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Okinawa-Kenpo was founded by Grand Master Shigeru Nakamura in 1960 as an association of diverse dojos based on his belief “there is no Ryuha in Okinawa karate”. Participation to a competition in Kyushu as “The All Japan karate-do Federation, Okinawa District” was how it all started. Nakamura felt how strong Japanese karate organization was at the competition and worried about the future of Okinawa karate. Then, he appealed to all karate-ka in Okinawa for participating to the movement of “Okinawa-Kenpo”.
Born in Nago City in January 20, 1893 Studied under Sensei Nagashige Hanashiro, Yasutsune Itosu, Kanryou Higashionna. Later he was instructed under Sensei Kuniyoshi, Shinkichi who was called Bushi (Warrior) Kuniyoshi of Naha “Ti”.
Master Nakamura had many students that went on to continue his work. Our lineage is under Master Toshimitsu Kina, who was specifically notable for his performance in Kumite…
Master Kina is currently the President (Kaicho) of the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Do association.
Our Master, Master Toru Kiyan, is a student of Master Kina, and the Vice President of the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Do association. Master Kiyan is the head of the Okinawa Kenpo Kenyukai dojo in Okinawa, Japan. He has 2 dojos operating in Kadena and Ginowan, as well as other satellite schools/clubs (such as ours). Master Kiyan started karate in 1974 at the Okinawa Kenpo Shuri dojo, and has over 40 years of experience in Okinawa Kenpo Karate. Master Kiyan, like Master Kina, also has a distinguished performance record in Karate competition, winning the All Okinawa bougutsuki kumite Open Tournament in 1978,…Won the 9th and 10th Okinawa Kenpo Karate Tournaments in 1981/1982
I began training martial arts at the age of 19 (1976) in Camden N.J. at the Tae Kwon Do, Soo Moo Kwon Martial Arts Club. In 1984, I began training under Sensei Toru Kiyan, the Vice President of the Okinawa Kenpo Association Karate Kenyukai In Okinawa, Japan. I returned to the U.S. in 1987 and continued training in Kenpo. I was fortunate enough to return to Okinawa in 1997 and resumed training under Sensei Kiyan through 2003 before returning to the U.S. as a 2nd Dan. Through continuous training and frequent visits to Okinawa I reached the rank of 4th degree in November 2017. In total, I have over 30 years of Kenpo Karate experience.
I began training martial arts at the age of 14 (1997) in Washington DC at the DC Shotokan Karate club. When I went to college, I trained Tae Kwon Do with the JMU Tae Kwon Do club, a satellite school of Khan’s Martial Arts academy from 2001 until I graduated in 2005. While in school, I was VP of the Tae Kwon Do club for 2 years and the President of the club my senior year. After school, I resumed training with the Washington DC Shotokan Karate Club while occasionally learning from other styles such as BJJ and Kissaki Kai. In 2013 I moved to Okinawa Japan where I trained Okinawa Kenpo and Motobu Udundi until I returned to the US in 2017. In total, I have nearly 20 years of martial arts experience across many disciplines. I was active in competitions mostly between 2003 and 2007 and have placed in or won many tournaments with many different hosting organizations. Our club is authorized to operate under the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Association and is a satellite school of the Okinawa Kenpo Kenyukai dojo. Karate yields many long-term benefits to its practitioners including improvements to overall health, increased confidence, sense of community, plus knowledge of practical self-defense. Students will experience traditional training methods with a real connection to the Okinawan masters of this art. No previous experience is necessary, and all persons are welcome to join in our patient and cooperative learning environment!
Location:
1801 Potomac Shores Parkway
Dumfries, Virginia 22026
Schedule:
Saturdays 9:00am – 11:00am
Every other Wednesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm
To register contact:
okkpotomacshores@gmail.com
Sensei Rigoberto Soto Torres (Senior Instructor); Brian Adames (School Owner) - San Sebastián, PR
I began to practice Karate at the age of 13 in the Okinawa Kenpo Karate style under the instruction of the Montalvo brothers in the town of San Sebastián in Puerto Rico. I obtained the rank of black belt with Sensei Orlando Rodriguez in 1987. While I was in the Puerto Rico Police I was able to practice the Shorinji ryu style under the teaching of Master Carlos Gonzalez in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. I currently hold the rank of 4th dan in the Okinawa Kenpo Kenyukai and my current Master is Sensei Toru Kiyan of the Okinawa Kenpo Kenyukai in Okinawa. During my years of practice I have been able to win 1st place in fighting and 3rd place in fighting because I have not dedicated myself to competition since my search in this art is not for trophies but for development as an individual in addition to maintaining and improve physical and mental health. During my career with Karate, I have been able to positively influence many students, giving me great satisfaction for having been able to help them in their journey. As long as God allows me, I will continue to walk through this art that has helped me so much in life.
Sensei Manuel Ramos - Woodstock, GA
Began training Okinawa Kenpo in Puerto Rico 1976. I have attend several Okinawa Kenpo seminars in the United States and in Okinawa. I have been teaching at my dojo in Woodstock, GA since 2018.
Karate is a life style and one can continue training their entire life.
Sensei Raleigh Marshall - Fairfax, VA
I began training martial arts at the age of 14 (1997) in Washington DC at the DC Shotokan Karate club. When I went to college, I trained Tae Kwon Do with the JMU Tae Kwon Do club, a satellite school of Khan’s Martial Arts academy from 2001 until I graduated in 2005. While in school, I was VP of the Tae Kwon Do club for 2 years and the President of the club my senior year. After school, I resumed training with the Washington DC Shotokan Karate Club while occasionally learning from other styles such as BJJ and Kissaki Kai. In 2013 I moved to Okinawa Japan where I trained Okinawa Kenpo and Motobu Udundi until I returned to the US in 2017. In total, I have nearly 20 years of martial arts experience across many disciplines. I was active in competitions mostly between 2003 and 2007 and have placed in or won many tournaments with many different hosting organizations. Our club is authorized to operate under the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Association and is a satellite school of the Okinawa Kenpo Kenyukai dojo.
Karate yields many long-term benefits to its practitioners including improvements to overall health, increased confidence, sense of community, plus knowledge of practical self-defense. Students will experience traditional training methods with a real connection to the Okinawan masters of this art. No previous experience is necessary, and all persons are welcome to join in our patient and cooperative learning environment!
We have classes at the dojo where all students are welcome to participate, learn/practice and add to their skillset.
Location:
1801 Potomac Shores Parkway
Dumfries, Virginia 22026
Schedule:
Saturdays 9:00am – 11:00am
Every other Wednesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm
To register contact:
okkpotomacshores@gmail.com
All students and prospective students are welcome, in person, to our school.
Feel free to contact us for any question you may have. The Faq section will provide answers to the commonly asked questions.
Okinawa-kenpo is a karate style which has been developed based on ancient Okinawan martial arts called “Ti”. Its technique and thought were studied and refined by a Tomari-te master, Shinkichi Kuniyoshi (also known as “BUSHI” Kuniyoshi) and passed down to Grand Master Shigeru Nakamura, the founder of Okinawa-kenpo. Grand Master Nakamura opened his own dojo “Okinawa-kenpo Karate-do Shurenjo” at Agarie, Nago city and taught his art of karate.