Karate is a martial art intended to polish the heart and soul of the practitioner. It is designed to enhance our strength of character at the same time that it enhances our physical abilities. The training is rigorous and rewarding; allowing us to overcome limitations that may seem insurmountable.

At the Timberhill Karate Club we practice Okinawa Shorin-Ryu Kishaba-Juku, which is a type of Okinawa Shorin-Ryu karate developed by the late Kishaba Chokei and named by his students in his honor. Its roots are primarily in Matsubayashi-Ryu, with a strong Matsumora Seito influence. However, unlike the styles from which it descends, Kishaba Juku is unique in the use of the dynamic application of the body to deliver powerful, efficient techniques. These techniques are an implementation of the concepts of movement and body dynamics which Kishaba-sensei developed. Kishaba Juku is currently being directed in Kishaba-sensei’s memory by his senior student, Shinzato Katsuhiko, and is promulgated by Shinzato-sensei and his students, as well as Kishaba-sensei’s many other grateful students.

At the Timberhill Karate Club our focus is on individual development where karate is taught as an art. We recognize that individuals grow and improve in their own unique ways and structure the training accordingly. The beauty of karate is that we experience continual evolution and growth. No matter how long we train there is always something valuable to learn.