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About the dojoA traditional dojo. A modern system.
The Powerhouse Martial Arts & Fitness is a traditional Shotokan karate dojo in Central Vancouver, serving the community since 1992.
Sensei Ramin Emami, 6th dan.
Sensei Ramin established The Powerhouse in 1992. He came to Canada after several years of training at the Japan Karate Association HQ, where he learned karate from the Japanese masters and the Japanese national team.
Students describe his teaching as passionate, structured and personal. He assesses each student individually, tailors feedback to their level, and makes serious training fun.
★★★★★Sensei Ramin makes the serious training fun, which isn't easy. Highly recommended for anyone serious about learning an original style.
Black belts trained in life skills, too.
Our classes are led by a team of certified black belts trained in karate and in essential life skills. They coach the mental side of karate as seriously as the physical side, which sets us apart from a typical martial arts school.
We take pride in our Training System, refined over years of experience, trial and error. It delivers programs that work for every age and fitness level, so every student can grow, learn and succeed in a supportive environment. Goal setting is built into every program: students learn goal-setting, planning, dedication, commitment and self-discipline.
Shotokan. The most practiced karate in the world.
Our main program is Shotokan karate, taught in the JKA style, with millions of followers worldwide. Our name for it is karate-do: the way of the empty hand.
Kihon
Basics: stances, punches, blocks, kicks and strikes, drilled until they are second nature.
Kata
Forms, from Taikyoku Shodan and the Heian kata to Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi and Jion.
Kumite
Sparring, built up from five-step and one-step drills to semi-free and free sparring.
Age-specific
4 to 7, 8 to 12, teens and adults. Never all ages together.
Every three months, a new goal.
Each term is 3 months long. Around week 5 or 6, students take an informal tip-test and earn black stripes for the new material. With at least one black stripe they sign up for the belt exam at term end. The last week of every term is a rest week while results and report cards are prepared.
3140 Ash Street, Vancouver.
Next to the church building, at Saint Mary's rec centre, in Central Vancouver near Fairview.
Lockers are downstairs. Parents wait upstairs, and kids change in the change rooms downstairs.
Challenge your limits.
Newcomers start with a free intro class. Come see the dojo for yourself.