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Shotokan Karate was the first form of Karate introduced to mainland Japan in the 1930's. At first this karate system was called Toudi, or China Hand, however in the late 1930's the name was changed to Karate to make it more appealing to the Japanese populous.

Shotokan was the creation of Okinawan Master Gichin Funakoshi. Originally he called his art simply karate, but with the times changing and many other systems coming to light in Japan,

Master Funakoshi's students began calling the system Shotokan, or Shoto's house. Shoto was Gichin Funakoshi's pen name for poetry he use to write prior to coming to Japan.

Additionally Master Funakoshi's son, Yoshitaka Funakoshi played a big role in the development of Funakoshi's karate. Yoshitaka like his father was born in Okinawa, however while Gichin Funakoshi never returned to his homeland after 1930, Yoshitaka did return, and he learned forms from several of the big name Masters of the day.

Master Funakoshi and his son both were known to train with fellow Okinawan Master Kenwa Mabuni. Master Mabuni opened an Okinawan karate dojo in Osaka and he was teaching his own system called Shito Ryu.

Both Master Funakoshi and Master Mabuni were students of Okinawan Master Anko Itosu, so while they were teaching different things their original styles were very similar.

Funakoshi's Shotokan system was created out of what he learned from many different Okinawan Masters. Most notably was Master Itosu, Master Azato, and Master Higashionna.

In 1955, a group of Master Funakoshi's students joined together and made a college league. This group was called the Japan Karate Association. It's goal was to standardize Funakoshi's karate and systemize it so that others could learn karate.

In the late 1980's internal conflict in the JKA broke it up into several different factions. Each teaching their own version of Master Funakoshi's karate.

In the mid 1990's the United Shotokan Association was created because of these splits within the JKA. With fragmented leadership and a multitude of schools with no affiliation, the United Shotokan Association came on the scene to help unite Shotokan dojo's with no affiliations.

Our Chief Instructor, or Shihan, is Sensei Jerry Offutt. Sensei Offutt is a direct student of some of Gichin Funakoshi's top students including Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, Master Ryuzo Fujihara, and most importantly Meijin Masaki Sato, who is recognized as a living national treasure by the government of Japan for his contributions to the Martial Arts, and for holding duel 10th Degree Black Belts in Shotokan Karate and Judo.