[edit] In General

Shotokan Karate is a martial art that originated in Okinawa, Japan. It gained great popularity through the work of Gichin Funakoshi, and is respected today for its emphasis on not only the physical but also the spiritual well-being of its practitioners. The main organization in the United States for teaching of traditional Karate is Shotokan Karate of America (SKA).

[edit] At Duke

Karate at Duke can be practiced with the Duke Shotokan Karate Club. The two main instructors are Mary Prasad and Ravindra Prasad, both registered black belts with SKA. During the 2007 spring semester, the group has been meeting at Brodie Gym and plans to continue meeting until May 10th. For the summer, there are plans for Saturday practices.

Besides its weekly practices, the Duke Shotokan Karate Club encourages its members to attend bi-annual Special Training sessions that are held at nearby institutions for a full weekend of intense practice, but these, along with all of the other practices, are completely optional

[edit] Connections to Chapel Hill Dojo

The Duke Dojo holds very close ties with the Chapel Hill Dojo. Ranking tests for the members of the Duke Dojo are held with the Chapel Hill Dojo, and Duke Dojo members who register nationally with SKA can attend Saturday practices at Chapel Hill Dojo.