Karate School

Established in 1974, Master Rymaruk’s dojo has provided the community with uninterrupted karate classes for nearly 50 years, reaching thousands of students from all walks of life.

Class Schedule

The school is open Tuesdays and Thursdays.

• New Students (White Belts) -  7pm - 8pm

• Regular Class (All Belts) - 7pm - 8pm

• Advanced Training (Brown and Black Belts) - 8pm - 9pm

If you think karate may be for you, come around 7pm to watch a class.  If you're in town visiting from another dojo of any style, come train with us.  Visitors are always welcome!

Our Classes

The school offers classes for students of every level:

New Students (White Belts, Age 7+)

The beginner program is a series of classes aimed at introducing the student to Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate. Emphasis is placed on the development of basic skills rather than achieving promotion in rank so that the student will have the confidence to move to the regular class.

Our objectives are to:

• Introduce fundamental movements (blocks, strikes, kicks)

• Develop interest in the spirit of karate

• Develop self-confidence

• Lay the ground work for basic self defense

• Prepare for further instruction and training

Regular Class (All Belts)

All students warm up and practice the basics of Uechi-Ryu together.  The class contains conditioning exercises, two-man drills, and beginner to intermediate level kata.

Advanced Training (Brown and Black Belts)

Senior level students are invited to stay to practice high level kata, delve deeper into technique application, and on occasion, to spar.

Teaching Philosophy

I have always told my students that they will not begin to understand or appreciate the complexity of a martial art until they try to teach it. Teaching forces you to intellectualize what you have already learned and can do. Teaching elevates your comfort level in the art and stimulates the quest for further, in-depth understanding, research, and refinement.

The teacher, or Sensei, is responsible for their students' emotional and psychological transformation, building character and positive attitudes, training, and encouraging the students to explore and assert their independence, free will, and self-reliance. The Sensei is the architect, engineer, and psychologist in the creation of each individual martial artist. He is also the gardener who weeds out the undesired behaviors and influences, while balancing trust with the student's ego.

Some students may develop over inflated egos, or forget how their teacher guided and encouraged them through their development. However, it is the dedicated, contentious students that find their way back and recognize their teacher's firm helping hand and voice of encouragement. As the student's life shines brighter with greater personal success and rewards, a very unique relationship is forged for life. That of the student and Sensei.

-Ihor Rymaruk

Women, Children, and Seniors Benefit from Karate

In the past, karate had the perception of being a sport for men and adolescents, but the truth is, anyone can practice Uechi-Ryu karate.  It benefits your mind, body, and spirit.

Women and Karate

Women of all ages enjoy studying karate, and are some of our best students and mentors. A complete exercise, with real life application, Uechi-Ryu promotes better health, reduces stress, and builds a total sense of well-being. Increase your confidence, balance, and strength while learning real world self-defense techniques.

Children and Karate

Children age 7 and up are welcome to begin their study of Uechi-Ryu.  Children who take karate benefit from increased concentration, self-discipline, self-confidence, and over all fitness level.  Children who participate another sport such as basketball, football, or wrestling may also see improvements in their performance in those sports as they improve their balance, focus, reaction time, and strength.

Seniors and Karate

People of all ages can practice Uechi-Ryu.  It is a lower impact style of karate that does not focus on jumps, flips, or acrobatics.  We have had students practice well into their 80s and early 90s.  Seniors benefit from balance work, cardiovascular exercise, strength building, and continued mental and social stimulation.

The Style of Uechi-Ryu Karate

Karate is an Asian system of self-defense that utilizes both physical and mental exercises to develop fitness and alertness of mind. Karate originated more than 5,000 years ago. It began in India, developed in China, then traveled many different roads to other countries around the world.

Uechi-Ryu (Way - Chee), a form of Chinese Temple Fighting, based on the Shuu family style, was brought to Okinawa by Kanbun Uechi (1877-1948). During the late 1950s and early 1960s, after Kanbun’s death, his son, Kanei, and a committee of senior students refined and added to Uechi-Ryu. The expansion of the style was based on the core foundations of Kanbun’s teachings.

Uechi-Ryu is a style of karate considered to be hard and soft. This means the practitioner is strong against an enemy, yet possesses calmness and inner confidence balanced with humility. The style consists of three interrelated areas of training:

1. Training of the body- including muscle coordination, balance, strength, speed, and stamina

2. Training of the mind- including intense concentration, awareness, emotional discipline, confidence, and serenity

3. Training in self-defense- including timing, distancing, accurate techniques of blocking and counter-attacking, and psychological principles of fighting

These areas are developed through a series of exercise called 'kata'.  A kata is a series of self-defense movements linked into a dance-like exercise that is practiced until the student has mastered it completely.

Uechi-Ryu stands apart from other martial arts systems in its application of effective, common sense techniques aimed at winning a fight, not in excelling at the "sport" of karate. Uechi-Ryu embodies the spirit of the Dragon, strength of the Tiger, and the grace of the Crane.

Uechi Dojo Code of Ethics (Translated from Japanese)

• Martial arts begins and ends with respect.

• Bow upon entering and leaving the dojo (Training Hall or Gym) to show respect.

• Diligently follow the instruction given by your instructor and your seniors.

• Thoughtless and careless actions such as whistling, singing, and social conversation have no place in the dojo.

• Refrain from engaging another student in idle conversation. Make the best use of time given for your class.

• Practice in a business-like manner. If you need to rest, do so in an area where you will not interfere with another's training.

• Person to person relationship in the dojo must be reinforced by courtesy and respect.

• Always keep your body and your Gi (uniform) clean.

• You are responsible for keeping your conduct under control inside and outside of the dojo.