Central Illinois Shotokan Karate

Central Illinois Shotokan Karate Traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate-Do We teach authentic Japanese karate classes, year-round, in a traditional karate training atmosphere.

Karate is an "empty-hand" weaponless martial art. Students learn defensive techniques such as blocking, punching, and kicking, evasion tactics, and much more. Students also learn some of the Japanese vocabulary and cultural aspects associated with karate. Classes are conducted in a safe and formal manner, stressing the courtesy and mutual respect of true traditional karate classes.

09/15/2026

Another great start to the week last night at the Mapleton dojo. After warm ups we jumped right into kihon (basic technique). Several passes across the gym and back with lunge punches, front kicks, downward blocks, rising blocks, outside blocks, and inside blocks. Then we paired up to actually apply these techniques with a partner. One side attacking while the other side applied the appropriate corresponding basic block across the gym and back. Great job by everyone! More of the same is on tap for Wednesday 😉.
❤️‍🔥🥋❤️‍🔥🤜🏻❤️‍🔥

09/05/2026

Saturday morning breakfast club. Nice and hot in the gym this morning for 2 hours of kata. All kata done 2-3 times at approx 1/2 speed. Focus was on controlled movement, deep stance, proper use of hips. Half speed to facilitate, maintain positional control and produce force. The additional time also gives more opportunity to reinforce precise movement patterns and hip mechanics. Katas included Tiekyoko, all 5 Heians, all three Tekki, the basic 7 black belt kata - Basai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi, Jion, Hangetsu, Gankaku, Jitte and then advanced blak belt katas Meikyo, Chinte and Sochin.

09/03/2026

Tonight at the Mapleton dojo it was interception part 2. After warm ups it was right into review mode - one time attack drills with block/counter for Go No Sen. Then for Sen No Sen review using the “touch drill” - partner A executes lunge punch. Partner B, as soon as movement is recognized moves in quickly, and taps their shoulder with front hand before partner A gets to the half way point of their step. Took a few minutes to introduce and explain Sen Sen No Sen. The right into more partner drills. Recognizing intent - Both partners sparing stance. Attacker makes intent movement (arm tightens, foot shuffles forward or turns out, in breath, etc.) and partner B executes gyaku-zuki. Next drill was the same only attacker could make non-intent movement (pull front foot away, scratch arm, etc) and defender was to only attack an intent movement. Then with both in sparing stance attacker could feint or attack. Defender could only attack the attack if it was an attack. Wrapped up the night with attacker could attack or feint. If the defender reacted the attacker then fully attacked based on intent (sen sen no sen) or actual movement (sen no sen). Rotated partners a lot tonight to make things interesting. Great job all !! Next up Saturday Morning Breakfast Club.

Great training last night and more coming tomorrow at the PEKIN YWCA. Basics kata, sparring combinations and partner tra...
09/02/2026

Great training last night and more coming tomorrow at the PEKIN YWCA. Basics kata, sparring combinations and partner training. Tomorrow continuing with kata and kumite again!

So tonight at the Mapleton dojo the topic was interception. Started off with several sets (and switching partners) of jo...
09/01/2026

So tonight at the Mapleton dojo the topic was interception. Started off with several sets (and switching partners) of jodan attack/block counter and chudan attack/block counter. Took a few minutes to explain that this typical kumite represents the concept of Go No Sen - dealing with the attack after it has developed. Next a couple more partner drills. Partner A starts a lunge punch attack - partner B, as soon as movement is recognized, just steps to the side. Then repeated same drill but partner B tells partner A what movement they saw that made them move. Next drill Partner A performs same attack. Partner B, as soon as movement is recognized moves in quickly, and taps their shoulder with front hand before partner A gets to the half way point of their step. So we were now working on Sen No Sen. Last drill of the night: partner A step in jodan lunge punch. Partner B shuffle forward and to the side while executing gyaku-zuki. Lots of rotating partners through out the evening to learn movement identification on various partners. Great job everyone. Wednesday will be interception part II.

08/27/2026

This week at the Mapleton dojo our focus has been on hip rotation and Sensei Dennis was our instructor. Monday we worked mostly on using hip rotation mainly for reverse punching. We started with some stationary hip rotation using the coiled rear leg to drive the hips forward from a half front facing position. We used everything from broom handles to hand targets for our reverse punching.
Tonight after a quick review of Monday nights highlights we began using more hip rotation to snap and strengthening our basic blocks. Lots of reps for each of the 4 basic blocks before pairing up to work our blocks against our partners punches. Thanks for a great week of training Sensei Dennis!
❤️‍🔥🥋❤️‍🔥💯❤️‍🔥

08/22/2026

Saturday Morning Breakfast Club workout was a continuation of this weeks training for hip vibration. Basic syllabus techniques across the floor for about 45 minutes, slow, focus on stance and hip vibration as applicable. Some visual ques then led us to working on posture during movement and the finish of the technique. Proper posture allowing better hip movement, be it rotation or vibration. Last segment of the class, we worked on Unsu and Nijushiho kata's - slow for those learning them and focus on stance, posture and hip action (rotation, vibration as applicable per technique). Good physical and mental workout this a.m.!!

08/20/2026

Hip vibration part 2 was the topic of tonights class at the Mapleton dojo taught by Sensei Jennings. Started out by going through all 5 Heian Kata and Tekki Shodan, slow to 1/2 speed, with mental focus on what techniques we do or could use hip vibration. Some good discussion ensued as to hip rotation or vibration for various techniques. Followed that with some choku zuki, continuing to apply and refine hip vibration. Next was practicing a combination of several techniques with hip vibration used for each technique. Last part of the class was partner drills. Various techniques against partner, again using hip vibration. Great night and week of training!

08/18/2026

Tonight's class at the Mapleton dojo was taught by Sensei Greg. The subject was power generation through hip vibration. Warmed up with moving in stance across the floor, then lunge punch followed by reverse punch. Sensei Greg then had us do some various hip movement drills from natural stance followed by sets of choku zuki, reducing the hip movement from rotation to vibration. Followed this by some reps across the floor with san bon zuki and applying hip vibration to multiple techniques in a combination. Wrapped up with some partner drills working the hip movement. Great job everyone! See you Wednesday.

08/15/2026

Kihon and Kata were the menu for today’s Saturday Morning Breakfast Club. The twist…we did a basic technique or a combination across the floor, another one back then did the respective kata several times. Started off with lunge punch across the floor, came back with downward block. Then it was several times through Tiekyoko kata. Next was stepping forward hammer fist strike then lunge punch across and knife hand block coming back. Then Heian Shodan several times. As we got further into the katas we also stopped and discussed and practice some different bunkai for the combinations. Last half hour was spent on multiple reps of Hangetsu and Sochin kata, working the fine points of techniques and timing.

Address

YWCA OF PEKIN/315 Buena Vista Avenue & Mapleton Rec Center
Pekin, IL
61554

Opening Hours

Tuesday 6pm - 7pm
Thursday 6pm - 7pm

Telephone

+13093472104

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