Shotokan Karate with Tens of Thousands Students

By Marcia Ransom

There are many reasons why people around the world practice karate - physical fitness, self-defense, confidence, coordination, focus, and discipline are just a few. However, the ultimate goal of karate is not just to learn how to punch and kick, but to strive to perfect your character in every aspect of your life.

Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art that traces its lineage of unarmed defensive techniques back thousands of years and across many cultures and regions including present day Okinawa, China, and India. It was introduced to Japan in 1922 by Master Gichin Funakoshi who is widely acknowledged as the father of modern karate and was the founder of the Shotokan style of karate.

Today, Shotokan Karate is practiced in dozens of nations by tens of thousands of students. As chief instructor of the Kaze Shotokan Karate Club in Delaware County, I teach my students the history and traditions that were handed down to me by my instructors, and by their instructor before them.

Our club is affiliated with one of the largest karate organizations in the world – the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF). This allows our students to train in hundreds of training halls (dojos, in Japanese) in the US and around the world, and with some of the very best instructors our art has ever known. The ISKF is headquartered in Philadelphia and its chief instructor, Master Teruyuki Okazaki, was a student of Master Funakoshi, and then Master Nakayama until he was sent to America to teach in the 1960s.

In every class, we follow the five dojo rules established by Master Funakoshi. They are: Seek Perfection of Character; Endeavor; Be Faithful, Respect Others; and Refrain from Violent Behavior. These rules frame our training and bring a greater purpose to our efforts that transcend the walls of the dojo and have an impact on our every day life.

In that respect, karate becomes a life-long pursuit and passion that strengthens mind, body, and spirit. In our club, we have students from 7 to 50 years and older. We have many families that train together and as a member of the ISKF, we have many opportunities to train with other students and teachers in yearly tournaments, instructional camps, and special winter training. We also offer family-oriented activities such as a kid’s karate summer camp, birthday parties, and many celebrations in and outside of our dojo.

Marcia Ransom is a 6th-degree black belt in Shotokan Karate and the Chief Instructor of the Kaze Shotokan Karate Club in Delaware County Pennsylvania. She has trained under Master Okazaki for over 20 years and is an ISKF-certified instructor, examiner, and judge.