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| Kenwa Kai Sitka Instructors |
Private Instruction
Individual karate lessons offer students the opportunity to advance in karate with a very high
degree of quality. Lessons are the key for students to progress in Karate.
If the student is a minor, a parent or guardian must be present.
The rate for lessons are:
$35.00 an hour for an individual student
Individual karate lessons offer students the opportunity to advance in karate with a very high
degree of quality. Lessons are the key for students to progress in Karate.
If the student is a minor, a parent or guardian must be present.
The rate for lessons are:
$35.00 an hour for an individual student
A brief introduction to Shito-Ryu Karate and the Kenwa Karate Association
Kenwa Kai of Sitka (KKS) is a branch dojo of Tanaka’s Martial Arts Academy in Anchorage, Alaska. KKS belongs to the Nihon Karate Do Kenwa
Kai Association, which is headquartered in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan. Sensei Michael Taylor founded KKS in April of 1984. Since that time,
KKS has continued to teach Shito-Ryu karate to all ages and is currently under the direction of Sensei Young.
Mr. Kenwa Mabuni (1887-1952) founded Shito-Ryu karate in 1928. Mr. Mabuni studied the two original karate styles, Shuri-Te and Naha-Te, in
Okinawa under Mr. Itosu (1830-1915) and Mr. Higashionna (1853-1915) respectively. Mr. Yoshizumi Kuwako founded The Japan Kenwa Karate
Association.
Mr. Katsutaka Tanaka, moved to the United States and founded the USA branch of the Japan Kenwa Karate Association. Tanaka’s Martial Arts
Academy was founded in 1969 and in 1984 Shihan Tanaka authorized the association of a school in Sitka.
KKS is listed as the first school other than Shihan Tanaka’s in the USA branch of the Kenwa Karate Association. Since then, the Association has
expanded to include many other branch dojos. It can be said that a student of Shihan Tanaka or Sensei Young practices “Kenwa Kai Shito-Ryu”.
| Rank Structure of Nihon Karate Do Kenwa Kai |
Beginning Ranks
10th kyu yellow belt
9th kyu orange belt
8th kyu blue belt
7th kyu blue belt with purple stripe
6th kyu purple belt
5th kyu purple belt with green stripe
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Intermediate Ranks
4th kyu green belt
3rd kyu green belt with brown stripe
2nd kyu brown belt
1st kyu brown belt with black stripe
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Advanced Ranks
Jun Shodan (apprentice 1st degree) black belt with white stripe
Shodan (1st degree) black belt with one gold stripe
Jun Nidan (apprentice 2nd degree) black belt with 1 gold and 1 white stripe
Nidan (2nd degree) black belt with 2 gold stripes
Jun Nidan (apprentice 3rd degree) black belt with 2 gold and 1 white stripe
Sandan (3rd degree) black belt with 3 gold stripes
Yondan (4th degree) black belt with 1 red stripe
Godan (5th degree) black belt
Rokudan (6th degree) black belt
Shichidan (7th degree) black belt
Hachidan (8th degree) black belt
10th kyu yellow belt
9th kyu orange belt
8th kyu blue belt
7th kyu blue belt with purple stripe
6th kyu purple belt
5th kyu purple belt with green stripe
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Intermediate Ranks
4th kyu green belt
3rd kyu green belt with brown stripe
2nd kyu brown belt
1st kyu brown belt with black stripe
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Advanced Ranks
Jun Shodan (apprentice 1st degree) black belt with white stripe
Shodan (1st degree) black belt with one gold stripe
Jun Nidan (apprentice 2nd degree) black belt with 1 gold and 1 white stripe
Nidan (2nd degree) black belt with 2 gold stripes
Jun Nidan (apprentice 3rd degree) black belt with 2 gold and 1 white stripe
Sandan (3rd degree) black belt with 3 gold stripes
Yondan (4th degree) black belt with 1 red stripe
Godan (5th degree) black belt
Rokudan (6th degree) black belt
Shichidan (7th degree) black belt
Hachidan (8th degree) black belt
Learn About The KKS School
Sensei Tanaka, USA Saiko Shihan - International Director, Nihon Karate Do Kenwa Kai
Sensei Katsutaka Tanaka is the founder and chief instructor of Tanaka’s Martial Arts Academy and has
taught Karate in Alaska for 31 years. He is the USA director for Nihon Karate Do Kenwa Kai. Sensei
Tanaka is an 8th degree black belt (8th Dan) in the Nihon Karate-Do Kenwa Kai, a WUKO 7th Dan, and
a USA National Karate-Do Federation (USA-NKF) 7th Dan. Sensei Tanaka is also a member of the USA-
NKF Referee Council, which tests and Licenses Karate Referees throughout the country under the
direction of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Sensei Tanaka holds the world's highest licenses in karate in
both Kata and Kumite, WKF Kata Judge, and WKF Kumite Referee A, respectively. Sensei Tanaka
oversees Kenwa Karate of Sitka as a branch dojo.
Sensei Katsutaka Tanaka is the founder and chief instructor of Tanaka’s Martial Arts Academy and has
taught Karate in Alaska for 31 years. He is the USA director for Nihon Karate Do Kenwa Kai. Sensei
Tanaka is an 8th degree black belt (8th Dan) in the Nihon Karate-Do Kenwa Kai, a WUKO 7th Dan, and
a USA National Karate-Do Federation (USA-NKF) 7th Dan. Sensei Tanaka is also a member of the USA-
NKF Referee Council, which tests and Licenses Karate Referees throughout the country under the
direction of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Sensei Tanaka holds the world's highest licenses in karate in
both Kata and Kumite, WKF Kata Judge, and WKF Kumite Referee A, respectively. Sensei Tanaka
oversees Kenwa Karate of Sitka as a branch dojo.
Sensei Nathan Young, School Director
Sensei Sarah Young, Little Dragons
Sensei Ira Snelling, Demo Team