ISKF Tempe Karate

ISKF Tempe is the East Valley branch of the International Shotokan Karate Federation, one of the largest and most respected traditional Japanese karate organizations in the world. The dojo sits at 7070 S Rural Road in south Tempe, convenient to families across Tempe, Chandler, Mesa, Ahwatukee, and the Phoenix south side. Chief Instructor Dave Bracklow holds a 5th Degree Black Belt and started his own karate training in 1980 under Sensei James Field (8th Degree Black Belt) at ISKF Santa Monica - a clean lineage line that traces back through Master Teruyuki Okazaki to Funakoshi Sensei himself, founder of modern Shotokan karate. The youth program teaches the same ISKF curriculum used in the federation's dojos worldwide: the foundational kihon (stances, blocks, strikes, kicks), the classic Heian and beyond kata series, partnered drills, and structured light kumite as students rank up through the kyu belts toward shodan. Saturday mornings open with an Introduction to Martial Arts beginners class (9:00-9:30 am) for new students learning the fundamentals, followed by All-Level Training (9:30-11:00 am) covering kata, kihon, and kumite together. Weekday classes meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The atmosphere is the formal, old-school traditional Shotokan environment - proper gi, dojo etiquette, and the patient repetition that rewards multi-year practice. Trial classes are available.