The style consists of Basic Techniques with deep formal stances, blocks, kicks and punches, Kata and Sparring Techniques. The latter are in slightly higher stances and emphasize sidewards movements and the signature counterpunch. 

As in all Karate styles it is Katas, formal sequences of basic techniques, that form the backbone of the tradition. The traditional Japanese martial arts, Judo and Kendo, two of the seven traditional paths to enlightenment in Japanese classical culture, were heavily centered around combat (Kumite). Master Funakoshi instead, in the centuries old Okinawa tradition, sought a path to spiritual depth through individual technique. Thus, Shotokan initially developed as a formal style with little Kumite application, instead focusing on breathing, releasing energy and control. 

From Okinawa,  Karate spread to the Japanese mainland and subsequently around the world. In the process, self-defence became more important in the practice of Shotokan. Initially considered a mere selling point by the founding fathers, it has today taken on the role of natural complement and application of the fundamental techniques. 

The MIT Shotokan club was founded in 1973 by Sensei Kazumi Tabata. It was the second club of his New England Collegiate Karate Conference, a large network of Shotokan clubs across all of New Englands colleges. The MIT club has always benefited from very high-ranking and excellent instructors and continues do so at present. ( It has also always suffered from MIT students being overworked!).

The club is very active: Apart from the regular workouts for beginners and advanced students, MIT hosts frequent workshops and special instruction classes, as well as the NAKF summer training. We hold for-credit PE classes at least once a year. They have proven to be extremely popular. Every term, we do send Kata and Kunite teams to the NECKC/NAKF tournament.

The club actively engages the wider MIT Martial Arts community. We instigated the Open Workout series, a round of introductory seminars that gives each style the opportunity to showcase it self. We do invite practitioners from different styles to participate in our seminars and include them in our tournament delegations.

One of our biggest assets is the memberhsip in the NECKC. This provides us with a direct exchange with instructors fron other schools, the access to seminars and tournaments and the opportunity to mix with students of all levels and different teaching styles.

On a limited basis, we do welcome members from outside MIT. Our per term instructor's and administrative fee is 50$. 
 

SENSEI KAZUMI TABATA

An 8th degree black belt, he is the founder and head of the North American Karate Foundation, as well as the NECKC. He is in direct line from the founder of the SHOTOKAN style, Gichin Funakoshi, through his teacher Master Obata. He was sent from Japan to promote Karate in North America in 1969. He has done so most effectively, building a large Karate organisation in the North East. He was captain of the US Karate team for two decades, representing the US at many international tournaments. In addition, he was technical advisor to the US National Olympic Commitee. Now retired, he is currently putting finishing touches on his principal book on the Tabata path to Shotokan Karate, an analysis of the philosophical foundations and exercise of Shotokan. He also published an instruction book on Karate and is preparing several teaching movies.

SENSEI DAVE D'AMORE

SENSEI DAVE D'AMORE is a fourth degree black belt. He started training under Sensei Tabata in 1973 at the University of  Lowell and became a black belt in 1976. At Lowell, he was the captain of the Karate team , which he led to NECKC KATA  and KUMITE championships. He has won numerous individual championships in both KATA and KUMITE at collegiate and  independent tournaments. He has served on the board of the NAKF and worked to define the unified training regimen that is in  place across all levels of the organisations. Making his debut as a teacher in 1977 he has been teaching at MIT since 1997.

Sensei D'Amore stretches at the  Athletics Gateway exhibition

THE STUDENTS' VIEW OF OUR TEACHERS: We are not altogether sure Sensei Tabata is human. His intensity and energy make it more likely he is at least a semi-god or a boddhisattva. He teaches with very little verbal explanation. It is more that his spirit transpires into his students by  its sheer intensity. He can almost become addictive. It has not yet happened that anybody from outside left his class without muttering something about "wow, this guy is really good!". For complete beginners it may take a little while to understand how great he really is, you have to sensitize yourself first to what is important. 

Of Sensei D'Amore instead we are very sure he is human. After all semi-gods don't wear tattoos, do they? And, man, he does! His workouts can be even more demanding than Sensei Tabata's. In turn his breathing and meditation exercises can be so tender, people walk away in stunned silence. He has unlimited creativity in coming up with new involved combinations of  Basics exercises, unlimited patience with students of lesser talent than his own (about everybody) and a knack for unorthodox fighting. In whatever he does he is just incredible to watch. He definitely represents the fun side of Karate. We are extremely blessed that he agreed to be our teacher four years ago.

The following NECKC events are scheduled for this spring:
 
 

All MIT rooms are in  Dupont Gym or Rockwell Cage! 

* Sounds complicated, but it is not really, as the rooms are one set of stairs from each other!

 The following is a movie of the Tekki Shodan Kata. This is a short but very important Kata. As with all Katas it tells a story: With the back against a wall you move sideways, blocking against kick and punch attacks from the front and the side, grab your opponent's hand and counter- and double punch. It is an extremely hard Kata to do well and requires excellent breathing technique, focus - and strong thighs!