NEW! 2008 Dentokan Training Seminar (Click for information)

Dentokan, which means 'the House of Traditional Teachings', was established by Roy Jerry Hobbs after several decades of martial study, including six years resident in Japan where he gained the trust and respect of both Japanese and Okinawan style-leaders. Accordingly, the SOAS dojo, which consists of largely black and brown belts, seeks to study the full range of 'traditional teachings'.

The SOAS Dentokan sensei is Stephen Chan, who is also a Dean at SOAS. Stephen has studied the martial arts for more than three decades and has been with Roy Hobbs for 20 years. He has trained in Japan and Okinawa several times, and is internationally renowned as an historian of karate, an exponent of kata, and as a teacher of the martial arts in Africa.

SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies - University of London) has as its logo, a tree in full leaf, which resembles the sort of pine trees much admired in Japanese martial arts. The dojo, often nicknamed 'the Pit', is in the sub-basement. 

Arts Represented: Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do, Goju-Ryu Karate-Do, Okinawa Kobudo, Ju-Jutsu/Aiki-Jutsu, and Iai-Jutsu.

Training Times

Saturdays (12.45pm-3.15pm) Wednesdays (7.30pm-9.00pm)

The first and second Saturday of each month is devoted to the Shorin Ryu kata as propagated by Okinawan masters such as Seiki Toma and Shian Toma;

The third to the Goju kata in the Toguchi line, leading to the Okinawan Hakko Tsuru (White Crane) kata;

The fourth to Aiki ju jutsu - where the classes are led by Shihan Brian Rogers, trained in the Hakko Ryu system.

Each Saturday will also contain a 30 minute weapons session each week.

Wednesday classes reflect the Saturday emphases.