Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley winning at the Silicon Valley Open

Spring 2026 Newsletter: Menlo Park Karate Classes, Seminars, & Japan Training

Spring 2026 – Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Newsletter By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan [caption id="attachment_3839" align="alignright" width="300"] Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley competitors medaling at the Silicon Valley Open.[/caption] This past quarter, we finally returned to local competition and were incredibly pleased with our club's results.

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December 2025 SKSV Shinsa (grading) Results: Tokyu 等級

December 2025 SKSV Karate Grading (Shinsa) Results By Johnpaul Williams – December 31, 2025 Karatedō is a profound Budo—a lifelong journey built upon patience, targeted goals, inevitable obstacles, and rewarding milestones designed to forge character. Karate training at our Menlo Park dōjō demands tenacity, mental pliability, and physical fortitude. Closing

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WKF Karate Helmet with Face Shield

Building Bōgu 防具 Bag & Karate Gear for Menlo Park | Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley

Bōgu Bags & WKF-Approved Karate Gear in Menlo Park Presented by Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley | Serving Menlo Park & the Greater Bay Area Bōgu (防具), literally translating to “armor,” is absolutely essential for practitioners of traditional martial arts like Karate (空手) and Kendō (剣道), where specialized sparring gear must

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Rooftop decor of the Dai Nippon Butokukai's Budokan in Kyoto Japan

Summer Karate Classes in Menlo Park | SKSV Newsletter

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley – June (Summer) Newsletter 新たな季節、新たな精神 — New Season, Renewed Spirit Cross-posted to email and on our website: www.gojuryu.net Summer, Summer, Summer Time 季節の変わり目には新たな意志と共に稽古に励みましょう。 暑さの中にも鍛錬の道を忘れず、汗と共に精神(こころ)を磨いていきましょう。 As the golden sun of summer stretches over California and Japan, our dōjō (道場) stands vibrant with purpose. Summer is a time

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Glico Running Man in Osaka Japan - Golden Week 2025

May/June 2025 SKSV Shinsa (grading) Results: Tokyu 等級

May / June 2025 SKSV Grading (Shinsa) Results By Johnpaul Williams – June 4, 2025 Karatedō is a profound journey fraught with obstacles and setbacks, yet filled with goals and milestones. Fortunately, rigorous Karate training inherently builds tenacity, mental pliability, and formidable physical fortitude. Congratulations to all those who successfully

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Statue afront the International Budo University

Clarification of Academic Degree Programs for Martial Arts

The Truth About the "Karate Ph.D." – Addressing the Misuse of Academic Titles By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Introduction: The Question That Sparked This Article Earlier this week, I received a brief yet meaningful inquiry via Facebook from a gentleman in India named Mr. Samarjit Mullick,

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The New International Peace Monument at the Budo Senmin Gakko 京都市武道センター (Kyoto City Budo Center)

Adventures in Kyoto with the Dai Nippon Butokukai 大日本武徳会は、京都の旧武徳殿において第7回国際武徳祭を開催しました。

Golden Week 2025 Adventures with the Dai Nippon Butokukai in Kyoto, Japan By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan May 4, 2025 Kyoto’s Butokuden (武徳殿), the architectural witness to over a century of martial discipline, proudly hosted the 7th World Butoku Sai (WBS) during Japan's Golden Week.

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Shihan-Johnpaul-Williams-1996-Action-Figure

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley – April / May 2025 Newsletter

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley – April / May Newsletter New Season, Renewed Spirit (新たな季節、新たな精神) Cross-posted to email and on our website: www.gojuryu.net Welcome to Spring 季節の変わり目には新たな意志と共に稽古に励みましょう。 As the days grow longer here in California and the cherry blossoms bloom in Kyoto, our dōjō (道場) enters a season of true renewal.

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March 2025 – JKF Gojukai Newsletter (Japanese only Kaihoshi)

Official JKF Gōjūkai Newsletter (Kaihoshi Vol. 111) – March 2025 By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan The Transmission of Knowledge: Connecting to the Honbu For dedicated practitioners of traditional Gōjū-Ryū Karatedō (剛柔流空手道), remaining connected to the historical center in Japan is a matter of both technical

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Traditional karate tournaments back and SKSV is in the house

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley – March Greetings

Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley – Winter 2025 Newsletter New Year, Renewed Focus (新年、新たな目標) By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley [caption id="attachment_2531" align="alignright" width="300"] Traditional karate tournaments are back, and SKSV is in the house![/caption] As we step boldly into the new year, our dōjō is alive with

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Karate for teamwork in Menlo Park, Redwood City and Palo Alto

How Martial Arts at Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley (SKSV) Helps Develop Teamwork

The Illusion of the Solitary Warrior: How Martial Arts Develops Teamwork By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan In popular culture, martial arts is often depicted as a profoundly solitary journey—a lonely practitioner meditating on a mountaintop, focusing entirely on personal strength, isolated skill acquisition, and stoic

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Official JKF Gōjūkai Newsletter (Kaihoshi) Archive | SKSV June 2024

Official JKF Gōjūkai Newsletter (Kaihoshi 会報誌) Archive By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan   The Transmission of Knowledge: Connecting to the Honbu In classical Japanese martial arts, the transmission of knowledge from the historical center to the outer branches was meticulously guarded. Today, while technology has

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Training tips for Annan

Training Tips for Kata Annan: Biomechanics & Bunkai Study By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan Introduction to Annan (安南) Historically originating from the Ryūei-ryū (劉衛流) lineage of Okinawa, the kata Annan (安南) has evolved into one of the most dynamic and popular forms witnessed in modern

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Zarei 座礼 – Three types of Seated Bow

Zarei (座礼): The Three Degrees of Traditional Seated Bows [caption id="attachment_3852" align="alignright" width="300"] Zarei - Seated Bow[/caption] The following educational excerpt is drawn directly from the Gōjū-Ryū Karate-Dō Desk Reference 剛柔流空手道 机参照: Volume 2: Dōjō Auxiliary, Glossary & Terminology 道場の補助、用語集 と 辞書. In traditional Japanese martial arts, physical technique is

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Seated Bow - Zarei

Seiza 正座 & Zarei 座礼: How to Sit Properly in Karate | SKSV

Seiza (正座) & Zarei (座礼): The Foundation of Dōjō Etiquette [caption id="attachment_3867" align="alignright" width="300"] Seated Bow - Zarei[/caption] The following educational excerpt is drawn directly from the Gōjū-Ryū Karate-Dō Desk Reference 剛柔流空手道 机参照: Volume 2: Dōjō Auxiliary, Glossary & Terminology 道場の補助、用語集 と 辞書. Before a Karateka can perfect their strike

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Ritsu Rei - Standing Bow

Ritsurei (Jigi) San Shurui 立礼三種類 Three Types of Standing Bow

Ritsurei (立礼): The Three Types of Standing Bows The following educational excerpt is drawn directly from the Gōjū-Ryū Karate-Dō Desk Reference 剛柔流空手道 机参照: Volume 2: Dōjō Auxiliary, Glossary & Terminology 道場の補助、用語集 と 辞書. [caption id="attachment_3863" align="alignright" width="300"] Ritsu Rei - Standing Bow[/caption] There are three specific degrees of bowing for

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