- OKUKAN History
- Sensei Sandra’s Teacher: Kyoshi Shoko Sato
- About Shitoryu Karatedo
- Sports Karate
- DOJO KUN
- Safe Karate Training
OKUKAN History
OKUKAN Shito-Ryu Karate-Do, Melbourne. OKUKAN is a school of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do in inner Melbourne. Founded by Sensei Sandra Contreras, the dojo is a full time, private karate school just 7km north of Melbourne CBD.
Sensei Sandra continues to learn, train and inspire, and teaches all adult and children’s classes, six days a week.
We hope that every Black Belt coming out of our karate school is able to show the qualities of a true warrior: endeavour to develop a sense of courage and awareness with complete honesty and respect for others, in life as on the tatami.
OKUKAN maintains formal relationships with:
• MASTER GENZO IWATA (Hanshi)
Hanshi Master Iwata is 8th Dan, President of World Shito-ryu Karate-do Federation.
• MASTER SHOKO SATO (Hanshi)
Hanshi Shoko Sato is 8th Dan, President of Pan-American Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation & Vice-President of the World Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation.
• AUSTRALIAN KARATE FEDERATION (AKF)
OKUKAN is a member of the Australian Karate Federation. The AKF is a member of the World Karate Federation (WKF) and this links its members to 170 countries worldwide. This relationship provides our students access to Junior/Cadet and Senior World Championships.
About Kyoshi Shoko Sato
Hanshi Shoko Sato was born in 1945 in Miyagi-Japan. He graduated from Toyo University and for a while worked as an economist. In his youth he was a Kumite expert. He was a Team Member and Team Captain of the Karate Team at Toyo University. Thanks to the commitment and discipline of athletes like Master Sato, Toyo University was able to maintain for decades its reputation as a Karate powerhouse in Japan.
Until 1939 the Karate program at Toyo University was taught by famous practitioner, Motobu Choki, and after that by Master Kenwa Mabuni, the Founder of Shitoryu. Master Sato’s teacher, Master Manzo Iwata, was an accomplished student of Shitoryu Founder, Master Kenwa Mabuni, and was the first president of the World Shito-Ryu Karate-do Federation, and an exceptional martial artist.
Hanshi Shoko Sato is President of Pan-American Karate-Do Federation and Vice-President of World Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation. OKUKAN’s spirit is Master Shoko Sato’s derivative. As a pioneer and a great symbol of Japanese Karate, Kyoshi Shoko Sato’s teaching has influenced and continues to drive numerous DOJO, athletes, teachers and leaders of our generation. More.
About Shito-Ryu Karate-Do
At OKUKAN Karate Melbourne, we teach authentic Shito-Ryu Karate-Do. This is one of the four main styles of Karate in Japan. This major karate style was originally founded by Master Kenwa Mabuni and is strongly endorsed by the World Karate Federation (WKF).
There are more than 50 styles of karate in Japan. During the early 1990’s, Japan leadership selected four of these styles to provide worldwide leadership in competitive sport. Until very recently, competitors could only perform ‘Kata’ from these four styles in mainstream Karate tournaments. These styles were Shotokan, Gojyuryu, Wadoryu, and the style we practice at OKUKAN: Shitoryu.
Master Kenwa Mabuni devised Shito-Ryu in the early 1900’s from a combination of the teachings of Master Anko Itosu and Master Kanryo Higaonna, two Okinawan masters from the eighteen hundreds of disparate stylistic tradition (i.e. the former thought to be fast and straight, the latter round and ‘hard-soft’). Fast-forward a century and Karate participates as an Olympic sport at TOKYO 2020 (2021) and BRISBANE 2032. There, Shito-Ryu Kata were dominant in medal bouts.
Shitokai promotes a very practical Karate style. Movements tend to be short and swift, demanding only the right amount of effort. Broadly speaking, training sessions consist of a combination of Kihon (basics), self-defense (Ippon Kumite), Kata (form) and Kumite (free sparring). Our martial arts school has a challenging Karate syllabus that includes over 50 forms and an endless number of effective drills. So the Shitokai curriculum contemplates the major aspects of empty-hand fighting.
