Welcome to OKUKAN Karate Melbourne

OKUKAN is a full-time martial arts karate school in Melbourne.

Join our spirited karate classes today.

Meet the Teacher and Dojo Founder, Sensei Sandra Contreras.

Sensei Sandra is a pupil of Master Shoko Sato (Hanshi, President of the Pan-American Shitoryu Karate Federation) and Master Genzo Iwata (Hanshi, President of the World Shitoryu Karate Federation).

Teaching technical and authentic Shitoryu Karate-do. With experience teaching in higher education and a gift for teaching children, Sensei is an inspired and genuine teacher.

Karate is Sensei’s lifelong dedication.

Our Beginner Classes:

Adult Karate Classes

Our adult karate classes cater to beginners and experienced practitioners.

Youth Karate Classes

Karate classes for pre-teen and teens, from 10 years. This group learns quickly!

Kids Karate Classes

Our entry level karate classes for primary school children. High quality basics!

Join our Karate School

Enrolments are always open

Our mainstream karate school closely adheres to global style-guides provided by our international headquarters, Shitokai-WSKF, led by Kaicho Genzo Iwata (Hanshi).

OKUKAN has affiliation to the World Karate Federation via its Australian representative, the Australian Karate Federation (AKF).

OKUKAN gives students a chance at learning the very best of karate in Australia.

Book a Trial to Get Started

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“Okukan dojo is the best. Sensai Sandra is highly technical, giving, firm but also fun with the children. I am very impressed with her dojo and teaching style. I cannot recommend Sensai Sandra enough.”

OKUKAN Karate Parent

22 June, 2023

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"My son is a student at OKUKAN. The school is warm, welcoming and supportive. Sensei Sandra is firm but kind towards the children, which is exactly what you want."

Adam, OKUKAN Karate Parent

17 Feb 2021

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Excellent karate club. The children are challenged but not pushed. Quality teaching by a Sensei that is both a great teacher and practitioner.

Mark, OKUKAN Karate Parent

20 April 2018

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"So glad my daughter and I enrolled with Okukan. Sensei Sandra imparts her deep knowledge of karate in a friendly, respectful and supportive manner. She has a great rapport with her younger students, and the ever growing group of adult students, many of whom have never practiced martial arts before learn quickly. Fantastic karate school!"

John, OKUKAN Karate Student & Parent

31 Ocrtober 2018

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"I can't speak highly enough of this wonderful Dojo and the balance created by Sensai Sandra, Meg and the students. My daughter loves it and has developed so much strength, respect, dedication, and self-belief under Sensai's guidance. I'd give it 6 stars if I could!"

Matt, OKUKAN Karate Parent

2 February 2023

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Newsletter December 2024

Athletes in KUMITE competition....

Athletes in KUMITE competition often use a simple version of HARAI UKE to help avoid CHUDAN attacks.

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For Students

Karate Terminology (AKA karate words)

Students learn the terminology organically through listening and repeating Japanese terminology used in class....

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For Students

Grading Guides (coloured belts)

Students’ development is progressively assessed during training. As with most modern martial arts, our karate school has....

school holidays sept 2024

NEWS 23 September 2024

It’s the first day of school holidays again and our karate classes are on...

There is an extra nice vibe in the Dojo today. It’s quiet with a sense of possible rain, but the air is warm enough to remind us of summer, and the roller door is up in anticipation. Kids are working extra hard in class, with progress palpable: there is a special sense of reward in class, for just showing up. We love training time during the school holidays. Are you looking for martial arts for your children? There has never been a better time to start.

TAIKAI Aug 2024

NEWS 15 August 2024

….The OKUKAN TAIKAI 2024 is almost here!

The OKUKAN TAIKAI 2024 registrations are open people! That’s right, our awesome annual karate event for students will be graced by the warmer weather of September this year, 👏 in a brand new venue that’s close to home. Choose to compete in KATA and or KUMITE (choose both we say!). Ooh, and our 2024 dojo t-shirt dropped last week. It’s black on white this year, on an extra small print run, so pick one up quickly. Designed in-dojo.

New karate year Feb 2024

NEWS 8 February 2024

It’s a new karate year! 🎊

Classes restarted Monday 22 January 2024, and young students showed great discipline and joy in attending during the last week of school holidays. Warm sunny days allow the doors to be open and sun and breeze onto the tatami. (The odd hot day is cool inside. Set the air-con low! ) There is a sense of quiet excitement in the dojo: through the sweat and concentration, strength is growing. Happy Chinese New Year! 新年快乐! 🐉 Year of the Wood Dragon! 🐉

2024 timetable avail

NEWS 2 November 2023

The 2024 timetable now available! ⏰

Our 2024 class schedule has been uploaded. In classic OKUKAN form, well in advance of the year ahead, so you can plan your busy schedules. No class timetable changes again (we like change, but not that sort of change). Our last day of classes for 2023 will be Friday 22 December. Tuition is stopped over the end of year holiday, as always. …We have our finger on the aircon remote, ready to press ‘ON’ for the hot week ahead. Come and train with us. Book a free kids trial!

World Championships Sept 2023

NEWS 26 September 2023

Three bronze medals at world championships

We went to the 10th Shitoryu International Championships in Jakarta and bought home three bronze medals! 33 countries and 584 athletes were in attendance from around the world. Congratulations to the students representing our dojo for their show of bravery, commitment and technical skill on the international arena. Great job! Congratulations to our medal winners! 👏
🥉Ella (age 10) Bronze in Kata
🥉Eva (age 7) Bronze in Kata
🥉Anjum (adult) Bronze in Kata
Thank you for all who were involved in the event, to make this opportunity for development and comradery available to Shitoryu athletes from around the world.

