KodoKai:About
From KodoKai
Contents |
Background
The Kodo School of Karate is an independent martial arts organization that is not affiliated with any national or international associations. Our style is grounded in the age-old tradition of masters sharing insights and techniques with other masters, and then passing on what they have learned to others.
Our art is shaped by ancient and modern masters, such as Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) who founded Shotokan, Hironori Otsuka (1892-1982) who founded Wado Ryu, and their teacher, Yatsune Itosu (1830-1916) who practiced Shuri-Te. In more recent times, our style can be directly traced to masters, such as Masaru Shintani (1926-2000) who founded Wado Kai, Willem Reeders (approx. 1920 – 1990) who passed down the Indonesian art of Kuntao, Gerard Durant (1923-1991) who created the Goshin Jutsu System, and Robert Trias (1922-1989) who founded the American Shorei Goju Ryu system.
Modern masters, such as Kevin Meisner, David Salyards, Thomas Handest, and William Ting, personally influenced Senseis Merrick and Traci Rosenberg, the Head Instructors of the Kodo School of Karate. Senseis Merrick and Traci Rosenberg are Fourth Degree Black Belts and have been teaching the martial arts since 1987.
Kodo Kai
The name of our organization honors our ancient lineage. “Ko” translates to “old or ancient,” while “do” means “way or path.” “Kai” translates to “school or assembly.”
The symbols (kanji) on our uniforms (gi) states Kodo Kai, which means School of the Ancient Ways or School of the Old Road. In either case, just as Sensei means “one who comes before,” we pay reverence to the ancient masters and the great wisdom that they passed down through the martial arts traditions and techniques.
What style is it?
The moment that you name something, you place boundaries around it and limit it’s potential. Therefore, we do not practice under the umbrella of any particular style name and we simply say that we practice Karate. Yet, even that is limiting, as the word, “Karate” literally means, “empty hand.” Thus stating that we study Karate does not technically include the various Japanese weapons that we utilize, such as the bo staff and sai. Nor does it include other weapons that we embrace, such as the Philipino art of Escrima. Also, Karate as a description of our art does not pay tribute to the influence exerted by Tai Chi and other styles.
In the end, when asked, “What style do you practice?” we simply answer, “We practice a martial art that generally originated in Okinawa and thus we honor the traditions of Karate. However, our ‘style,’ has been influenced by masters of various arts.”
Our Mission
The Kodo School of Karate helps children, adults, and entire families to gain the benefits of karate in a truly supportive environment. Our purpose is to help individuals strengthen the body, focus the mind, and energize the spirit as they learn the deeper spiritual lessons that have been passed down by karate masters through the generations.
