Karate from it's birthplace.
Karate comes from Okinawa, Japan. Even today the Okinawans quietly maintain their cultural independence from mainland Japan. Karate can trace it's roots back 400 years in Okinawa. Mainland Japan adopted karate in the 1920's.
Karate was developed for the average person to use for self defense. Shorin Ryu Karate was the gold standard for the Okinawa police. There are three Main Schools of Okinawan Karate: Shorin Ryu, Gojo Ryu, and Uechi Ryu.
Karate practitioners train to be physically strong and tenaciously efficient fighters. The only real secret in karate is that, in order to achieve this, you must master yourself. Karate practitioners are a benefit to their communities, because being a good person is the most efficient and effective self-defense technique.
Okinawan karate has proven to be one of the most complete systems because it includes hand and foot striking combined with grappling, and is a system that can be practiced well into your advanced years. Okinawan karate is a life-long endeavor.
Bernie Kelly has been training in martial arts for over 40 years. He also has national and international wrestling experience. Kelly currently holds a Godan (5th degree black belt) in Shorin Ryu Karate and a Sandan (3nd Degree black belt) in Kobudo (weapons). Teaching martial arts opened a path to an award winning public teaching career that lasted over 20 years.
INSTRUCTOR
Sensei Bernie Kelly, 5th Dan
Cottonwood, CA
