SEIWA KAI was established by Hanshi (Grand Master) Shuji Tasaki (8^th dan),  senior instructor in the Yamaguchi dojo in Tokyo during the 1960’s. SEIWA KAI currently operates in over 50 countries.

SEIWA KAI President and Chief Instructor

Grand Master Shuji Tasaki (8^th dan)

SEIWA KAI North America Chief Instructor
Isao Yabunaka, 7th dan Kyoshi
Shihan Isao Yabunaka began studying karate  in the early 1960’s with Hanshi Gogen Yamaguchi who brought  Chojun Miyagi’s Goju Ryu from Okinawa to Japan. In 1971, Shihan Yabunaka became affiliated with Seiwa Kai and founded  the North America branch  in 1972 . Seiwa-Kai North America is also affiliated to the JKF Goju-Kai Japan. 

Instructors Honbu Dojo Ingersoll

Shihan Isao Yabunaka - Chief Instructor 7th dan

Shihan Mark Pridham - 5th dan

Sadie Bennett  - Assistant Instructor 3rd dan Shidoin

Alexander David - Assistant Instructor 3rd dan Shidoin

GOJU Ryu
The meaning of goju is derived from two contrasting terms - go (meaning hard) and ju (soft).  Goju incorporates a mixtures of hard and soft techniques, making it a unique and effective style of karate.

SEIWA KAI
Was established by Hanshi (Grand Master) Shuji Tasaki (8yh dan) and currently operates in over 50 countries.  Chief Instructoe Isao Yabunaka 7th dan Kyoshi North America branch was founded in 1972 by Shihan Isao Yabunaka, 7th dan, Kyoshi (Master Instructor).  With over thirty five years teaching experience, Shihan Yabunaka is Chief Instructor of the Seiwa Kai in North America.

Benefits of Karate training 

RESPECT
In the dojo (training hall) every student and teacher alike must show courtesy to one another.  It is this courtesy that is not, however, limited to just the dojo but should be part of all karate students nature.  A student of karate must learn courtesy and respect for for themselves, their martial art, their fellow students, seniors and teachers.  This extends beyond the training hall (dojo).  Karate is not just  a mastery of the skills they are taught but of developing into a good honest member of society.  A courteous person will find it easy to make friends and difficult to make enemies.  Generally a considerate and courteous student will be more positive in their outlook.

CONFIDENCE
Perhaps what could be described as a "fighting spirit" to be applied to all adversities in life.  This is real 21st century self-defense.  The ability to (not easily) have your spirit broken.  In addition to the life protection benefits, karate training is recognized as one of the best activities for improving self-esteem, discipline, confidence and physical abilities.  Families are also finding that practicing karate together fosters strong family relationships through mutual interest and quality time spent together.  General confidence and overall well being is consistently better as well as a deeper determination to accomplish personal and professional goals.

DISCIPLINE
Karate is a very disciplined martial art.  The true opponent to overcome is yourself.  Through dedicated karate training the student learns to overcome personal weakness for the purpose of achieving some goal. _ which carries over to the student's everyday life - feeling good about yourself and your accomplishments.

PHYSICAL FITNESS
There are proven mental and physical health benefits of karate.  A karate student will undoubtedly develop, in time, a stronger body and a more positive frame of mind.  Karate offers something for everyone, whether seeking the ancient knowledge and spirit of karate or seeking fitness, health and peace of mind, that karate training instills.

Karate Competition

Consists of two events: Kata, which is performed individually or in a team, and Kumite, which is a combative event between two competitors.  In the Kata event, competitors perform a series of offensive karate techniques against imaginary opponents, marked by a panel of judges.  Techniques are expected to be performed with proper timing, distance, power, balance and speed.  Within the philosophy of karate, each technique stems from an idea, so judges are also looking for the expression of that idea in the way a technique is performed.  Kata consists of two parts - the "Shitei," or compulsory exercises, and "Tokui," which is a free selection of techniques.

A Kumite bout lasts three minutes for men and two minutes for woman, during which combatants try to dominate each other using a free combination of karate techniques.  Points are scored when a technique is applied to an opponent vigorously and with precision and good form.  Depending on the technique and the way it is executed, judges award sanbon (three points), nihon (two points) or ippon (one point).  The outcome of a bout is determined when a combatant has an eight-point advantage over the opponent or, once the time has elasped, one of the karatekas has a point lead.  If the combatants are tied, the bout goes into sudden death overtime in which the first athlete to score a point wins.