Itosu-Kai Karatedo of Japan - Panania Dojo is a sports club located in Sydney that offers traditional Japanese karate and modern sports karate classes. The focus of their style is on the mastery of kata (form), which encompasses the fundamentals of self-defence and sparring techniques. Practising karate-do at Itosu-Kai brings many benefits to practitioners of all ages, including increased confidence, self-esteem, coordination, and resilience.
The Itosu-Kai branch in Australia has been in existence for over three decades, thanks to their highly qualified and experienced teachers who prioritise safety and enjoyment in their classes. They understand that new members may feel uncertain and overwhelmed at first, but they reassure them that they will soon feel at ease as they make friends and learn the basics of karate-do.
Above all, Itosu-Kai believes that karate-do is character building and places great importance on respect. They aim to instil this value in their students, fostering the development of friendships, physical fitness, and spiritual strength. As practitioners progress in their mastery of Itosu-ryu karate, they will find themselves humbly serving humanity, fulfilling their purpose with courage and compassion.
The history of Itosu-ryu Karate-do traces back to Sensei Anko Itosu in the Edo era of Japan. Sensei Itosu reorganised the self-defence technique known as “Karate-Jitsu” and adapted it for physical education, with a focus on character building and physical exercise. He also created numerous kata, including the widely practised Pinan Kata. Sensei Kenwa Mabuni, Sensei Itosu's senior student, learned the kata most accurately and succeeded him, becoming the 2nd Soke of the Itosu-ha.
O'Sensei Ryusho Sakagami, who studied Shito-ryu under Sensei Mabuni, became the 3rd Soke of the Itosu-ha and later changed the official name to “Itosu-ryu” to distinguish it from Shito-ryu. Sensei Sadaaki Sakagami, the first son of O’Sensei Sakagami, succeeded his father as the 4th Itosu-ryu Soke. He is highly regarded in the karate community, holding the prestigious 9th Dan ranking awarded by the Japan Karate-do Rengokai. Sensei Sadaaki Sakagami is the Chairperson of the Japan Karate-do Federation (JKF) Central Technical Committee and President of the Nihon Karatedo Rengokai.
Itosu-Kai Karatedo of Japan - Panania Dojo invites individuals to embark on a journey of friendship, physical fitness, and spiritual strength through the practise of Itosu-ryu Karate-do. They eagerly look forward to welcoming new members and fostering their growth and development in this ancient and honourable art.