Michigan Shotokan Karate Dojo
About
Michigan Shotokan Karate Dojo at Meri Lou Murray Rec Center
Michigan Shotokan Karate Dojo is a traditional Shotokan Karate of America (SKA) school operating since 1974 out of the Meri Lou Murray Recreation Center on Washtenaw Avenue in southeast Ann Arbor. Half a century of continuous practice at the same venue serves the University of Michigan community, Ann Arbor families, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Township, and the broader Washtenaw County area.
Kids Martial Arts Programs
The dojo teaches the classical SKA syllabus as a lifelong practice rather than a quick belt-mill program, with students of all ages and abilities training together:
- Kihon (foundational stances, blocks, strikes, kicks)
- The Heian kata progression
- Ippon-kumite and structured partner drills
- Advanced kata and free-style kumite as students rank up
- SKA's distinctive ethical training framework
What's Included
- Operating since 1974 at the same venue (half a century continuous)
- Direct lineage from Sensei Tsutomu Ohshima (SKA founder, student of Gichin Funakoshi)
- Head sensei Greg Oliver, a 3rd-degree black belt
- Affordable rec-center venue relative to most commercial dojos
- Visitors welcome to observe a class
Experience
This is the gold standard for traditional Shotokan in America: a direct line of transmission from Mr. Ohshima, who brought the curriculum to America in the 1950s, back to Funakoshi and the historical Okinawan and Japanese masters. The dojo's culture emphasizes that karate can be practiced by everyone at any age, making it a strong fit for families wanting authentic lineage over commercial belt-mill programs.