Interested in trying an authentic martial art with deep cultural roots? Searching for a fun, healthy activity for your entire family? Or are you an experienced karate practitioner looking for a new dojo?
Welcome to the Maryknoll Shotokan Karate Club!
We are a not-for-profit karate dojo that has existed for over 60 years with a direct lineage to Master Funakoshi, the father of modern karate. Our bi-annual fees are low so that everyone can afford to train and grow in an authentic traditional Japanese martial art.
While we encourage you to explore this website, the best way to learn about what we do, and how practice can enrich your life, is to come in and experience one of our practices. You can observe and see if karate is for you. Ohshima Sensei always said, “be strict to yourself” and we welcome everyone ages 10 and up to join our practice and polish ourselves to become better people together!
Practice Times
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7:30pm – 9pm
(Doors open at 7:15pm for floor cleaning and practice starts at 7:30pm)
Saturdays: 8:30am – 10am
Location: St. Francis Xavier Chapel Japanese Catholic Center (formerly Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center), 222 S. Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
The entrance is on 3rd Street, two blocks east of Alameda Street in Little Tokyo.)
We’ve practiced here since 1963, and while not religiously affiliated, we support the center and bolster local community in return for the gracious continued use of our dojo floor.
For more information, please see our Practice Schedule page. If you’d like to read more about the origins of our over 60 years of practice, explore Our History.
Traditional Martial Arts
Maryknoll Karate Club belongs to Shotokan Karate of America (SKA), a national nonprofit karate-do organization continuing the teachings of Tsutomu Ohshima. As a traditional karate organization, SKA has only three belts (white, brown, and black), and the highest level is Godan (5th degree). This was the highest degree of black belt ever bestowed by Master Funakoshi to Ohshima Sensei. Our lead instructors at Maryknoll Dojo are senior blackbelts of Godan level who have trained for decades and completed many special trainings. They receive no compensation, and teach out of a duty and desire to pass on the skills that were taught to them by Ohshima Sensei.
Because of our strong resolve to offer high-quality martial arts to the public, we have remained non-commercial and not-for-profit. Bi-annual local dojo dues are $150, and membership fees for SKA are paid annually at $125 ($250 for black belts). There are no fees for kyu testing.