Kansai Karate Academy is a well-established martial arts organisation located in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1993 by Stephen Kelly, Kansai Karate is part of the worldwide Shito-ryu Shukokai World Karate Union, which was established by the founder of Shito-ryu Shukokai, Sensei Tani. With a reputation as one of the leading martial arts organisations in Queensland, Kansai Karate has won the Quest Newspaper Business Achiever of the Year for Fitness and Sport multiple times.
Kansai Karate offers a range of programmes and classes for all ages and skill levels. The academy operates a fully-equipped, professional, full-time dojo in Sumner Park, as well as satellite dojos in Clayfield, Moggill, Springfield, and the Gold Coast. The Sumner Park dojo, which serves as the Queensland Honbu (Headquarters), features state-of-the-art facilities, including jigsaw safety mats, kick bags, mirrors, a TV/video system, and a parents/spectators air-conditioned viewing room.
As a full-time professional dojo, Kansai Karate provides a safe and supportive training environment for students to train six days a week, Monday to Saturday. The academy also has a speciality karate retail outlet that carries popular brands such as Shureido, Adidas, and SportsMaster.
Leading the academy is Chief Instructor Shihan Stephen Kelly, an 8th Dan Kyoshi with over 40 years of training and teaching experience. Shihan Stephen is a multiple State and 4 times National Champion, having won medals at five World Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Championships. He is also the Oceania Chief Instructor of the Shito-ryu Shukokai Karate Union and has trained exclusively with the founder of Shito-ryu Shukokai, Sensei Tani, and Sensei Yamada.
Shihan Stephen is not only an accomplished practitioner but also an elite karate coach. He has had the opportunity to train with some of the world's top Karate Coaches, including Ticky Donovan, Antonio Oliva, Sakamoto, and Francis Didia. In recognition of his coaching skills, Shihan Stephen and his Kansai Karate have been awarded the Queensland Karate Club of the Year multiple times. He has also received prestigious awards such as the Queensland Karate Associations overall kata competitor of the year and the National Sports Star Award for Kata from the Australian Karate Federation.
Kansai Karate Academy welcomes individuals of all ages and backgrounds to join their programmes. From age-specific classes for Kansai Cubs starting at 3 years old to adults looking to keep fit and learn self-defence, there is something for everyone at Kansai Karate. Whether aiming to compete at a high level or simply wanting to improve physical fitness and mental discipline, Kansai Karate's experienced instructors and state-of-the-art facilities provide the ideal environment for growth and development in martial arts.