My name is Adam Carter thank you for visiting my Blog. A Welshman, originally from the UK, I moved to the Chicago area in 2015 after being invited to teach at a dojo in Palos Hills, Illinois.
I am passionate about the martial arts and the traditional karate of Okinawa. My goal is to help people discover a deeper understanding of their karate, regardless of style or experience. I’m passionate about helping people improve their karate.
I have been studying, training and practicing karate for almost 50 years, and teaching since 1985. I am currently ranked 8th Dan (Hachidan) Black Belt and holder of a Hanshi teaching title in traditional Okinawan karate.
My first experience of studying karate was Wado Ryu, in 1974, under Tatsuo Suzuki while still at school in the UK. After a move in location changing to Sankukai and Shito ryu in the early 1980’s with my instructor.
During the 1980’s and early 1990’s I competed in many karate tournaments throughout the UK and Europe, in kata and kumite winning and placing highly in many of these events, as part a dojo team and individually. Prior to this I did a small amount of boxing as a youth.
I am the founder and chief instructor of the Shuri Dojo, and with my interests in pragmatic karate, a member of the International Ryukyu Karate Research Society (琉球唐手術国際研究会), established 1989 in Japan by Patrick McCarthy 10th dan Hanshi. An information based organization dedicated to studying, the origins, evolution and tactical application theories of old-school (koryu) karate and kobudo.
TRAINING
I have spent many years practicing with, studying, attending dojo and seminars with many traditional karate instructors who had dojo in the UK, Europe, USA, Okinawa and the Japanese mainland.
One of the highlights of my karate career was being graded by Mabuni Kenzo Soke in Japan, the son of the founder of Shito-Ryu karate, Mabuni Kenwa, and representing the group in the UK as their senior instructor.
DEDICATION
The founder of the Shuriway Ryukyu Shuri-Te Kyokai, the Director and senior instructor.
The name of our Society, SHURIWAY, – SHURI being hugely significant within the traditional martial art of karate from Okinawa. We chose the name to represent the path taken by many of Okinawa’s past karate masters, to-and-from the small village of “Shuri”.
STUDENTS
Sharing my experience and passing on the knowledge I have gained in almost five decades of training, to my students at the Shuri Dojo in the Chicago area of Illinois is my “Ikigai” (reason for being).
Trying to be a dedicated martial artist, completing my own personal training on a daily basis at our dojo. A retired EMT from the Ambulance Service in the UK, and early in my career I worked for the Military and the Police service.
I hope you find your visit to my Blog informative and interesting enough for you to return. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Thank you once again for visiting.
Adam