Part of karate's success is the idea that it can be done anytime, anywhere, by anyone — there is no restriction placed on size, gender, ability or age. We train for character development, physical coordination and fitness, self-defense, and spiritual attainment.

The Santa Cruz Dojo Hall is quite small yet holds large karate-do spirit and membership continues to grow steadily. It is our goal to establish a larger Zen and Karate-do Center with various complimentary programs in the next five year period.

Kata, is Karate. Most folks come to the dojo (training studio) with no idea what kata is. If you have been somewhere that practices kicking and punching or mishapen katas, that means they have lost their art! Kata is a lifelong practice, they are the formulas containing the knowledge of each master passed to the next. These series of movements called kata is the only way to keep the true ideas of karate, securing Okinawa's cultural heritage, enabling American deishi (students) to be able to pass this ancient art to the next generation...."correctly!"

Our classes are very dynamic consisting of Kata, Floor exercises, line-training, heavy bag workout, self-defense, weight training, Zen training, and learning Okinawan culture. Advance practice involves weapons, kata applications, kumite, makiwara training, chishi training and advanced Zen training.

Also utilized at our dojo is outside guest instructors, martial art medicine (Chinese and Okinawan), beach workouts, and learning our heritage through our library of Matsubayashi materials.

The karate-do practioners come from a wide range of backgrounds ranging from university students to hi-tech professionals, aging early twenties to late forties. Our dojo can be characterized as having a great attitude with a strong sense of committment.