Summer 2010 Semester
Location: 106 White Building
| Workout Day | Time |
|---|---|
| Sunday | TBA/Variable |
| Tuesday | 6-8 PM |
| Thursday | 6-8 PM |
The Penn State Karate Club (PSKC) is the oldest university-based martial arts program in the U.S. It has been an active part of the Penn State University experience for over 36 years. Founding member Master Dane Sutton, 8th Dan, is presently the head instructor and a club advisor. While at Penn State, Kiyoshigo (Master Instructor) Sutton, has taught Karate to more than 7,000 PSU students and promoted more than 250 Karate Club members to Black Belt. Many of these Black Belts have gone on to establish their own schools or are instructing for law enforcement agencies or the U.S. military. In June of 2007, Okinawan Grandmaster Kichiro Shimabuku presented Kiyoshigo Sutton with a special award for his extraordinary accomplishments and dedication to Isshinryu Karate.
The PSKC promotes physical fitness, self-defense, leadership, and cultural exchange through the practice of traditional Okinawan Karate. The club is recognized worldwide for the quality of its training and has won top team honors at several World Championships. Several times in its history, the PSKC has been rated as the top school out of more than 850 such schools worldwide. Okinawan masters have frequently visited the club to provide instruction in the martial arts and culture of Okinawa. Recent visitors include Grand Master Kichiro Shimabuku, Grand Master Angi Uezu, and Master Tsuyoshi Uechi.
In addition to fitness and self-defense, the club promotes academic excellence, teamwork, diversity, and cultural exchange. The membership includes a diversity of students from throughout both the U.S. and the world. A true diversity of backgrounds, ethnic origins, and political and religious affiliations is represented. It is a model for those who wish to learn about goal setting and cooperative effort to achieve success. The effectiveness of this training is seen not just in the many tournament victories but also in the academic and professional achievements of thousands of PSKC alumni.
The Penn State Karate Club is a student-run sports club sanctioned by Penn State. Membership in the club is open to all Penn State students, faculty, staff and local residents. No previous martial arts experience is necessary. Classes meet three times a week from 7:00-9:00 PM in 106 White Building on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. In addition to self-defense and fitness, training includes non-violent conflict resolution.
Isshinryu, developed in the 1950s by Tatsuo Shimabuku, is translated as "One Heart Way." It is a synthesis of two other Okinawan styles, Shorin-ryu and Goju-ryu. American soldiers stationed in Okinawa after the second world war studied with Master Shimabuku and brought the style back to the United States.
Isshinryu emphasizes upright stances and snapping techniques. The punches in Isshinryu are thrown with a vertical fist in which the thumb is placed on the top of the hand, instead of along the side. After completing the punch, the arm is not left at full extension, but retracts slightly.