A Martial Arts and Dance Studio
Alaska Moving Arts Center
Pee Wee/Youth Karate
Wednesday 4:30-5:15
Ages 4-7
$60 monthly + $40 annual registration fee
Youth-adult karate M/W/F 6:30-7:30
Youth and adult karate program meets two times weekly for the summer months Monday and Wednesday from 6:15-7:00. We encourage students to attend at least twice with no additional charge for the third class in the fall.
$90.00 monthly plus $40 annual registration fee.
$160.00 monthly for two family members (each pays annual registration fee)
$210.00 monthly for three or MORE family members (each pays annual registration fee)
Youth and Adult students are also required to pay ISKF registration fees.
Shotokan Karate
is a traditional Japanese style of the art founded by Master Gichin Funakoshi.
A member of the InternationalShotokan Karate Federation (click for website)
Alaska Shotokan Karate is an amateur non-profit sports association dedicated to the practice of traditional Japanese karate. The basic objective is to provide its members a means of developing and strengthening both physically and mentally. To attain this goal, Alaska Shotokan Karate adheres to the same high standards and principles set forth by Master Gichin Funakoshi. The guiding principles of Master Funakoshi's philosophy are Character, Sincerity, Effort, Etiquette, and Self-Control.
Alaska Shotokan Karate is affiliated with the International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF). All testing is by qualified examiners of the ISKF. All instructors volunteer their time in teaching karate.
In addition to regular classes held at the member Alaska Shotokan clubs, special high ranking ISKF karate instructors are invited to Alaska to conduct training and testing.
DOJO KUN
Everyone who trains in karate must know the dojo kun. At the end of each training session—whether it be at the dojo, after class, or after a tournament, which I always call “special training”—the dojo kun is repeated all together by the students as a reminder of why we train. The dojo kun states the basic philosophy of karate, according to its founder and my teacher, Master Gichin Funakoshi. Master Funakoshi believed that, for the true karate-ka, the dojo kun should not only be considered a set of rules of conduct in the dojo, but a guide to everyday life. Everything we learn in the dojo, we should apply to everyday life.
Jinkaku kansei ni tsutomuru koto
Seek perfection of character
This is the ultimate goal of karate. The other four principles of the dojo kun, as well as the entire nijyu kun, all tell us what it means to seek perfection of character—how we can go about pursuing this highest objectives. But this is the most important thing. We seek perfection of character from the inside out. It is something we should do every moment of every day of our lives.
This means we should never stop learning. Karate training, like life itself, is an ongoing process of growth and personal education, a process that lasts for a lifetime. It is good to set goals, but as soon as we accomplish them, it is important to set our sights on the next goal, to improve. To seek perfection of character is to always seek to improve oneself, to always endeavor to learn and grow.
Makoto no michi o mamoru koto
Be faithful
To be faithful means to be sincere in everything you do. Here we are talking about making a total effort, all the time, in whatever you do.
To be faithful of course means that you have to be true to other people, to your obligations—but it also means you have to be true to yourself. And to do so means you have to do your best in everything you do.
When you are faithful to yourself, others will have faith in you. This creates mutual trust between people. Being faithful to yourself is essential to realizing the first goal of being the best person you can be.
Doryoku no seishin o yashinau koto
Endeavor
Try hard at everything you do. No matter what you are doing, whether it’s training, working, having a relationship—give it one hundred percent. To do anything else is to cheat yourself and others. If you don’t endeavor to do your best, you are not being faithful to yourself and others, and you are not trying to seek perfection of character.
Reigi o omonzuru koto
Respect others
A true martial artist always shows respect to other people. And it is something you ought to feel in your heart. Showing respect is a sign of humility, and humility is necessary for an open mind, which it turn is necessary to learn, to grow. You can always learn something from every person you meet. Likewise, every person you encounter is a possible opponent of some kind, and that opponent can pose a threat to you, physical or otherwise. In either case, if you respect everyone, you will more clearly see things for what they are, and you will be able to get the most of every experience.
Keki no yu o imashimuru koto
Refrain from violent behavior
This is a reminder to keep calm inside. Control yourself at all times, from within. Conflict within is a form of violence. It leads to violent actions, which is something you should try to avoid at all costs. A martial artist should always be in control, and that begins with an inner calmness, with peace of mind. If you are forced to defend yourself as a last resort, then it is all right to do so. But you will only be successful defending yourself when you maintain a calm, clear mind, in which case using karate technique to protect yourself will truly be your reaction of last resort.