Welcome to the Seishinkan Dojo webpage! We are a small, traditional Christian based Dojo, located in Pinellas County, FL.

So, what is the Seishinkan? Let's start with the name. Sei is the abbreviated form of Seijitsu, meaning true, sincere, genuine, good, pure, etc; Shin means heart, and Kan means hall, building, house, school, etc; So, what does this have to do with the martial arts? That all depends upon you.

In one of my early conversations with my Kobudo teacher, Nakamoto Masahiro Sensei, I had asked if he has any Shibu (Branch) Dojo in the United States? He had said, no; but, maybe you can start one. I then asked, what would be required? His answer was "most important is personality". I said Shin, heart? He said "yes, In Okinawa Karate/Kobudo, there's three area's of development, shin-heart, Gi-Technique, and Tai-Body". He said "of those three, shin the development of a good heart is most important". Ikemiyagi Sensei of the Meibukan, said this "Having a kind heart shows a person’s true strength"; and when the late Masanobu Shinjo Sensei would be asked, what is the most important lesson in Karate, he would point to his heart.

Having said that, in selecting the name of my Dojo, I put much thought. I feel that no matter what you do, you should do so with a true, genuine, and sincere heart. There should be no ulterior motives in anything you do, both inside the Dojo, and out. I think this is a struggle within us all, because alot of the time pride, ego, lust, etc get in the way. But, we must stop, and think, why are we doing this, what are my goals, will this hurt anyone, am I doing this to fullfill some ulterior motive to feed my ego, etc?

When I originally formed the Seishinkan Dojo it was a Okinawan Goju Ryu Dojo. But, that is just a label, in all sincerity, I can not call what I do anymore Okinawan Goju Ryu, though there are teaching's of Goju Ryu within what is taught here. However, what is taught at the Seishinkan cannot in all sincerity be labeled as anything but me, what I do at that very moment, as I am always learning, evolving, etc. From day to day there is no telling what you will be learning at the Seishinkan, as what will be taught is based upon my lifetime not only in the martial arts, but in life in general. I feel life experience is the greatest teacher, and we should look at life with Shoshin, a beginer's mind. If you close your mind to learning, you wont evolve. Absorb what is useful. Accept what may be different from you, or what you do, not as wrong, or bad, but as just that, different. We are all different, we all have something to share, and to learn from. So here is my heart, I will share it with you......if you can come in the spirit of Shoshin, an open heart, an open mind.

Lets go back to the original question: So, what is the Seishinkan? Seishinkan Karate-Budo and ultimately The Seishinkan Karate Budo Renmei is an organization to teach the Christian life skills, martial techniques, and healing arts that have been researched by myself, David Somers for over 30+ years.

So what might you learn here? The primary art theat we draw upon is Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate Do, but you will also find elements from Shuri-Te, Muay Thai, Boxing, Wing Chun, & Ninomiya/Oyama Ha Kumi Waza; along with sound Biblical principles. You will also learn Waza from Jujutsu, and Aikido, as well. Along with Okinawan Kobudo, and various other weapon arts.

The training at The Seishinkan, is like that of in Okinawa. It is laid back compared to most Dojo, in the US, but yet serious. We are not militaristic in our training methods at all, & our training is done one on one, or in small groups. We do not require you to call us Sensei, Shihan, etc; I feel this is something personal, & should come from the heart. I personally prefer to be called by my name David, then Sensei. As long as you have a good, pure heart, we should get along great.

If you should have any questions, please feel free to email me at Okigojunofl@hotmail.com.

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