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.
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
2025 Seiwakai in Daisen and JKF Gojukai in Sendai – Seminars & Competition By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan Our Menlo Park travelers have returned from the annual summer expedition to Japan! We proudly participated in the weeklong seminar in the Omagari Daisen region of Akita
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
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
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,
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.
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.
Official JKF Gōjūkai Newsletter (Kaihoshi Vol. 110) – July 2024 By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan Preserving the Global Connection: The JKF Gōjūkai Kaihoshi As dedicated practitioners of traditional Japanese martial arts, staying connected to our organizational roots is vital. We are pleased to provide
Traditional Karate vs. Commercial Martial Arts: Why Authenticity Matters By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan In today's diverse martial arts landscape, individuals face an essential choice between enrolling in a traditional Japanese Karate dōjō (道場) or opting for a generalized commercial martial arts club or mixed
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
Does Karate Pedigree Matter? Bridging Tradition and Modern Science By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Introduction: Deconstructing the Karate Pedigree Martial arts, particularly those originating from traditional Japanese and Okinawan roots, place a heavy premium on lineage and legitimacy. In this context, a "karate pedigree" refers to
Archive: USA Karate (USANKF) Rules of Competition – January 2025 By Johnpaul Williams – Director, Seiwakai Karate Silicon Valley Gojūkan Archival Notice: The document hosted on this page reflects the USA Karate (USANKF) Rules of Competition as they were instituted on January 1, 2025. As martial arts sports science and
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
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
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
