Shihan Stephen Xepapas
(6th Dan)

Tora Shotokan Karate Do Founder and Chief Instructor

Dojo Kun

Seek perfection of character!

Be faithful!

Endeavour!

Respect others!

Refrain from violent behaviour!

Tora Shotokan Karate Do Kase Ha

Sensei Steve with Sensei Kase and Sensei Diana

Tora Shotokan Karate-do is based in Hobart, Tasmania and was founded at the beginning of 2005 by Sensei Stephen Xepapas.

In this site you will find all you need to know about Tora Shotokan Karate-do including dojo locations and class times, news of upcoming events, karate etiquette and terminology, biographies of Sensei Steve and his assistant instructors, karate history and photo galleries.

Sensei Steve believes in karate as a worthwhile lifetime pursuit which develops control, self discipline and physical and mental fitness for all people male and female, young and old.

Find out more about Tora Shotokan Karate Do.

Contact Sensei Steve if you would like to join us or if you would like any more information.

Lynda Sensei Wins Kata Tournament!

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It's easy to see why Lynda sensei won last weekend's state championships with this performance of Jion: it's an object lesson in control, timing and focus. Lynda sensei maintains low stances throughout the kata and executes each technique with deep understanding and impressive kime. There is not a hint of rushing and this restraint gives the performance a great sense of assurance. Congratulations Lynda sensei.

Tora Talk

Upcoming Events

Tora Cubs August Seminar
2010-08-01 to 2010-08-01
Tora Canberra November Seminar
2010-11-20 to 2010-11-21
Tora Week 2011
2011-01-22 to 2011-01-28

The Shotokan Tiger

The Shotokan Tiger is the icon that symbolises the style of karate founded by Funakoshi Gichin. The drawing was originally created by his friend and student, Hoan Kosugi, instrumental in convincing Funakoshi to both teach karate in Japan and to publish his manual KARATE-DO KYOHAN. Kosugi designed the book and a cover illustration...read more.

Class Time Changes

Steve sensei has changed the start and finish times of the Monday and Wednesday adult classes for the winter season. These classes will begin at 6.15pm sharp and finish at 7.45pm. Click here to see class times.

Cubs Kumite Tournament

The kumite tournament on Sunday 2nd May 2010 was a great success and was hard fought by students from 4 years old to 15 years old. Great spirit was shown by all especially the very young students who soon got the hang of sparring in competition.
For results click here.

Sensei Pascal Lecourt

Tora Shotokan is very privileged to receive regular visits from Sensei Pascal Lecourt, Sensei Kase's most noted assistant and now a leading instructor of the Kase Ha movement and Shihan Kai in Europe.

To find out more about Sensei Pascal follow these links to an interview and some video.

In the videos Sensei Pascal demonstrates the eight open hand techinques as well as perfoms some training routines.

Tora Canberra Classes

Catherine sensei has announced additional training times for Tora Canberra ...read more

A fight in real life?

I've always been curious about whether any of my teachers or fellow students have had to use their skills in real life and so I was very interested to read what Jet Li said about this...read more

Scientifically minded?

I can think of a handful of science based PhDs, a number of students studying science at uni, various doctors and college kids in our club who might be curious about the physics of karate strikes...read more

Recent Photos

Tora Week 2010 2...see them
Tora Week 2010...see them
Tora Cubs At Goju Ryu Karate-Do Competition...see them
Norfolk Island 2009...see them
Tora Kids 2009...see them

Recent Video

Lynda Sensei Wins Kata Tournament!...see it
Tora Week 2010 3...see it
Tora Week 2010 2...see it
Tora Week 2010 1...see it
Heian Shodan Go Ura - Cameron sensei...see it
Heian Shodan Go - David sensei...see it
Heian Sandan Go Ura - Steve sensei takes the class...see it
Heian Sandan Go Ura - Cameron sensei...see it
Heian Sandan Go - Ken sensei...see it
Heian Nidan Go Ura - Steve sensei takes the class...see it

Recent Forum Posts

The Shotokan Tiger
Tora Canberra November Seminar
Tora Canberra July Seminar
Tora Cubs August Seminar
Tora Week 2011

Visiting Hobart and Tora?

Here is somehwhere very convenient to stay if you come down to visit us in Hobart. Just mention Steve sensei at Tora Shotokan and receive a discount...details

Bunkai and Oyo

This is a very interesting topic and one I hope to find out more about.

The Do in Karate Do

In Nichola Fletcher's book "Charlemagne's Tablecloth - A Piquant History of Feasting" she has this to say about do in the context of the Japanese tea ceremony... read more

Osu, Oss, Oos, Os

You hear this during almost every class and outside of class when speaking with other karateka. You probably also say it yourself, but what does it really mean?