TAIKAI 2023

NEWS 1 August 2023

Thanks to all who attended the TAIKAI 2023‼️🤩

Congratulations to the students who participated in KATA and/or KUMITE at the TAIKAI on Sunday. Students gave it their all and showed strength of spirit! First timers were able to experience sports karate and Advanced students showed leadership in their volunteer roles, supporting peers and the younger karate generation. It wouldn’t be the OKUKAN TAIKAI without the parents support either! We saw students win medals who were struggling with confidence, and students not win medals but who had fun anyway. We are grateful for every year that brings us another OKUKAN TAIKAI …and we look ahead with tatami-training in mind, for the dojo tournaments to come.

Master Iwata's Visit

NEWS 18 June 2023

Gold, silver and bronze in the development division

All of our competitors won medals in the karate tournament on the weekend, Sunday 18 June! 4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze❗👏Thank you for your hard work on and off the tatami, and good job karate parents!

NEWS 1 June 2023

Master Iwata’s Visit

We were honoured by the highly productive visit of Master Genzo Iwata. A big thank you to the students for their hard work. Please stay inspired to keep training and learning Shitoryu. 👏🏻

Round Robin is coming

NEWS 22 May 2023

We look forward to receiving Hanshi Genzo Iwata at OKUKAN

Sensei Sandra is hosting Technical Advisor, Master Genzo Iwata, to visit our Dojo in Coburg from 29-30 May. For those students who have been invited to a training session or Masterclass but haven’t yet registered, please do so. We are so grateful for this upcoming visit.

NEWS 10 February 2023

Round Robin is coming…

Round robin is back in the dojo, Saturday 4 March. Free 2 hour sparring session for blue belt students and above. 🥊 Make sure you attend!

Martial Arts Karate near Coburg and Brunswick

The many benefits of karate as a martial art

The Joy of Accomplishment

As students learn, remember, and practice new skills, they enjoy being able to recall and expand on their knowledge. Progressing through their belts brings a priceless joy in accomplishment.

Mental & Moral Development

Karate develops good character, teaches non violence, and gives students the ability to think clearly and to take decisive actions. Karate builds resilience and promote respect between all people.

Confidence, Resilience & Internal Strength

Karate builds confidence and a deep sense of internal strength. As students progress, they gain heightened control of their bodies and emotions, resulting in more self-confidence in everyday situations.

Coordination, Balance, Vision

Karate training places a strong focus on improving balance and coordination. By practicing a series of complex movements, students enhance their spatial awareness, posture, footwork, agility and coordination.

Stress Reduction

Everybody needs healthy ways to cope with stress, children included. Karate provides the rigorous physical training needed to rid anxiety. Muscle building, sweat and mind body connection is a natural antidote!

Muscle Strength & Flexibility

Karate is well-known for its intense training routines that include a variety of striking, kicking and blocking techniques. Students improve their strength and flexibility with our full-body exercises, for a balanced body.

Heart and Authenticity

The values of dignity, respect, tradition and kindness are at the heart of karate. Students learn these values early on, alongside dojo etiquette, within the social structures of the dojo.

Alertness & Control

Karate improves alertness, breathing and emotional control (controlling emotions such as fear, anger). It helps students remain calm in stressful situations and boosts the ability to respond appropriately.

Concentration and Discipline

Karate demands a high level of concentration and discipline. Students are required to learn and perform complex forms (katas) with precise techniques, boosting focus, attention span, and levels of self-control.

Contact Us for

Karate Classes in Melbourne

0490 112 360

Join our full-time private karate school in the heart of Melbourne.

Our local karate classes in Melbourne are close to Fitzroy, Brunswick, Pascoe Vale, Glenroy, Preston, Reservoir, Thornbury and Northcote.

OUR ADDRESS: 9 Hunt St, Coburg VIC 3058

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 8:30pm; Saturday 7:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday Closed. AEST.

FREE ONSITE PARKING. Our training facilities are surrounded by free parking, a few steps from Sydney Road tram line and a short walk from the Coburg train station, makes for an extremely convenient location. We’re a few steps from supermarkets, coffee and the Coburg library too.

EASY BY BIKE. We are easy to get to on bike! We’re close to the local Upfield Shared Path, stretching from Princes Park through Brunswick and Coburg, to Box Forest Road in Fawkner. Ride to us.

Our karate school is served by public transport and is connected to safe cycle paths to help reduce CO2 emissions.

GET DIRECTIONS

Welcome to OKUKAN Karate Melbourne

OKUKAN is a full-time martial arts karate school in Melbourne.

Join our spirited karate classes today.

Meet the Teacher and Dojo Founder, Sensei Sandra Contreras.

Our Beginner Classes:

Adult Karate Classes

Youth Karate Classes

Kids Karate Classes

Join our Karate School

Enrolments are always open

Martial Arts Karate near Coburg and Brunswick

The many benefits of karate as a martial art

The Joy of Accomplishment

Mental & Moral Development

Confidence, Resilience & Internal Strength

Coordination, Balance, Vision

Stress Reduction

Muscle Strength & Flexibility

Heart and Authenticity

Alertness & Control

Concentration and Discipline

Contact Us for

Karate Classes in Melbourne

Our karate school is served by public transport and is connected to safe cycle paths to help reduce CO2 emissions.

Book a Free Trial

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Our Classes

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