For over 40 years, we've been helping students grow physically, emotionally, intellectually, and philosophically. Our Karate style derives from a long tradition of authentic Japanese Martial Arts. In 1957, the legendary Concho Mas Oyama, widely recognized as one of the worlds most famous Karate masters, developed the first full contact style of Karate called Kyokushin ("Ultimate Truth"). Known for
it's bare-knuckle and full contact fighting, Kyokushin rapidly grew into a world renowned international organization spanning many countries. Concho Oyama sent one of his best students, Soshu Shigeru Oyama (no relationship), to the United States to bring Kyokushin to America in 1967. Soshu is a 10th dan black belt, with over 50 years of martial arts experience, and has been training students in the United States for over forty years. Soshu fought the legendary 100-man Kumite winning 100 consecutive bouts with black belt opponents in a single day and won the Japanese All-Japan Championship in Kumite. Shihan Ray Martens, a 6th degree black belt with a military background, became one of Soshu's most senior students. In 1988, Soshu left the Kyokushin organization and created the World Oyama Karate Organization, of which Shihan Ray and his students were a member of until 1994. With respect and on good terms with Soshu Oyama, Shihan Ray subsequently left the Oyama organization and developed USA Seishin Karate. Seishin Karate, while having it's roots in a full contact knockdown system, has developed into a program that is appropriate for all levels and ages, males and females. While still active in tournament competition, our style's main focus is more on the development of each student, and bringing an added value to each of their lives, than it is on tournaments and trophies. Martial Arts philosophy, coupled with the lessons of modern psychology and rigorous training, is presented in a way that both very young beginner students as well as more mature advanced students can understand. Seishin Karate emphases character, honor, morals, virtues, and values at every level and every age group. Classes are taught in a supportive environment that places a high level of expectation on each student. Hard training and conditioning helps students earn self confidence, and develop balance, coordination, discipline, awareness, physical fitness, and learn the practical skills needed to protect themselves. Young students also learn important lessons, such as the value of observation and awareness, what to do when they are lost, what information they need to remember for their own safety, what to do when they are approached by a stranger, how to handle bullies, how to behave and function in emergency situations, etc.
