Winter/Spring 2026 – Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Newsletter

By Johnpaul Williams – Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan

Classes are in session! Join us for the 2026 season of Gōjū-Ryū Karatedō training in Menlo Park. Register online, view the expanded international calendar, and prepare for a year of world-class events.

Yōkoso ようこそ — A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Karateka

To those who have recently stepped onto the mat for the first time: Welcome to the Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley family. Beginning a martial arts journey takes courage, and we are honored you chose to start yours with us. As you navigate your first few kyu grades, remember that every senior student and black belt in the room once stood exactly where you are.

With the world’s eyes on the Bay Area this season, you are joining us at a truly exciting time. Don’t hesitate to ask questions—our Senpai (senior students) are here to guide you.

To our returning members: Thank you for the “Goju” spirit you show daily by mentoring our newcomers and keeping our tradition strong.

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

2026 brings the world to Silicon Valley. As we prepare for the Super Bowl and World Cup, our dōjō stands as a place of consistency and tradition. This quarter, we focus on the “Goju” (Hard/Soft) balance—staying grounded in our fundamentals while remaining flexible and welcoming to the many international guests who will visit our mats this season. Breathing and presentation will be a paramount.

Karate Dad Jokes of the Semester

• Why did the Karate student bring a ladder to the dōjō? Because they wanted to reach their high kicks!
• What is a Karateka’s favorite dessert? Chop-olate cake! 🍰

Quarterly Highlights & Updates

The journey continues with new resources and recent milestones.

• SKSV Club Guide (REV.260121): Please ensure you have reviewed the latest digital handbook for updated standards.
• SafeSport Compliance: A reminder for instructors and senior students to renew certifications within the next 30 days.
• Japan Itinerary Finalized: The August schedule for Akita (Omagari Daisen-shi) and Yokohama is now set (see below).

Winter/Spring 2026 Semester Overview

• Current Session: January 5 – March 25, 2026
  • REMINDER: Please ensure all registration is finalized through the City of Menlo Park portal.
• Upcoming Highlights:
  • March 13: USANKF Referee & Judges Clinic with Charles Sweigart (San Jose)
  • March 14: Local Competition at Pioneer High School (San Jose) — All students are highly encouraged to participate!
• 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

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. Due to the Super Bowl and World Cup festivities, we expect additional international visitors. 

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.

• 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 – 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.
  • Visiting Participants: Must sign-in at the front desk, complete a waiver, and pay the $25 drop-in fee.
  • Auditors: Must still sign the visitor form at the front desk (no fee required).
• Please welcome our visitors with the respect due to their rank and effort, whether they are a legendary 8th Dan or an enthusiastic white belt.

2026 International Calendar

🗓️ Upcoming Seminars & Shinsa:

• April 10 – 12: Seiwakai Northern California Seminar with Vassie Naidoo Hanshi – Pleasanton, CA (Details to come).
• June 5–7: 3-Day Pan-American Seiwakai Seminar with Seiichi Fujiwara Hanshi – Toronto, Canada.
• August 19–25: Seiwakai International Seminar – Omagari/Akita, Japan.
  • Aug 25: Early finish for Dan Testing and Celebration Party.
  • Aug 26: Travel to Yokohama.
• August 27–30: JKF Gojukai Seminar, Dan Testing, and National Tournament – Yokohama, Japan.
• October 9–11: JKF Gojukai Seminar & Testing (Veras/Sato/Masuda) – Houston, Texas.
• November 13–15: Seiwakai USA Annual Seminar (2 weeks before Thanksgiving) – Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Club Shinsa (Testing) & Advancement for Kyu grades

The next grading will be held at the end of May and beginning of June. Students may be recommended based on:

• Consistent attendance
• Technical readiness
• Proper etiquette and mindset

Uniform (Dōgi) & Equipment

All students are expected to wear a white karate dōgi for Shinsa. For regional and international seminars, we recommend:

• Orange Label Mugen dōgi from KI International.
  • Click here to purchase your Orange Label Mugen Dōgi from KI International
• Japan training and competition: Traditional label – Shureido.
• Bogu Bag: Always bring your protective gear to every session! Build your Bogu Bag here.

About Our Karate

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley teaches Gōjū-Ryū Karatedō 剛柔流空手道 as our core style. Gōjū-Ryū Karatedō 剛柔流空手道 is an Okinawan-Japanese Empty-Handed martial art rooted in tradition and shaped by discipline, balance, and humility.. Our expanded curriculum is outlined in the SKSV Club Guide. This living document covers etiquette, terminology, and grading criteria. 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!

Stay Connected & Resources

• 🌐 SKSV Official Site: www.gojuryu.net
• 🌐 SKSV Landing Page: www.SeiwakaiKarate.com (by J Williams Designs)
• 📚 Reference Desk: Gōjū-Ryū Karate-Dō Desk Reference (Available on Google Books)
• ▶️ YouTube Training: 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!
• 📰 SKSV News Hub: Latest Club Announcements
• 📅 Global Calendar: Seminar & Class Schedule
• 🎨 Design & Creative: J Williams Designs

Message from Sensei

“Karate isn’t something you do — it’s something you become. As the world gathers in our backyard this year, let our focus remain sharp and our spirit remain humble.” – 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)