FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

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Traditional Karate Center (TKC) - Matawan Gojukan. It is where students learn and work to achieve their black belts. This is accomplished by practice and study of technical, theoretical, and philosophical ways of karate. 

We are accredited by the IKGA Headquarter in Tokyo, Japan and the USA National Karate Federation (US Olympic Committee, member).

Karatedo's ultimate goal is the improved development of the individual: mentally, physically, & spiritually. 

Our community, potential for positive self-improvement, and authenticity. 

1. Community... we have wonderful people at TKC and it often feels akin to an extended 'family'. Students are taught respect, humility and tolerance toward all. Many become karate 'brothers and sisters' for a lifetime.
   
2. Self-Improvement... Karatedo is NOT a sport - it is the implementation of a philosophical ideology rooted in Kaizen or, means of continuous, incremental improvement. For this reason, most students can extract better concentration, self-discipline and confidence. Those intangibles can carry over into other facets of one's life.
   
3. Authenticity... TKC's credentials, programs, and lineage are all authentic. We teach Japanese KARATE - not any other martial art form misleadingly substituting 'karate' as a generic term in place of 'martial arts' to confuse consumers. Our IKGA karatedo curriculum comes from Japan directly. TKC founder, Michael Buttermark Shihan lived in Japan and studied at IKGA headquarters under its President for nearly four years and has now been very actively engaged in IKGA for 35+ years. Our Olympic karate training adheres to WKF rules of competition. Our athletes have amassed 433 national championship medals/titles in 19 seasons of competition in the National Governing Body for Karate. TKC staffers have earned Referee, Judge, Coach licenses through the USA-National Karate Federation - member US Olympic Committee.

Goju-ryu Karate-do is a classical, Japanese karate education. 

Karate means 'empty hand'; and Do means 'the way' or method. So, karatedo means 'the way of the empty hand' - your hands (and feet) are your weapons.

Goju-ryu translates to 'hard and soft style' and emphasizes opposing forces and ideologies. Philosophically, when forced... block soft and strike hard. Goju system is a fluid, circular martial art fighting system and has exquisite kata (forms).

Fact: The Karate Kid screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen stated that Mr. Miyagi was named after Chōjun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu Karate-Do.  Also, the karate style depicted in the movies is the Goju Ryu style.  In this classic, 1984 movie, the wax on, wax off and other peculiar methods of training are actually demonstrated elements of Gojuryu's Tensho kata.  Today, the Cobra Kai series has re-invigorated interest in The Karate Kid franchise.  

Speaking of the Cobra Kai series, if truth be told, TKC Dojo is a combination of the best elements of Miyagi-Do and Cobra-Kai in that we are authentically Miyagi-Do Karatedo and we enjoy and thrive in competition like Cobra-Kai.