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ISKA ANNUAL KATA REVIEW (VIRTUAL) - JAN. 22 & 29

1/12/2022

Please join us as we hold two annual kata review sessions, this year on Saturday, January 22nd and Saturday, January 29th via Zoom.

We will focus on the 25 standard Shotokan Karate found in Shojiro Sugiyama's pivotal text.
We will aim to cover as many of the kata as we can in the review sessions, depending on time and skill/knowledge of participants. We will have only a few minutes for each kata, so the purpose will not be to teach the kata, but ti refresh our memories and point out a few key elements of each kata.

Please join us as we review and celebrate each kata and the unique techniques, body dynamic, theoretical applications therein, as well as the capacity of kata to serve as a tool for self-discovery and meditation.

210122_Tier1

Tier One Session (Beginning/Intermediate Kata)
Saturday, January 22nd, 2022 from 12:30-2:30pm, Pacific Time
Check your time zone here

Link to Join the Tier One Session:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83836586101?pwd=SFdwckw1YWlqNFNDVFJjcmMrR3RVdz09
Meeting ID: 838 3658 6101 | Passcode: 604549

No fee to join, but donations gladly accepted and will go to supporting the teaching Sensei.

Participating Instructors:
Hanshi Ricardo Llewelyn (Benicia Shotokan Karate Academy)
Sensei John Leggett (Sacramento Traditional Karate)
Sensei Brad Webb (Japan Shotokan Karate, Dallas, TX)
and Special Guest, Rick Hotton, Sunday Morning Keiko

Donate to the ISKA Kata Review

220129_Tier2

Tier Two Kata Review Session (Advanced Kata)
Saturday, January 29th, 2022 from 12:30-2:30pm, Pacific Time
Check your time zone here

Link to join Tier Two Session:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88490865332?pwd=YUdYdDdub0hvb0t1ZU5hRUxGajV1Zz09
Meeting ID: 884 9086 5332 | Passcode: 181440

No fee to join, but donations gladly accepted and will go to supporting the teaching Sensei.

Participating Instructors:
Hanshi Ricardo Llewelyn (Benicia Shotokan Karate Academy)
Sensei John Leggett (Sacramento Traditional Karate)
Sensei Brad Webb (Japan Shotokan Karate, Dallas, TX)
and Special Guest, Rick Hotton, Sunday Morning Keiko

Donate to the ISKA Kata Review

ISKA Friendship Training - Sunday, Nov. 7th in San Bruno

11/4/2021

ISKA Friendship Training - Benicia Shotokan Karate Academy + Dojo USA
Sunday, November 7th - 11:00am-1:00pm, Pacific Time
Hosted by Sensei Peter Johnson & Sensei Rick Llewelyn
at Dojo USA, 548 San Mateo Ave., Sam Bruno, CA 94066
No Fee - Please have current ISKA Membership or renew here.
Please Email us for more info or to RSVP.

For non-local people who'd like to join, we decided to offer Zoom for observation. Not sure all training will be geared for remote training, but can always use a pretend partner if needed.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87288109477?pwd=UlJicU5kZmFBSUVuSHB1YTNORTAxQT09
Meeting ID: 872 8810 9477
Passcode: 167050

Next ISKA Black Belt College Session: Sunday, Oct. 24th, 1-3pm PT

10/6/2021

10/24 Update: Due to inclement weather in the Bay Area, we are cancelling this session of the ISKA Black Belt College and will look to a future date to reschedule. Please stay tuned.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24th, 2021, 1:00-3:00pm PT
Featuring Hanshi Randhir Bains & Sensei Laura Lorenz
Benicia Shotokan Karate Academy + Virtual via Zoom
Dojo located at 949 Grant Street, Suite B, Benicia, CA 94510

Topics to include:
• Enhancing movement quality through greater proprioceptive awareness, muscle activation, mobility, and breath
• Will utilize kata and explore some yoga techniques to improve movement quality

Cost:
$20 for ISKA Members with current memberships, $40 for Non-Members - for In-person or Virtual
If your membership has lapsed, please renew before registering.
When registering, please indicate in the notes section at checkout whether you will attend in-person or via zoom. The Zoom link will be emailed to you a couple of days before if you indicate virtual attendance.

Learn more about the ISKA Black Belt College Series

Register for the ISKA Black Belt College Session

NorCal Beach Training at Stinson Beach - Sunday, Sept. 26th

9/10/2021

Join us as we say farewell to the end of Summer with Karate training
at Stinson Beach in Marin County on Sunday, September 26th, 2021 from 9am-1pm.
Please plan to bring something for the potluck after training.
RSVP's appreciated to info@santenkarate.com.
Click 'learn more' below for link to potluck sign-up sheet.

Deadline to Register for Summer Camp is August 7th

7/7/2021

Registration continues for the 32nd Annual ISKA Summer Camp to be held August 13-15th in the beautiful coastal redwoods at the YMCA Camp Jones Gulch in La Honda, CA. This year's camp will feature Special Guest Instructor, Rick Hotton Sensei of Sunday Morning Keiko and the West Wind Dojo located in Sarasota, FL. Please click the button below to learn more about the ISKA Summer Camp and to register.

