The Joyful Harvest Sports & Recreation Ministry has created the Joyful Harvest Shotokan Karate Club.  The club will be holding a weekly class on Saturday mornings.  Our goal will be to provide instruction in the martial arts.  We hope to develop self confidence and physical fitness through traditional karate training.  If you are looking for a rigorous physical and mental workout, please come to our practice. 

The club will initially be open to everyone ages 13+.  This is an open ministry, that is, open to all Joyful Harvest members as well as anyone in the community.  Please contact Dan Owen for more information at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 224-622-6232.

Karate involves a variety of techniques, including blocks, punches, kicks, evasions, throws, and joint manipulations. Shotokan employs a small set of highly refined techniques intended to quickly subdue an opponent or set of opponents. Practice does not emphasize tournament sport, but rather rigorous, traditional training.

Karate practice is divided into three aspects:

• Kihon - consisting of basic blocks, punches, kicks, and stances;
• Kata - prearranged forms and movements simulating combat situations;
• Kumite - sparring with opponents

Karate practices at Joyful Harvest Shotokan Karate Club primarily follow an ongoing training format. There is no concept of a time period or season for karate. Members meet all year round to practice. Traditional karate emphasizes constant refinement of technique. Our dojo is a member of Shotokan Karate of America: www.ska.org.