ISKF South Shotokan Karate

ISKF South Shotokan Karate is a family oriented training center that welcomes men, women, and children to train in a safe and encouraging environment. It is the Southern Region Headquarters of the INTERNATIONAL SHOTOKAN KARATE FEDERATION (ISKF), one of the largest Shotokan karate organizations in the world, with a membership of 40 countries. The club is continuing the program which is in its eleventh year at the Daphne Recreation Center. The year 2009 was an exciting time which saw students competing and placing in a tournament in New Orleans, LA, sponsored by the Louisiana Traditional Karate League, and the affiliation of the club with ISKF. The coming year will see interested students preparing for competition in the ISKF Regional and National Championships and for attendance at ISKF Master Camp in Greenlane, Pennsylvania, outside Philadelphia.

The instructor, Leon Sill, is a 7^th degree black belt with over 45 years of teaching and competition experience and is the ISKF Southern Region Co-Director and Chief Instructor. He is a graduate of the ISKF Instructor Training Institute, is ranked as an international instructor, examiner, and judge, and is a former Shotokan consultant on the U.S.A. National Karate Federation technical committee, the organization currently tasked with the addition of karate as an Olympic sport. His martial arts background includes several ISKF national individual and team championships, an Armed Forces Karate Association championship, a 1^st place finish in the American Continental Championships in Mexico City, and two top-10 finishes in the World Karate Championships in Tokyo, Japan. He is taking over the reins as chief instructor of the club from Sensei Darlene Collins and thanks her for her untiring work in reorganizing the club for the last four years and for establishing the children’s classes, as they are the future of karate.

Shotokan Karate is a great way for you to learn self defense while getting in shape. It has been proven that a person’s discipline and self-confidence increases with the practice of the martial arts. Classes are held at the Daphne Recreation Center. We offer classes for children and adult beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced classes. Classes are divided by age group but still allow parents to participate with their kids. We have several parents learning karate with their children. It is a valuable activity whether you are interested in sport competition, discipline and concentration, or just good exercise. The club is a direct descendant of the original school established by karate’s founder, Gichin Funakoshi, whose aim in karate was the development of character.