okukan karate melbourne

OKUKAN KARATE MELBOURNE

Shitoryu Karate-Do • Shitokai Dojo

Welcome to OKUKAN.

OKUKAN is a full-time martial arts karate school in Melbourne. Dojo founder, Sensei Sandra Contreras, is a committed, inspired & technical teacher. Karate is Sensei Sandra’s lifelong dedication.

Our mainstream karate school closely adheres to global style-guides provided by our international headquarters, Shitokai-WSKF, led by Kaicho Hanshi Genzo Iwata.

OKUKAN has affiliation to the World Karate Federation via its Australian representative, the Australian Karate Federation (AKF). OKUKAN gives students a chance at learning the very best of karate in Melbourne.

Sensei Sandra teaches dedicated karate classes for adults (five days a week!), and high quality, age-appropriate children’s karate classes. 

karate classes for adults
Learn some karate basics by following along with our animated Karateka at home!

Karate Classes for Adults Melbourne

Are you are total beginner? Welcome! Karate for adults will introduce you to safe combat practice and basic self-defence, and will give you an opportunity to learn generic martial arts principles, as well as some karate terminology.

Our karate classes for adults in Coburg cater to beginners and experienced practitioners alike. It is possible to accelerate learning if that is something you are looking for. Unlimited training is an option. Learn more about karate classes for adults near Coburg (well, in Coburg!).

Youth Karate Classes Melbourne

Karate classes for youth (12-20 year olds)

Our youth karate classes are located close to Brunswick, Preston, Northcote and Pascoe Vale, in the ever evolving suburb of Coburg!

Karate classes for youth are broken into two age groups: 12-15 year olds, and 16yr olds plus. Youth who are attending classes in the dojo and are close finishing high school have the option of Unlimited classes during the week! This helps busy final year high school students have flexibility with their karate class training schedule, and the option to deep dive into more classes when it suits them.

Youth 12-15 years need lots of exercise and love the social aspect of our karate classes. Our youth karate classes offer fast-paced learning, team spirit, and a focus on fitness….with black belt goals in mind. Sparring workshops are available to all youth in our karate classes. Learn more about our karate classes for youth.

youth karate classes Coburg

High quality martial arts karate classes for kids

What are our karate classes like?

OKUKAN dojo delivers genuine modern Japanese karate, in a clean, dedicated and safe environment.

Just for Kicks! is an entry level karate group, where kids learn the basic skills of karate. Kids learn the rituals attached to the martial art of karate, and what discipline is all about, experience short term achievements and socialise (in collaboration).

Seating is provided for parents to watch the class (quietly, of course!). Free parking is provided at our full-time venue (we are surrounded by plenty of free parking) and we’re close to the tram and train too.

karate melbourne

Learn more about our kids karate classes.

Our karate school focuses on the teaching of the Japanese martial art of Shito-Ryu Karate-Do.

Our beautiful style of karate is regularly showcased by current kata and kumite World Champions. Shitoryu is arguably the most popular style for kata competition. Shitoryu Karate is both strong and swift. Did you know that karate is in consideration as an Olympic Sport? Karate was included in Tokyo 2020 and has been included for the Brisbane Olympics 2032.

Shitoryu is highly practical karate, encompassing endless martial art applications for close range and medium range fighting, empty handed. As a Shitoryu practitioner, you are able to dig deep and sure enough, become proficient in combat.

Martial art drills are generally practiced with a partner to mimic a real fight and to improve our response to various attacks under controlled circumstances -or solo – for technical betterment and deeper understanding of the martial art we are learning. In sports karate it is no different.

Karate gives more than self defence skills and fitness: Karate & Self Development.

At a conscious level, the practice of karate is a learning challenge to acquire self-defence skills and better coordination, precision, physical balance, strength, etc. (See karate-related physical capabilities of black belts here). In this sense, karate gives a personal sense of accomplishment for being able to learn demanding skills at executing martial art drills. 

During classes at a less conscious level karate practice challenges attitude and behaviour by promoting a sense of humility, ethics and self discipline –through the role-based dojo structure, the karate environment the dojo provides and daily training. The dojo’s system demands trust and respect toward teachers and among students. New students naturally develop admiration toward assistants and advanced students. Aided by this social structure, training occurs as a result of the karate student’s readiness to learn. Self-development comes as a result of disciplined training and the commitment to continue to learn.

At the subconscious level, karate promotes concentration, internal power, self-awareness and self-knowledge. Students learn to breath, centre themselves, generate strength and meditate in karate. At the beginning and at the end of karate training sessions, students sit.

At an advanced level, karate movements provide the structure to practice meditation in movement. At its best, karate is, as masters say: a way of life.

Our karate school is served by public transport and is connected to safe cycle paths to help reduce CO2 emissions.

Martial Arts Karate in Coburg

More about the location of our karate school–>

Karate Schools Near Me

Located in the ever popular inner city suburb of Coburg, our Melbourne karate school is aptly positioned for ease of access! Come to us on bike, train, tram, car on on foot! Our students come from close by, in Coburg, Preston, Pascoe Vale, Brunswick and Glenroy, amongst many other awesome Melbourne suburbs. We also have students travelling as far away as Collingwood, Keilor East, Kensington, Taylors Lakes and Hawthorn. OKUKAN karate is a high quality karate schools near you! Tap our ‘book a trial’ button at the tope of the page to join us!

Martial Arts Karate vs Taekwondo: differences in two martial arts.

How does Karate differ from Taekwondo?

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art with emphasis in sparring (fighting). The sparring in taekwondo is composed mainly of kicking, with little use of the upper body. Taekwondo incorporates elements of karate and Chinese martial arts, as well as indigenous Korean martial arts and is a young combat sport. The Olympic event for taekwondo is sparring only.

Karate, on the other hand, is a Japanese martial art with a long history. Modern karate is about twice as old as Taekwondo. Karate is composed of both upper and lower body. Sparring in karae is composed of a mix of 50% upper body and 50% lower body. Karate has a larger and more complex kata component, and incorporates 50% kata and 50% sparring. The Olympic events for karate include kata and sparring.

More to come on the history of karate soon….

Karate vs Kung Fu: how do they differ?

Kung Fu is a Chinese martial art that is older than karate. Some karate styles were, at birth, influenced by Kung Fu, but not all karate shows the influence of Chinese martial arts. Karate was developed within the Okinawa Islands. Karate is heavily influenced by Samurai fighting arts from mainland Japan, and Okinawan native fighting practices. Due to exchanges between China and Okinawa (these are delicate matters, as exchanges were not always peaceful), the Okinawan people learned and adopted some fighting principles from their Chinese counterparts.

Today, Japanese karate tends to be more prescriptive and detailed in the practice of kata (for example, in the specificity of the angles of the feet in stances!). In the Dojo, the detailed definition of karate movements is a result of the urge of Senior karate practitioners to technically improve and share quality combat practice.

In sports karate, regulation has responded to a need to comply with IOC standards (International Olympic Committee). Karate is an Olympic sport (a recent and wonderful change) whereas Kung Fu is not an Olympic sport.

okukan karate coburg
OKUKAN Karate Melbourne

Phone:

0490 112 360

Address:

9 Hunt Street, Coburg, Melbourne Australia, 3058

Opening Hours:

Monday to Friday 8:30am to 8:30pm

Saturday 7:00am to 5:00pm

Closed: Sunday and public holidays

Email:

[email protected]

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