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 Founder and Chief Instructor
Seek perfection of character!
Be faithful!
Endeavour!
Respect others!
Refrain from violent behaviour!
Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate Do, began studying Shorin-ryu in the city of Shuri, as a child. As karate was illegal until about 1901, Funakoshi studied secretly. About 1905, when nearing 40 years of age, Funakoshi opened his first karate class. In 1921, Funokoshi was requested to give a demonstration of martial arts to the emperor in Japan. The emperor was impressed and as a result Funakoshi was also invited to the First National Athletics Exhibition in Tokyo in 1922. In 1924, karate began development in Japanese universities and the first official karate dojo was opened by Funakoshi in 1936. Called the Shotokan or Shoto’s Hall, this dojo gave its name to the style of karate developed by Funakoshi – Shoto which may be translated as “billowing pine trees” had been Funakoshi’s pen name while writing poetry in his youth.
Shotokan is an amalgamation of three major regional schools of Okinawan martial arts: Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te. Okinawan martial arts had been heavily influenced by the Chinese martial arts for many centuries due to the presence of a major port at Naha, close to the towns of Shuri and Tomari. After the banning of weapons in Okinawa first by the Okinawan Emperor and later by the Japanese Satsuma Clan, development of the Okinawan martial arts accelerated, with major changes being made in the 19th century by a number of masters including some that would later be Funakoshi’s instructors. These developments would therefore heavily influence Shotokan Karate, particularly the concept of incapacitating an opponent with one blow, fighting multiple opponents and the deep stances. Little is known in detail about the martial arts of this period due to the destruction of the major Okinawan towns and Shuri Castle (including all written records) during the invasion of Japan in the Second World War.
As Shotokan Karate grew in size, it was inevitable that different instructors would have different opinions concerning its development. In 1956, a group of Shotokan karate-ka, opposed to a growing sport orientation, formed the Shotokai (Shoto’s Council). The main body which remained formed the Japan Karate Association (JKA). In 1977, again relating to the perception of an increasing emphasis on sport rather than to karate’s budo or spiritual nature, Skotokan Karate International (SKI) was formed by Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa. In 1986, one of his exceptional students Sensei Frank Nowak, formed Zanshin Shotokan Karate Do based in Australia. In 2005, some 15 years after Sensei Nowak’s death, one of his senior students Sensei Stephen Xepapas formed Tora Shotokan Karate Do, which combines the teachings of Sensei Frank Nowak and Sensei Taiji Kase, another very senior Shotokan master who passed away in 2005.
Founder and chief instructor:
Shihan Stephen Xepapas
Senior instructors:
Diana Heese (4th Dan)
Frank Hussey (4th Dan)
Honbu Dojo:
Helenic House
69 Federal Street
North Hobart
Manager:
Mr Spiro Tsangaris
Norfolk Island :
Sensei Phil Evans (3rd Dan)
Margate Dojo:
Sensei Frank Hussey (4th Dan)
Canberra Dojo:
Sensei Catherine Radley (2nd Dan)