Instructors

James Pankiewicz

5th dan Matsubayashiryu karatedo (under Arakaki Toshimitsu Hanshi)

Practicing martial arts for 30+ years including Wadoryu karate, Shorinryu karate, Jujitsu and Okinawan kobudo. First came to Japan in 1996 to study Japanese language and martial arts. Completed and won several competitions in kata and kumite in Osaka, Japan.
Opened The DOJO Bar in 2011 in Naha, Okinawa as a place for like-minded local and visiting karateka to meet and share knowledge. Conceived the 100 Kata for Karate Day Challenge event in 2014 to promote the spread of traditional karate practice and connect karateka around the world to Okinawa, the birthplace of karate. 

Becka Tedder

3rd dan Matsubayashiryu karatedo (under Arakaki Toshimitsu Hanshi)

Practicing martial arts for ten years now and karate for 8. I came to Okinawa in 2014 because i wanted to study karate more intensely and become the best i can be, while experiencing the world and other cultures. While living here I was given the opportunity to teach some young children English as a language and learnt such a huge amount in the two years that i did this. Kids learn by doing and playing and having fun and so the idea of the kids karate programme is to create a happy, safe environment where the kids can come to learn practical English while improving fitness and health.