The dojo is CLOSED again as of 1/13/2022 due to rapidly spreading Omicron. We hope to reopen mid-to-late February, pandemic permitting.

December 24, 2021: Due to rapid spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, members are encouraged to cover their nose and mouth with an effective mask such as N95.

April 22, 2021: After the CDC determined it is safe for fully vaccinated people to gather indoors without masks and without distancing, Kansas City Shotokan Karate Club re-opened to fully-vaccinated members.

March 18, 2020: SKA dojos, including our KC Dojo, were closed and SKA Shihan and our Black Belt Council President recommended members make only individual practice.

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In late March and early April, a number of dojos initiated Zoom practices for their members. SKA administration continued to advocate only individual practice, but tolerated the growing number of dojo Zoom practices.

Beginning in late March, KC Dojo scheduled regular Zoom practices which were led by Mike Lyon, Carl Johnson, and Takamasa Morita. The dojo was equipped with a laptop wired to a fast Internet connection and a big-screen TV. Each of our four weekly Zoom practices developed its own following of dedicated karate students and practices consisted of basics, combinations, and kata. Practices were well received and effective, but limited because of the inability to make kumite or other partner work via Zoom.

Not everyone was able to (or comfortable) making practices using Zoom. Most of our local members never connected. Ken Richardson, Tony Ciponaer, and Nathan Dunn all gave it a shot. Beyou Kuukole, Mike Kostroske, Paul Cepe, Takamasa Morita, and Harry Dolan attended regularly. MOST of our Zoom participants, however, were (are) members of other SKA and CSK dojos. Half a dozen typically joined Zoom practice on weekends a dozen and a half on weekdays.

The KC Dojo organized a series of “Guest Instructor Tuesday” practices and invited seniors to lead who we thought would be equipped to lead via Zoom:

• April 28, 2020 – Keith Kirk (sandan, Maryknoll, CA)
• May 5, 2020 – Jesse Clark (sandan, Twin Falls, ID)
• May 12, 2020 – Bobby Bird (godan, Memphis, TN)
• May 19, 2020 – Trung Pham (yodan, CSULB, CA)
• May 26, 2020 – Rob Clark (godan, Chapel Hill, NC)
• June 2, 2020 – Mike Duray (godan, Pittsburgh, PA)
• June 6, 2020 – Mike Schuler (godan, Illini, IL)
• June 9, 2020 – David Lechuga (godan, Lake Forest, CA)
• June 16, 2020 – Ron Thom (godan, President Emeritus, SKA)
• June 23, 2020 – Michel Venne (godan, Montreal, PQ)
• June 30, 2020 – Greg Scott (godan, President SKA, Garden Grove, CA)
• July 7, 2020 – Norman Welch (godan, Shihan CSK)
• July 14, 2020 – Tom Muzila (godan), Garden Grove, CA
• July 21, 2020 – Jerome Williams (godan), South Los Angeles, CA
• July 28, 2020 – Mark Kohagura (godan), Independent, Napa, CA
• August 4, 2020 – Mark Petrigac (yodan), Independent, Cincinnati, OH
• August 11, 2020 – Don Gee (godan), Burnaby, BC Canada
• August 18, 2020 – Hiroko Mori (godan), Redding, CA
• August 25, 2020 – Mike Duray (godan, Pittsburgh, PA)
• September 1, 2020 – Norman Welch (godan, Shihan CSK)
• September 8, 2020 – Ron Thom (godan, President Emeritus, SKA)
• September 22, 2020 – Yoram Cohen (godan, Independent Los Angeles)
• September 29, 2020 – Rob Clark (godan, Chapel Hill, NC)
• October 3, 2020 – Chaim Mizrachi (godan, Jerusalem, Israel)
• October 6, 2020 – Pam Logan (godan, Denver, CO)
• October 11, 2020 – Eli Cohen (shihan, Israel Shotokan)
• October 13, 2020 – Mark Kohagura (godan), Independent, Napa, CA
• November 8, 2020 – Eli Cohen (shihan, Israel Shotokan)
• May 6, 2021, 2020 – Bernie Doyle (godan, Vancouver, BC)

This series of “Guest Instructor Tuesdays” were open to all Shotokan Ohshima members and attracted many participants, sometimes hitting our Zoom limit of 100 active connections. By fall of 2020, SKA administration strongly discouraged us from continuing the series. Their explanation was that only the BBC administration, after consulting with SKA Shihan, could schedule national practices and select the practice leaders. It was OK for us to hold Zoom practices for our local members or exchange practices with members of other SKA dojos. Accordingly, KC Dojo stopped organizing the “Guest Instructor Tuesdays.” SKA administration did not subsequently organize any Zoom practice open to all members.

We continue to host Zoom participants at the same time that up to five (so far) of us practice together in the dojo. Leading both live and on-line is another challenge, but we intend to continue until at least the majority of our Zoom participants are able to return to their local dojos for practice. We begin kumite practice after the 90-minute Zoom session completes. Zoom participants are welcome to remain and observe our kumite as long as they please.