Fall 2025 – Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Newsletter

By Johnpaul Williams – Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan
Classes begin September 3, 2025! Join us for a new season of Gōjū-Ryū Karatedō training in Menlo Park. Register online, view the calendar, and see highlights from Japan and our recent promotions.

Karate Dad Jokes of the Semester

• What do you call a Karate master who’s also a stand-up comedian?
  A punchline delivery expert. 🎤👊
• What’s a Karateka’s favorite type of joke?
  One with a solid punchline. 💢😆

新たな季節、新たな決意 — A New Season, Renewed Commitment

As autumn approaches, we return to the dōjō with purpose. Whether you’re just beginning or continuing your path, this season is a fresh opportunity to refine your Karate, deepen your understanding, and grow within our Seiwakai Karate community.

Summer 2025 Highlights

So many adventures and we hope you can all come along for the ride.

• Japan 2025: Seiwakai in Daisen & JKF Gōjūkai in Sendai
• Adventures with the Dai Nippon Butokukai (Kyoto)
• June 2025 Shinsa Grading Results

Fall 2025 Semester Overview

• First Class: Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (Kyu certificates from Spring will be distributed)
  • REMINDER: There is no training from August 18th to September 1st while the facility is closed for break.
• No Class: Monday Sep 1 (Labor Day), Oct 13 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day), Nov 26 (Day before Thanksgiving)
• Location: Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center, Menlo Park
• Class Times:
  • Beginners (White–Orange Belts): Mondays & Wednesdays at 5:45 PM
  • Experienced (Green Belt+): Mondays & Wednesdays at 7:00 PM
• View the Calendar Online

Class Registration

We expect a crowded roster this fall 2025, with well over double the common number of beginners. Register early to reserve your spot this semester:

• PerfectMind Portal (City of Menlo Park)
• Menlo Park Activity Guide (search “Karate” in the “Keywords” approximately ¼ down the page on the left)

Drop-ins and Visitors 

Our club is conveniently and centrally located exactly 19.1 miles from San Francisco Airport (SFO) and 20.6 miles from San Jose International (SJC) Mineta. This means from time-to-time, out of town visitors will likely drop-in for a training session. Our club has a muilti-generational history in the bay area, for Pedigree, instruction and ground breaking accomplishments. Please welcome our visitors whether they are a legendary 8th Dan or an enthusiastic yellow belt.

• If you are visiting and would like to drop-in, please note; our club is part of the Menlo Park cities parks and recreation program. It is mandatory visiting participants stop at the front desk to sign-in, complete the waiver and $25 drop-in fee.
• If you are visiting and would like to audit (just watch), it is still required to stop at the front desk and sign the visitors form. We have minors that participate in several programs at our facility. The drop-in fee is not required.

Welcome Our New Members

Yōkoso ようこそ (welcome!) new players to the Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley family. Your commitment and curiosity are appreciated. Speak with Sensei or any of the Senpai whenever you have questions. We genuinely appreciate your inquisitiveness.

To our returning members: Thank you again for your consistency, discipline, and the spirit you bring to every class. Together we are shaping a dōjō culture that respects tradition and welcomes progress while building a stronger community.

Uniform (Dōgi) Purchase Recommendations – Mugen (KI International)

All students are expected to wear a white karate dōgi if they plan to participate in the Shinsa (test) at the end of the quarter (20 classes required). Please note that testing is not mandatory to participate in the program. If you do, opt to purchase a karate uniform, we recommend the Orange Label dōgi from KI-International for beginner to intermediate students:

Click here to purchase your Orange Label Mugen Dōgi from KI International

It’s also recommended that you look a bit further into the following link to build your Bogu bag (training gear and protective equipment). – Build your Bogu Bag

About Our Karate

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley teaches Gōjū-Ryū Karatedō 剛柔流空手道, an Okinawan-Japanese Empty-Handed martial art rooted in tradition and shaped by discipline, balance, and humility. Our training covers kihon (basic fundamentals), kata (forms or pre-arrange patterns), kumite (sparring), and bunkai (applications), while fostering courtesy and cultural appreciation.

Our club curriculum and handbook, the SKSV Club Guide, is available to all club members via Google Books. You’ll need to be added to the previewer list and log in with your Google ID (Gmail) to view it. This living document outlines etiquette, expectations, terminology, grading criteria, and more.

• Pro-Tip: Keeping a personal Karate notebook will help deepen your learning and track your progress.
• Always Bring your Bogu Bag to training with you!

Shinsa (Testing) & Advancement

The next grading will be held in early December. Students may be recommended based on:

• Consistent attendance
• Technical readiness
• Proper etiquette and mindset

Upcoming Seminars – Texas & Ohio

JKF Gojukai 全日本空手道連盟剛柔会 and Seiwakai 誠和会 events are highly recommended, especially if you’re preparing for Shodan 初段 (1st degree black belt) or higher!

🗓️ Schedule:

• September 19–21 – JKF Gojukai Seminar – Texas, USA
• November 7–9 – Seiwakai Pan-American Seminar – Ohio, USA

These are life-changing opportunities to train under elite instructors and immerse yourself in the highest levels of Karate-dō 空手道. These national seminars are hosted by the organizations through which we maintain official membership registration and they further qualify our cross registration to the Dai Nippon Butokukai and USA Karate. Let Sensei know early if you plan to attend!

Stay Connected

• 🌐 SKSV Landing Page: www.SeiwakaiKarate.com (by J Williams Designs)
• ▶️ YouTube: Youtube.com/Gojuryu
• 🔍 Google Reviews: Leave or Read a Google Review
  • If you’ve trained with us, we’d love your feedback — every review helps us grow!”
• 📰 News Hub: SKSV News
• 📅 Calendar: Karate Calendar

Message from Sensei

“Karate isn’t something you do — it’s something you become. In the fall, we return to the dōjō to deepen our roots, strengthen our spirit, and polish our form.”
– Sensei Johnpaul Williams

– Johnpaul Williams
Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan
誠和会空手シリコン谷・指導者
+1-650-394-6669 (text only for SKSV)