Welcome to Kaizen Shotokan Karate

Training in karate teaches us not only self-defense but, to respect others as well as ourselves. We train our body to be strong, and our mind and spirit to be patient, in order to become the best human beings we can be. Karate is a spiritual endeavor, a way to develop a person as an individual. Everything we learn in the dojo, or training hall, should be applied to everyday life. Karate training is not always easy.

Often times it can be very difficult and demanding. This is also true of life. If we can overcome obstacles in our training, it enables us to have strong character to do the same in our everyday lives.

Kaizen (Japanese for "improvement" or "change for the better") refers to philosophy or practices that focus upon continuous improvement. In Japan, Kaizen is a system of improvement that includes both home and business life. It even includes social activities and is a concept that is applied in every aspect of a person's life.

Instructors

Steve Harvey - Chief Instructor, 5th dan

Steve was born in Islington, London and started practicing Wado-ryu under Tatsuo Suzuki Hanshi at the Sobell Center in Holloway in 1977.

For various reasons he gave up martial arts until 1998 when he started in Shotokan at the Central Milton Keynes Shotokan Club in 1998 under Senseis' Lawrence Elcock and Brian Owen. He has also studied other styles including Judo, Kyokushinkai, Shukokai and Jiu-Jitsu. In October 2001, Steve moved to Springfield, Illinois to marry Cheryl, and started training at the Shotokan Karate Club of Pawnee. After training and teaching there for 9 years, he decided in October of 2010 that it was the right time to open his own club.

Steve has attended many seminars both in the UK and in the US, with some of the top instructors in the karate world including; Sensei's Ronnie Christopher, Malcolm Phipps, Richard Amos, John Mullin, Fred Serricchio, Scott Langley & Sean Roberts (Shotokan), Paul Coleman (Goju-ryu), Tatsuo Suzuki and Fumio Sagusawa (Wado-ryu), Akio Minakami (Shito-ryu), J.D. Swanson, Wayne Cottle, David Gimberline and Bill (Superfoot) Wallace.

Always willing to learn new things, he continues to attend and host training seminars and has a wide interest in continuing to explore Shotokan karate and the philosophy behind it.

Learn more about what we do

Getting started

Getting started in karate is as easy as turning up and watching a lesson. If you haven't done a martial art before it can seem quite a daunting prospect with all those people running around shouting and making funny noises. It can really make you wonder what's going on.
I have said to many a new student, "In three to six months, you'll look back and wonder what all the fuss was about".
Obviously, karate is not that simple - you get out of it only what you put in.

Initially, you can wear loose comfortable clothing, such as a top and track suit bottoms. Eventually you will need a Gi (karate uniform) which can be purchased through the club. Shotokan is for people of all ages and abilities, as not everyone can leap tall buildings at a single bound and smash through walls.

We all learn at different rates and have different physical abilities. The physical and mental benefits of doing a martial arts is well known.

Some of these benefits are:
Improved reflexes and coordination Increased performance in all physical activities Increased strength and stamina so you feel great all day Increased flexibility and weight control for better overall fitness Cardiovascular workouts ( heart and lungs ) to keep you in top shape Greatly improved balance Ability to defend yourself Those who follow Karate-do must never forsake a humble mind and gentle manner. The tremendous offensive and defensive power of Karate-do is well known, where one can defeat enemies with a single attack.
The value of the art depends on one's application. If the application is for a good purpose, then the art is of great value, but if it is misused, then there is no more harmful art than karate. One who truly trains in the art of Karate-do is never easily drawn into a fight. Karate is to be used only in those rare occasions in which one must really defend one's self.
An ordinary person experiences this situation possibly once in a lifetime, and therefore may only have occasion to use karate techniques only once, or not at all. In Karate-do, one's individual goal might be improvement of his or her health or training of his or her body to function efficiently.
One might wish to develop total body strength and co-ordination, or to attain poise and spiritual fortitude.

One who trains in Karate-do strives internally to train his or her mind to develop a clear conscience enabling him or her to face the world truthfully, while externally developing strength.

Dojo Closings

Make a note...

February 13, 2024

Lincolns's Birthday

May 29, 2024

Memorial Day

July 4, 2024

Independence Day