On Sunday, December 20 we will have that opportunity again at the Bill Wilson Center. This center is a temporary shelter for homeless teens. Especially in the holiday season I think it's meaningful to help clean, cook, for the benefit of others.

If you're interested in joining please let me know and I'll also create a flyer to pass out at our classes.
I hope this continues as an annual event and adds to the great spirit we have in the dojo.

Bill Wilson Center
3490 The Alameda
Santa Clara, CA 95050

~Mark Richardson

Please join us for the 12th annual Summer Gasshuku; a special four hour training session led by Sensei Jay Castellano and the Satsuma Dojo. This unique training opportunity benefits the Lowell Slater Richardson Foundation, a non-profit foundation that awards college grants to “at risk” students. All ranks, styles and levels are welcome to participate in what has become a favorite, locally famous event- don't miss it!

Where :: Montara State Beach, California :: Google Map
When :: October 24, 2009 8:00AM to 12:00PM
Cost :: $35.00 per person

Please come train for any length of time or simply come support us.

Make any checks payable to ::
The Lowell Slater Richardson Foundation
1030 Fernleaf Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94086

All proceeds after costs will go to the LSR Foundation. Most contributions to “non profit” foundations are tax deductible; always consult your accountant on donations and your tax status.
Please email Mark Richardson with any questions or a confirmation of your attendance.

We hope to see you at the Summer Gasshuku!

Effective this Saturday 8/29/09 we are moving our Sunnyvale training location to the multipurpose room behind the Columbia Neighborhood Center. The Multipurpose Room is a new facility behind the CNC (closer to the park and baseball area). We plan to continue our regularly scheduled classes in the Multipurpose Room for a few weeks until the CNC floors are finished, then we will move back to our original location at the CNC.

Columbia Neighborhood Center
785 Morse Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Google Maps

Our schedule remains the same;
Tuesdays 7-8pm all levels, 8-9pm advanced
Saturdays 8-10am advanced, 10am-12pm all levels.
 
~Mark Richardson

As keeping with the theme of this year... our Fremont classes have moved to a new location, as previous classes were cancelled due to budgetary cuts by the City of Fremont; but we persevere!

New classes lead by Senpai Peter Rodriquez are available ::

37428 Centralmont Place
Fremont, CA 94536 
Google Map

Thursdays from 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Update :: Dates are resolved as June 27 & 28

Once again, Satsuma Dojo is very fortunate to be able to host Kanazawa Hirokazu Kancho, founder, president and chief instructor of Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation.

On June 27-28, we invite you to join us as Kanazawa Kancho and his eldest son, Kanazawa Nobuaki Kancho, multiple-time world champion, offer seminars.

Location ::
Peterson Middle School
1380 Rosalia Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
Google Maps

Please see the attached flyer. If you have any questions or would like any additional information, feel free to contact Sensei Jay at 408-757-8073 or sensei.jay@satsumadojo.com.

Information Flyer

Several people have asked about ordering a new Tokon gi.   
We are putting together a list of those interested and will order a new gi in a couple of weeks.  Please Dean Lewis know if you are interested in purchasing these quality gi.

Here is the web site.   We get a nice discount off these retail prices.   www.tokon.com

~Dean Lewis

On Saturday May 30 we will perform a demo at the Sunnyvale health and Safety Fair.
 
Sunnyvale Health and Safety Fair
Saturday May 30, 2009
Satsuma Dojo Demo @ approximately 1pm
Exact location to be determined, street address is
785 Morse Ave
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
 
Many of our CNC students live in this immediate area- I hope you can come participate or support them by attending.

~Mark Richardson

On Sunday, May 17, De Anza College is hosting their annual Invitational Karate Tournament. For those interested in competition, I recommend this tournament because it is consistently friendly and well-managed.
 
Note that this is a PRE-REGISTRATION ONLY tournament.
 
I hope to see you there. 

~Sensei Jay

Click here for flyer and registration forms

On the weekend of April 25-26, Satsuma Dojo has been invited to again provide a demonstration in the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival, and I hope that you will be able to participate. We have been a part of the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival for over 25 years!
 
Sat, April 25      1:45-2:15PM
Sun, April 26    1:15-1:45PM

The Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival is located at Memorial Park near Highway 85/Stevens Creek Boulevard, across from DeAnza College.
Google Map
 
Everyone who attends will be able to participate. We’ll do some kihon waza, kata and yakusoku kumite with the complexity depending on who shows up. The black belts will finish off the 30-minute demonstration with something we’re still developing.
 
The Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival has a variety of other great and interesting demonstrations the entire weekend, and the festival also has a number of food booths and displays to peruse.
 
Again, I hope that you will be able to join us. Please RSVP so that I have a sense about the number of participants each day. And if you plan to attend, be at the stage 30 minutes early so that we can practice everything once beforehand.

Staring next Tuesday 3/17/09 we will have classes in the cafeteria at Bishop Elementary School. The address is:

450 N. Sunnyvale Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Map Link

There is a drop-off area and some parking at the main entrance on Sunnyvale Ave.
 
Access to the cafeteria from the main entrance on Sunnyvale Ave. Walk through the courtyard, the cafeteria is directly facing Sunnyvale Ave.
 
We will resume our regular class schedule:
Tuesdays 7pm to 8pm general session, 8pm to 9pm intermediate/advanced
Saturdays 8am to 10am advanced session, 10am to 12pm general session.

PLEASE NOTE :: we are switching back to Saturdays!

Please note that classes at the CNC (Sunnyvale), location have been cancelled until further notice due to rain damaged floors. Once the weather clears the Facilities group will start the estimate/repair process. This could take a week or more.
I’ll communicate more info as I receive it.

Mark Richardson

UPDATE ::
Water came into both sides of this area. Workers have removed all the inside wall covering from the floor to the ceiling around the exit doors and storage room. The water flooded the north and south areas of this part of the gym. The wood floor expanded and there is a huge wave buckle in the floor right in the middle between the north and south parts of the floor. Along the wall, by the dressing rooms, the floor is a good 2-3 feet above the ground level with the bow running out about 1/3 of the way into the total gym floor. It is an amazing to see the stress the expanding wood placed on the floor.

Dean Lewis

UPDATE x2 ::
OSS! Unfortunately the CNC has shut down again due to more damage found by the contractors making repairs.
We do not know when it will open up again for us, but will communicate as I know more. We and the CNC staff apologize for the schedule changes.

~Mark Richardson

Satsuma Dojo Members & Friends,

I invite you to join us for a special seminar by Hanshi Jonathan Kwok, 7th dan and Chief Instructor for Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation--U.S. Federation, on Sunday, February 8, 9:30am-11:30am, at the Columbia Neighborhood Center in Sunnyvale.

We are fortunate to be able to host Kwok Sensei, who has been affiliated with Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa for over 40 years and is an expert in the SKIF curriculum and concepts. The seminar will include both SKIF fundamentals and more advanced SKIF concepts.

See the attached flyer for details. If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to contact me. 

Sensei Jay

Our demonstration at this festival continues a 22-year tradition for the Satsuma Dojo. In actuality, it is a straightforward and abbreviated class consisting of kihon, kata, kumite – and maybe something special!

April 25-26, 2009 at Memorial Park in Cupertino. Across the street from De Anza College in Cupertino.

More Information...