Athens Yoshukai is the Athens branch dojo of the World Yoshukai Karate Kobudo Organization.  Athens Yoshukai seeks to train students in the martial arts and expand cooperation between styles and dojo on the UGA campus and in Athens.

Class cost and instruction is FREE.  There is a long list of reasons for this, some of which are given below.  Uniforms, WYKKO membership, testing fees, and other equipment must be bought by the student.
First, I feel that martial arts instruction is a basic life skill and, like academic knowledge, should not be charged for, as the student's improvement is of value to society as a whole. 
Second, teaching martial arts is a hobby of mine.  Most hobbies cost money- if you go snow skiing, you have to buy or rent the skiis, pay for a lift ticket, pay for lodging and travel, etc.
Third, I do not want to be in a situation where I depend on martial arts instruction for any real income.  This can set up a situation where you need students to be there, rather than want them to be there.  As it stands, if a student is being problematic, I can ask them to leave without hurting my bottom line.
Fourth, the traditional martial arts education system was not based on fee-for-service, but was rather apprenticeship based.  I feel that this stays more true to the spirit of martial arts.
Fifth, some people would make excellent students and martial artists but cannot afford commercial training and are not university students, so cannot join the inexpensive on-campus clubs.  Athens Yoshukai provides training opportunities for such individuals.

If there is a notice on the main page that new students are no longer being accepted, this means that students who have not studied Yoshukai before can not be accomodated at this time.  This is to ensure that all current Athens Yoshukai students are receiving quality training and personal attention from the instructors to maximize their development in martial arts.  We feel that the quality of our students is more important than the quantity.  If you are interested in classes, email Sensei Hofmeister and he will notify you the next time Athens Yoshukai is accepting new students.

Presently Athens Yoshukai only offers classes to individuals 15 years of age or older.  This ensures a mature training environment for the adult students studying Yoshukai karate.  Sensei Hofmeister recommends AKF/Itto Martial Arts, a child-friendly dojo for you to take your kids to.

Comfortable workout clothing, such as sweat pants and a T-shirt,  is recommended when you first come and try out Athens Yoshukai.  If you enjoy a few classes, you can order a uniform through Sensei Hofmeister.

No.  Anyone is welcome to come practice and work out with us!

Yoshukai is a hard Okinawan karate-do style.  We are approximately 60% offense, 40% defense. Our techniques concentrate on fighting from a distance and using head and killing strikes to end a fight quickly.  We do some self defense and throwing starting at the green belt levels.  We use the nunchaku, bo, sai, tonfa, and katana weapons at various ranks, starting at  blue with the nunchaku. Yoshukai emphasizes achieving personal goals rather than forcing a student to perform to the standards of others.  Spirit, enthusiasm, and interest are the key qualities in Yoshukai students.

Grandmaster (Kaicho) Katsuoh Yamamoto is the head of our style and is a 10th degree blackbelt. He lives in Kitakyushu City in Japan and runs the Worldwide Yoshukai Karate Association from there. The United States directors are Master Mike Culbreth and Master Hiroaki Toyama.

There are nine ranks before first degree blackbelt (Shodan) in Yoshukai karate.  They are white belt, yellow belt (two degrees), blue belt (two degrees), green belt (two degrees), and brown belt (two degrees).  Testings before brown belt can occur every 3 months so that a student can be a 1st degree brown belt in 21 months.  Brown belts must wait 6 months before testing, for a total of 3 years from white belt to Shodan.  Usually only very dedicated and energetic students make Shodan in 3 years.  Most students take slightly longer, though if a student is willing, they will certainly be given the chance to become a blackbelt in 3 years.   After Shodan, the minimum time is a number of years equal to the degree of blackbelt the student is training for (2 years for Nidan, 3 for Sandan, etc.), although this minimum is almost never achieved and most students take 3-6 years between blackbelt ranks.

Two classes a week in Yoshukai are held at AKF/Itto Martial Arts.  AKF/Itto is a commercial school which also offers classes in Kyuki-Do, hapkido, aikido, judo, and kickboxing.  These classes were added to allow students who had a difficult time travelling to Athens Yoshukai to attend classes and to improve cross-training with AKF/Itto students.  These classes are fully recognized by Athens Yoshukai and count towards students' progression in Yoshukai Karate.

    We teach Kyuki-Do, a Korean art based on Tae Kwon Do, hapkido, and judo once a week to advanced Yoshukai students.  Only Yoshukai students ranked as blue belts or higher may take Kyuki-Do classes, and only with the invitation of Sensei Hofmeister.  The Kyuki-Do classes are intended to supplement the student's training in Yoshukai and provide a broader basis for their martial arts training.
    We have special yoga classes every other month.

Diversity is a very important issue in life, but particularly so in martial arts.  Every style has their good and bad points, and every style can be criticized or praised in equal amounts.  The styles are all different, however, and emphasize different aspects of martial arts.  The best fighters often have belts in a variety of styles, not just one.  A particularly good combination is Yoshukai karate and judo to combine distance fighting with close-in fighting.  Having attained belts in styles besides Yoshukai, I feel I am a better fighter and martial artist.  With a broad base of knowledge including Yoshukai karate, a student of the martial arts will improve themselves and their skills.

Email Sensei Hofmeister or visit the school to watch!  Directions can be found HERE.