The Shotokan Karate Club at the University of Washington is focused on teaching Shotokan Karate and fostering an understanding of budo amongst its members. We meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings through the entire year. The Shotokan Karate Club and Shotokan Karate Sports and Fitness Classes at the UW are two interlinked groups.

Shotokan Karate at the UW is associated with Shotokan Karate of America (SKA). We are a national nonprofit karate organization - and the oldest karate organization in the US. This dojo, and the organization as a whole, emphasizes a traditional approach to karate-do with focus on effective techniques, analysis of situations and applications, and development of the inner self through hard practice. We do not emphasize `sport karate' and `winning in tournaments'. Instead, we emphasize realism within the context of karate, which is mostly the subset of martial arts that involves striking blows to your opponent (as opposed to throwing and grappling).

There are three other affiliated dojos in the Seattle area including North Seattle dojo, South King County dojo, and Bainbridge Island dojo. You must be affiliated with the University of Washington (either student, staff or faculty) in order to practice at the UW dojo.

Joining the Club: The usual route for someone interested in Shotokan Karate at the UW is to take the Sports and Fitness Class by signing up through the IMA at the start of every Fall, Winter and Spring quarter. Please visit the IMA Sports and Fitness Program page for more details. These classes are 12 to 14 lesson introductory classes that teach the basic forms and moves, a simple kata (a series of moves linked together) and some basic types of sparring. Fees are $35 payable to the UW upon registration.

Students completing the Sports and Fitness Class can sign up to join the Shotokan Karate Club. Dues are $20 per quarter, plus $50-75 per year if you join the national organization.

Meeting Times and Location: The Club and Class meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:30 pm. The Sports and Fitness Class meets for one hour and the Club continues on for a second hour. Practice location varies over quarters, and is currently Studio 111A of the IMA building in southeast UW campus. NOTE: there is also a separate black belt / brown belt practice (not at the UW) for SKA members Sundays at 10:00 am.

Visit Us: If you are a UW student/staff/faculty or an SKA member, and would like to visit us, please contact Dylan Helliwell, , ph. (206) 296-5925, and/or stop by before class on Tuesday or Thursday evening.