Learn More and Register for the ISKA Summer Camp

Black Belt College on Sunday, July 18th in Sacramento

6/21/2021

The ISKA Black Belt College will return to
in-person training on Sunday, July 18th in Sacramento.
Hosted by Sensei John Leggett

71821BBC

When: Sunday, July 18th, 2021
Time: 12:00-2:00pm, Pacific Time
at Sacramento Traditional Karate
Located at the Gold River Racquet Club
2201 Gold Rush Drive, Gold River, CA 95670

Cost:
$20 for ISKA Members with current membership
$40 for Non-members
ISKA Students with lapsed memberships should renew for 2021 to get member pricing. Renew your membership here.

This training will be indoors - please be vaccinated. Masks will not be required for vaccinated individuals. Unvaccinated individuals and those who wish to should continue to wear masks.

Click Here to Register

Free Zoom Access: https://wsgc.zoom.us/j/94009445464
Since this session will be our first return to in-person seminar training, we are offering complimentary Zoom access for this session only for observation only as this training will be focused on those who attend in-person. Training will not be geared for virtual participants and no recording will be available afterwards.

Please contact us at info@santenkarate.com with any questions.

Outdoor Training on Sat. June 12th in Roseville, CA

5/25/2021

Join us for an outdoor training session on Saturday, June 12th from 11am-12:30pm at Lockridge Park located at 2601 Eureka Rd, Roseville, CA 95661. Free to join. All levels welcome.

Please RSVP to info@santenkarate.com as we are looking for a headcount for pizza afterwards. Please plan to bring your own beverage of choice.Click here to join the Facebook Event.

Please let us know if you have any questions by emailing us info@santenkarate.com.

ISKA Black Belt College - Sunday, May 16th from 12-2pm, PT

5/10/2021

We will be hosting a virtual Black Belt College on Sunday, May 16th from 12:00pm-2:00pm, Pacific Time, via Zoom, featuring Sensei Robert Stevenson and Sensei Armando Jemmott. Training will be geared towards brown belts and above, but others are welcome to join the virtual session.

This virtual training is being offered free, but donations are being accepted if you feel so inclined. Please click here to donate.

Learn More About the ISKA Black Belt College

ISKA Spring Virtual Gasshuku - Saturday, March 20th, 2021

3/5/2021

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Unfortunately, Sensei Bernardy had to have emergency surgery yesterday, and while non-life threatening, this surgery has rendered him unable to join us this weekend.
We wish him a speedy and full recovery and look forward to hosting him for a future seminar.

We have amended the Gasshuku schedule to the following:

Session 1 - Sensei Rick Llewelyn
10:00am-11:15am, PT (1:00pm-2:15pm ET)
15 minute break
Session 2 - Sensei Steve Borkowsky
11:30am-12:45pm, PT (2:30pm-3:45pm ET)
15 minute break
Session 3 - Sensei Rick Hotton
1:00pm-2:45pm, PT (4:00pm-5:45pm ET)

Wrap Up & Q&A
2:45pm-3pm, PT (5:45pm-6pm ET)

Please contact us at info@santenkarate.com if you have any questions.

With Covid lockdowns persisting this spring throughout the world, we are again organizing a unique virtual training event with four wonderful instructors. We are extremely honored to have special guest instructors Sensei Pedro Bernardy, Sensei Rick Hotton, and Sensei Steve Borkowsky join us for this special event. In addition, ISKA President, Sensei Rick Llewelyn will also present for the ISKA Spring Virtual Gasshuku.

Offered at a very reasonable cost ($40 per participant) to train with four top-level instructors, we invite you to join us by clicking the button below to learn more and to register.

Click Here to Learn More

Annual Kata Review Sessions - Via Zoom - Jan. 23rd & 30th

1/12/2021

ISKA is once again organizing an Annual Kata Review, split into two sessions - one for "Tier 1" kata and one for "Tier 2" kata. Both sessions will be virtual and are open to all Karate practitioners, but kata will be mostly Shotokan based. There is no cost to join but donations are gladly accepted to support contributing instructors.

Please join us as we review and celebrate each kata and the unique techniques, body dynamic, theoretical applications therein, as well as the capacity of kata to serve as a tool for self-discovery and meditation.

Instructors will include:
Hanshi Ricardo Llewelyn (Benicia Shotokan Karate Academy)
Sensei Steve Borkowsky (Greenpoint Shotokan- Brooklyn, NY)
Sensei John Leggett (Sacramento Traditional Karate)
Kyoshi Peter Johnson (Dojo USA - San Bruno)
and Special Guest Instructors for each session.

Special Guest Instructor
Sensei Mina Yamazaki
Ryobukai USA

Special Guest Instructor
Sensei Rick Hotton
Sunday Morning Keiko

Please email us with any questions at info@santenkarate.com.

Welcome to 2021

1/4/2021

HNY21

The ISKA wishes you a Happy New Year
2020 is in the Rear View, Smoother Ride in 2021!

