Over a century ago, in the small village of Chan, on a small island in the south pacific, a boy was born. One day he would become a Karate Master whose art would reach beyond the shores of Okinawa and spread across the globe.
“Dragon Man” of Isshin Ryu, Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei
(September 19, 1908 – May 30, 1975)
The Penn State Karate Club will meet in room 232 HUB on Saturdays from 4-6PM (starting 9/20/25) instead of Fridays. There will be no Friday meeting tonight (9/19/25).
232 HUB is on the Student Book Store side of the building, 2 floors above the WPSU radio booth.
PSKC will still meet on Wednesdays & Sundays from 7-9PM on the HUB lawn. If weather is poor, meet inside by the Student Book Store entrance, on the lower level.
Look for the Penn State Karate Club at the Student Involvement Fair. The event is one of the best opportunities to get involved in campus life at Penn State. Student Organizations set up displays and have members on site talk to visitors one on one about what their organization does on campus. Involvement in co-curricular experiences is one of the most important parts of having a successful college career! You will make friends, learn all about Penn State, and develop invaluable skills you will use in life beyond Penn State. Wondering where to start? Start at the Involvement Fair! Look for the Penn State Karate Club table!
September 2nd
2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
HUB Robeson Center Lawn
Karate will kick off the fall semester with HUB Lawn classes at 7PM on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The HUB room 232 scheduled will be announced in the coming weeks.
New students welcome. No previous experience required.
Enjoy the July 4th holiday with family and friends. We will not have Karate on Friday the 4th.
If you are in town, check out the great local 4th Fest activities and fireworks display:
https://www.centralpa4thfest.org/
Room 232 HUB is now available for Sunday Karate at 7PM.
During the warmer summer days, it’s more important than ever to stay hydrated throughout the day. Wednesdays & Fridays will still be on the HUB lawn, or inside by the bookstore as weather dictates.
Annual Paterno Family Beaver Stadium 5K, supporting Special Olympics Pennsylvania
On April 6th, the Penn State Karate Club gave demonstrations at the Penn State Japanese Friendship Association’s annual Matsuri, spring festival.
At the conclusion of our demonstration, brave audience members joined us on stage to learn Fukyugata Dai Ichi. A kata created by Master Shoshin Nagamine as an introductory form to help promote Karate to others. We also teach Fukyugata Ni, created by Master Chojun Miyagi.
Thank you to the members of the JFA for all your work organizing this great event and inviting the PSKC to be part of it again.
Building success beyond the dojo | An inside look at the Penn State Karate Club
by Andy Ly | The Daily Collegian Feb 10, 2025
https://www.psucollegian.com/sports/building-success-beyond-the-dojo-an-inside-look-at-the-penn-state-karate-club/article_1c501f08-e752-11ef-902c-6b6882520256.html
January 15th is a day of great significance.
The ソグワチグワ Soguwachiguwa was a 3 day celebration beginning with the full moon in January. Okinawans would pay tribute to 歳徳神 Toshitokujin, a Shinto Kami of agriculture, seeking good fortune for their crops in the coming year. When the Gregorian Calendar was adopted, January 15th became the day that Soguwachiguwa was observed.
In 1956 on the occasion of ソグワチグワ Soguwachiguwa (Okinawan dialect) / 小正月 Koshogatsu (Japanese), the Little New Year, Master Shimabuku called a special meeting at his home & dojo in Chan village to announce a new name for his unique style of Okinawan Karate. Previously, his style had been called as Chan Migwa Te (in the late 40s) and later Su Nu Su (early 50s). He chose “Isshin Ryu” because “all things begin with one, and the heart is the most important part. Isshin Ryu is the One Heart Way/Method.
Traditionally, the Coming Of Age Day, Seijin-no-Hi, was also celebrated on January 15th. It’s the mark of entering adulthood. You could say that Master Shimabuku’s Karate entered its adulthood at this time and emerged as Isshin Ryu Karate.
In the USA, we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his beliefs in equality on January 15th. Master Shimabuku was progressive in his time as well. He would teach anyone his art as long as they were genuinely interested and of good heart, man or woman, any race or creed.
Like an Okinawan Hibiscus, Master Shimabuku’s Karate bloomed as “Isshin Ryu” on that January day in 1956. Seeds of Isshin Ryu have since been carried on the winds across the oceans and around the globe.
In January of 1972, Sensei Sutton planted one of those seeds at Penn State and established the Penn State Karate Club. With help from Sensei Dorow & Sensei Liskai, PSKC developed strong roots.
