Please note we are currently teaching from our private home dojo (see note below).
Classes are by appointment only.
At the top of our crest and "keikogi" patch, we have the kanji for Ryukyu Karate Jutsu (琉球空手術), Ryukyu is the old name for Okinawa, prior to its annexation by Japan in the late 1870's and it is used to represent that our karate is based upon old-school, "Koryu" (古流) tradition and practices. ". The term "Jutsu" [術] means method or art.
Next we have the Okinawa "Shisa". Traditional guardian statues from Okinawan culture, a blend of Japanese, Chinese, and Southeast Asian influences. The Shisa is a combination of a lion and a dog, and it is believed to have the ability to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune. Commonly seen in pairs, with one statue having its mouth open to expel evil spirits, and the other with its mouth closed to retain good spirits. The Shisa is a beloved and iconic symbol of Okinawan folklore and is deeply embedded in the cultural identity of the region.
The outer gold ring is chosen to represent a closed "Enso" (円相), with no beginning and no end. Enso a Japanese word meaning “circle” and a concept strongly associated with Zen. It symbolizes a moment when the mind is free enough to simply let the body or spirit create. We use it to symbolize growth, development in our training and the struggle for perfection, which is never realized.
We use the red outer section with the five raised parts to represent the five sections of the “Oda Mon” of Oda Nobunaga, 16th century warlord, often regarded as ‘the first great unifier.’ Our interpretation is the unification of the martial arts of Okinawa.
Contained within our logo in the center, is the red "hidari-gomon", the symbol that is synonymous with Okinawan karate worldwide and the original coat-of-arms of the Royal Sho Family of Ryukyu, symbolizing the roots of our karate, Okinawa, with the name of our association placed below.
The color red, or “aka”, is very popular in Japan. Many shrines and temples are red, and has a very ancient meaning, seen as a way to scare away evil spirits, and also symbolizing peace and the prosperity of the family. The color red can also be seen on the Okinawan and Japanese flags. We have the name for our karate below, "Ryukyu Karate Jutsu" placed below.
The name of our Dojo, the SHURI DOJO, is hugely significant within the traditional martial art of karate from Okinawa. (Note that we do NOT practice the modern Shuri-Ryu karate)
Karate, originally developed on the small island of Okinawa, was the birth place of much of the karate we see today. However, with karate being introduced to the mainland of Japan in the late 1920's, much of what we see as karate today is not the original "old ways" (Koryu) karate. Formerly known as "Tode" or "Ti". Today most karate schools teach a modern sport orientated karate, with much of the original techniques removed or at least unrelated to any form of self-defence. To most dojo the kata are seen as a way to pass an exam and obtain the next belt, rather than the complete self-protection system that are the classical kata with the effective techniques contained within them.
Many karate masters of the time originated from the small village of SHURI and many of its exponents called their system of karate, SHURITE (literally - hand of SHURI).
At the time most of the karate on the island of Okinawa was of the "Koryu" (old ways) school of training. The kata and techniques were developed to protect their lives in an uncertain and often dangerous environment. The SHURI DOJO is dedicated to promoting and preserving these "old ways".
We do not accept all applications for membership. Our dojo follows the older Okinawan tradition of training from a small home based dojo. We have a selective student intake on a periodic basis. Traditional training is typically limited to small, dedicated groups of students, who are seeking to achieve a high level of disciplined, skills and values. Therefore preserving the culture and foundation of our art.
Note for experienced martial artists: This is a private dojo that is not open to visitors without first gaining permission to train. The dojo exists to take beginners from white belt onwards. It does not cater to experienced martial artists looking for one-off training or transferring from another style.
