Everyone is Welcomed! All classes are deliberately slow paced at first and geared to ones own skill level and safety. Classes are meant to challenge your brain and transform your muscle memory into this expressive “Art-form” known world-wide as Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai. Soon, your moves will become second-nature and such benefits as improved health and inner-strength will carry over into all other areas of your life. “There is more to this “Art” than meets the eye; feeling safer wherever you go …PRICELESS!” - Greg Diloné, Owner/ Instructor (Sensei)
Greg Diloné, (pronounced Dee-Low-Nay) has trained countless of hundreds of students in his almost 45-years in Martial Arts. He states, "Karate has saved my life, teaching it has saved others". Greg has trained and competed in Japan and officially introduced Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai to Michigan in 1992. He recently came out of a 16-year retirement from competition to win a Bronze Medal in Kumité/Sparring at the Canadian Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai National Championships in Toronto. More surprisingly, Greg was awarded the prestigious “Most Outstanding Male Competitor” trophy by legendary Japanese Master Kei Tsumura. With this win, Greg qualifies for the World Championships (held every four-years), set for Hong Kong, China in July of 2017. In preparation for China and in hopes of returning afterwards to Japan upon his Sensei/Teachers’ invitation, Greg is offering classes to help fund his travel costs. Students are encouraged to please feel free to make yourself at home; because after all, we are all members of the world-wide Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai family headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. From white belt to black belt and beyond, classes are meant to challenge your brain so that your body and spirit will follow. Your greatest challenge will be having the patience to take “baby-steps” in order to form a strong foundation to build upon. For more info please visit us on the web at: www.itosu-kaimichigan.com
HISTORY: Our style was derived by Okinawan Master Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) who formed the name “Shito”, from a combination of his two legendary Masters, Anko Itosu (1830-1915) and Kanryo Higoanna (1853-1915). The words “RYU” stands for “SCHOOL” and “KAI” stands for “CLUB”. Also, found in our title names are the words "KARATE" which translates to "Empty-Hand" or "Weaponless"; (one’s mind and body become the weapon), and the word "DŌ", which stands for the study of any discipline as a means to improve your "WAY" in life. "KARATE-DŌ" is the "WEOPONLESS WAY OF LIFE”. You are never unarmed.