Weblogic

Dojo Kun

Seek perfection of character

Be faithful

Endeavour

Respect others

Refrain from violent behaviour

Sensei Ron

Sensei Ron Richmond, 6th Dan, became chief instructor for Zanshin Shotokan in 2007. He started his karate training in Honolulu Hawaii in late 1965 initially with the Japan Karate International Centre and later with the JKA. Read More...

Dojo Etiquette

Karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy. More details...

"... the technique is the karate that is learned, how it is used is the karate and how you feel is the karate-ka..."

Read more..

The Shotokan Tiger

Artist: Kosugi Hoan, a sketch that he drew for Funakoshi's 1922 “Ryukyu Kempo“

"I have been asked by a good number of people about the symbolism of the Shotokan Tiger.

The tiger symbol stands for the strength and power of Karate-Do and the circle represents the self-discipline which controls that power.

The philosophy of Karate-Do demands that the more powerful and effective our karate turns out to be, the more important the mental control over that power becomes. This philosophy must be reflected in the teaching of our karate. The most obviously example of that teaching philosophy can be seen in the teaching of kumite within Zanshin Shotokan where we have a powerful execution of Karate-waza followed by the breathing technique which simultaneously includes a mental control exercise."

Frank F. Nowak

"OSS"

This is an extract from "The Shotokan Karate Dictionary" Schlatt (1996). Page 148.

OSS is a phonetic expression, formed out of two charachters. The first character osu means literally "push" or "control" and determines the pronunciation of the whole term. The second character shinobu has the literal meaning of "bear, endure, suffer."

The espression OSS was created in the Japanese Naval School and is universally used for everyday expressions such as thank you, please, I understand, sorry, greeting someone etc.., as well as inside the world of Karate nearly every time a response is required. In Japan it is, for the Karateka, "The Word of Words."

OSS must not be uttered loosley by the vocal cords and the upper third of the body, but, as everything in Karate, the word should be spoken by using the hara (tanden), in the lower abdomen. Spoken while performing a bow, the word OSS expresses respect, sympathy and confidence to the partner. OSS also tells the sensei that his instructions were understood, and that the student will do his/her best to follow them.

At the ceremony, before and after training, there is no OSS during the salutation-to-the-front  (shomen-ni-rei)  or the salutatution-to-the-place-of-the-gods, (shinza-ni-rei), only a silent bow. Wirh the salutation-to -the-master, (sensei-ni-rei) or salutation-to-each-other, (otagai-ni-rei) there is an OSS at the beginning, as a request to go together in the Way of Karate, and an OSS at the end of the lesson, in thanks.