About the CSULB Shotokan Karate Club

• Welcome to the CSULB Shotokan Karate Club. Our dojo (training center) was founded in 1968 by Don DePree, a 5th degree black belt student of Tsutomu Ohshima, founder of Shotokan Karate of America. The club is continued to be led by Samir Abboud, a 5th degree black belt student of Tsutomu Ohshima and Don DePree. Our dojo is a professional sport club that offers a great opportunity to practice and explore the original martial art of Shotokan Karate. Our club welcomes everyone of any age with AND without prior martial art experience from everywhere in the country and around the world. We train in a safe environment. Our goal is to help the people develop and enhance strength, courage, confidence and self-confidence, positive personality, awareness, a strong mentality, and a positive character.

• Our members enjoy a direct link to ancient masters of martial arts through Mr. Ohshima and his direct instructor, Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate. Mr. Ohshima founded Shotokan Karate of America (SKA), the main organization under which our dojo is affiliated with, in 1956 and has been leading the organization ever since. Besides our CSULB Shotokan Karate Club, SKA has many other dojos located throughout the United States and is affiliated with other Shotokan Karate organizations of other countries. Some of such countries include France, Canada, Israel, Spain, Germany, Netherland, Belgium, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan. Our mission is to strengthen body, mind and spirit, perfect character, and faithfully transmit the art to future generations.

Benefits of Karate

• Karate can be practiced by everyone at any age for self-defense, to strengthen the entire body, improve balance, efficiency of movement, breathing, and overall health. No special equipment is needed.
• Karate helps to strengthen the mind, develop courage, fortitude, and the ability to achieve goals.
• Karate practice emphasizes spiritual values of courtesy, integrity, humility, justice, honor, and self-control.
• The study of karate benefits the student in all areas of their life.

Welcome, Newcomers!

We are so glad that you are interested in joining CSULB Shotokan Karate Club.

• Joining is easy – just visit any of our practices! There is no charge to observe or to practice with us once or twice. After that, if you decide to stay, you must join Shotokan Karate of America ($75 for the rest of this year). As a member of SKA, you will be able to attend any SKA regional, national, and international event open to your rank, and you’ll be able to test for rank twice per year at no charge. Black belt testing is also free but by invitation only.

• The CSULB Shotokan Karate Club is located at:
  • California State University, Long Beach
    Kinesiology (KIN) Building, Room 60A
    1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840

 

To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill.” — Master Gichin Funakoshi