Japanese tradition and the warrior culture influence our classes heavily. Students develop an appreciation of ethics. ‘Dojo Kun’ and ‘Shitoryu Five Way Spirit’ are pivotal to understanding the code of conduct that frames Shitokai.
📣 Check out the World Shitoryu Karate-do Federation Official Youtube channel. It is an incredible resource for Shitoryu karate students. Video tutorials are uploaded regularly, so subscribe!
Written histories suggest that during the decades of development of karate systems, martial arts responded to a real need for safety in Okinawa, within nobility and among lay people alike.
Shitoryu in particular, was born out of the effort of its founder to define a type of karate that was primarily effective in real combat situations, often close distance and sometimes with an armed opponent. After the passing of Grandmaster Kenwa Mabuni, his students and his son Grandmaster Kenei have continued to investigate and perfect self-defence applications that are based on the technical and tactical principles of simplicity and effectiveness.
In Shitoryu, every movement has a practical function. Repeating Shitoryu movements over a substantial period of time results in the practitioner becoming a proficient warrior of the ’empty hand’ (‘kara’ translates as ’empty’ and ‘te’ hand).
Teaching Philosophy…
Instruction operates within the rules, spirit and integrity of Shitoryu Karate-Do.
We endeavour to assess each student’s performance objectively and individually, encouraging fair participation, helping each student reach their potential. Learning activities designed in our karate school promote a social environment, where members of our community are treated with courtesy and care, regardless of gender, ability, cultural background or religion, including students, parents, guests, and staff members.
We promote learning over competitive sport, but there are all the opportunities available to students for competition karate, for those dedicated and talented students wishing to compete.
Sensei Sandra is a former elite athlete.
Sports Karate…
‘Sports karate’ is the label given to the type of karate that is practiced for participation at karate tournaments. It is often technically different from non-competitive karate. Techniques are aimed at demonstrating good form and a knowledge of the purpose of movements. Non-competitive karate is instead considered a form of self-defence and self-development, and not a demonstration.
At OKUKAN, tournaments are seen to be a positive activity for children, teens and adults -not for the thrill of winning, but for the opportunity to share and learn from others. If you are interested in karate tournaments, you will be carefully guided through the sports karate journey.
Shitoryu is, worldwide, one of the strongest styles when it comes to karate tournaments, and OKUKAN’s head instructor is an experienced competitor.
KARATEKA’S CODE: DOJO KUN
First and foremost: Seek perfection of character.
First and foremost: Be loyal.
First and foremost: Endeavour to excel.
First and foremost: Respect others.
First and foremost: Refrain from violent behaviour.
Safe Training
Decisions and actions at OKUKAN contribute to a safe environment, giving priority to the safety of students. Sensei Sandra holds a Working with Children Check and understands First Aid current practices. Free sparring is practiced while wearing WKF-approved protective gear.
Safety First
Working with Children’s Check
Current First Aid
Accredited Coach
OKUKAN Membership
Membership is a once-off fee, helping to ensure that the karate style you practice (Shitoryu) is maintained and delivered genuinely.
Athletes’ development is progressively assessed during training. As with most modern martial arts, our school has a grading system to symbolise stages of learning. To be a part of the formal grading system in our karate school, you will need to become an OKUKAN member. This membership also ensures that your grading is acknowledged internationally.
SHITORYU’S FIVE WAY SPIRIT
Determination. Never forget the spirit of first beginning.
Morality. Never neglect courtesy and etiquette.
Development. Never neglect effort.
Common sense. Never lose common sense.
Peace. Never disturb harmony.
“[Our daughter] has benefited greatly in both personal confidence and physical development from attending your OKUKAN Dojo. We wish to thank you for all the hard work you and your team have put in.”
LOVING PARENT
