

Click here for our practice schedule.