We are glad that 2020 is in the rear view mirror and excited to have a positive outlook for a smoother ride in 2021. Even though Covid-19 created a lot of unexpected twists and turns in 2020, we learned and successfully launched new virtual events. In 2020 it became obvious that as a Karate organization, you Zoom or Doom. The ISKA Zoomed!

The ISKA’s track record of delivering excellent seminars and events allowed us to pivot those events to a virtual format without skipping a beat. ISKA 2020 sponsored events for members and friends included:

Virtual Black Belt College
Virtual Gasshuku
Virtual Masters Seminar
Virtual Kata Tournament (Battle of the Dojos between Shotokan Karate Academy Escalon, CA and Lehi, UT)
Special Virtual training in Spanish for ISKA Latin American members

We would like to thank all of the Sensei who participated in delivering these virtual events and we are equally thankful for the participants from all over the globe who joined.

Our outlook for a smoother 2021 includes:

Commitment to return to live in person events when it is safe to do so
Due to the success of our virtual events, we will include them on our 2021 calendar and beyond
Ongoing addition of ISKA resources available to our members
Growing the ISKA membership globally

To our members, we thank you for your belief and support of the ISKA during this past crazy year!
To past and future members, let’s discuss how the ISKA can assist you in your Karate development in 2021 and beyond. We look forward to your participation in ISKA events in 2021 and the future.
Please visit the ISKA website or Facebook Page to follow our planned activities or contact us at info@santenkarate.com with inquiries and questions.

ISKA Black Belt College - Sat. Dec. 5th - via Zoom

11/20/2020

ISKA Black Belt College
to be held via Zoom
Saturday, Dec. 5th, 2020 12:00-2:00pm, Pacific Time
Open to All Black Belts and Brown Belts
Free to Join • No Registration Necessary

1205BBC

Featuring ISKA Sensei
Peter Johnson, Dojo USA
and
John Leggett, Sacramento Traditional Karate
Topics to include:
Oji Waza (Response or Counter Attack Techniques)
Kihon, Kata, and Motivation
and
Moderated Discussion on Navigating Teaching in the Virtual World:
"Virtual Training with Real Results: Without Intention, there is no Attention"

Click here to learn more info and How to Join

34th Annual ISKA Master's Seminar - Sat. Nov. 7th

9/27/2020

34th Annual
ISKA Master's Seminar
featuring Sensei Avi Rokah
Saturday, November 7th, 2020
10am-3pm, Pacific Time
via Zoom

Join us in memory of Master Hidetaka Nishiyama and Hanshi Vincent Cruz
as we host Sensei Avi Rokah for the 34th Annual ISKA Master's Seminar.

Cost:
$40 per participant
Zoom Meeting ID and password will be emailed to registered participants
1-2 days prior to the event.

Anticipated Seminar Schedule:
10:00am-3:00pm, Pacific Time
to include Q&A + break

Click here to find your time zone

About the ISKA Master's Seminar

Normally, this would be a 2 day in-person seminar, but on account of the pandemic,
we are adapting by offering a one day virtual seminar to honor the memory of
Sensei Nishiyama and Sensei Cruz. Please join us.

Polish your kata, sharpen your body dynamics to increase your power.
Explore fundamental principles of Traditional Karate.

You can't afford to miss this opportunity to train with one of
the World's leading experts in karate!

The 34th Annual ISKA Master's Seminar is being held in memory of the late
Grand Master Hidetaka Nishiyama as we celebrate his life and teachings.

It takes a lifetime to learn Karate...... There is no limit!
Many traditionalists from all parts of the world will be attending.
For the serious Martial Artist!

The Tradition lives on!

ISKA Virtual Gasshuku on Sat. Sept. 12th

8/18/2020

The Covid-19 lockdowns have provided us all a challenge as we cope with altered routines, staying safe and healthy, and trying to remain optimistic despite the circumstances. We were disappointed to have to cancel our annual Summer Camp amongst the redwoods in La Honda, especially after 31 straight years of holding an annual ISKA Camp, but the safety of all of students and Instructors is paramount.

We feel that this year's circumstances, while not what we are used to, provides a very unique opportunity to bring together a group of instructors not limited by geography or the expense of travel. We are extremely honored to have special guest instructors Sensei Rick Hotton, Sensei Mina Yamazaki, and Sensei Steve Borkowsky join us for this special event. In addition, ISKA President, Sensei Rick Llewelyn will also present during this not-to-be-forgotten Virtual Gasshuku.

Registration is limited. Book early to guarantee your spot. See important details below.

History of Karate in Panamá : Slideshow

7/20/2020

A video was recently shared on YouTube about some of the major figures in the development of karate in Panamá and we wanted to share it with the greater ISKA community. After being in the Strategic Air Command in the mid-to-late 1950's, Master Cruz was then transferred to the Canal Zone in Panamá, where he spent a few years and taught hundreds of students. There has been a long lineage of great karateka from Panamá. This is not a complete list, but mentions many of the most famous players in the last 50 years.