What is karate?
Karate is a form of empty handed martial art. It originates from Okinawa and Japan. Karate is practiced by people of all ages and abilities.
Reasons for practicing karate:
- improving fitness and mental health;
- self-defence;
- sports karate and competitions;
- to study the martial art;
- as a social activity.
There are many different styles and schools of karate.
We train in a version of Shotokan karate that was initially developed by Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa. Soke Kanazawa founded the Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF). The style is known for being fast, dynamic, and strong.
History of SKIA in Western Australia
The organisation’s beginning in Western Australia started with Sensei Howard Mutton’s karate dojo in Cannington, Western Australia. Howard Mutton was a Shodan in Budokan karate. In 1981, after discussions between Howard Mutton and Sensei Frank Nowak, the Cannington Dojo affiliated with SKIA. This was the start of the Western Australia Branch of SKIA.
Sensei Clive Funston – who still teaches today in 2024 – was student of Howard Mutton at the time of affiliation. Clive Funston (6th dan) has described his memories of the old Cannington dojo as follows:
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We used to train at the small hall on Canning Highway beside the Cannington dog track. Training was hard and rugged in those days – we were young and enthusiastic – but lacked a certain amount of “finesse”. A feature of training in those days was the weekend demonstrations at shopping centres and social functions. We refined quite a few skits – and were approached a few times to work as stunt men! Sensei Nowak was an inspirational instructor – the hardest training I have ever had was with him. He was also very strict – and the slightest transgression of dojo rules would mean endless bunny hops around the dojo.
SKIA WA has been in continuous operation for more than 40 years. Over that time, SKIA WA’s instructors have taught Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa’s style of Shotokan karate to thousands of Western Australians.
History of SKIA WA’s dojos
| Year | Dojo Opened | Instructor | Dojo Closed |
| 1981 | Cannington | Howard Mutton | |
| 1983 | Victoria Park | Howard Mutton | Cannington |
| 1984 | Mt Lawley | Howard Mutton | Victoria Park |
| 1984 | Lynwood | Wayne Greenwell | |
| 1985 | South Perth* | Clive Funston | |
| 1985 | Fremantle | Peter Mladineo | |
| 1985 | Carine | Grant Rollinson (then Lex McKinley) | |
| 1986 | Nollamara | Howard Mutton | Mt Lawley |
| 1989 | Lynwood | ||
| 1990 | Armadale | Darryl Wylie | |
| 1991 | Fremantle | ||
| 1991 | Mandurah | Peter Wilkinson | |
| 1991 | Bedford | Howard Mutton | |
| 1991 | Greenbushes | Wayne Luvis | |
| 1992 | Carine Greenbushes | ||
| 1992 | Woodvale* | Robin Yakinthou | |
| 1992 | Carnarvon | Linda Baines | |
| 1992 | Balcatta | Bill Nyssen | |
| 1992 | Rockingham | Chris Hoath | |
| 1993 | Bunbury | Chris Visentin | |
| 1995 | Carnarvon Balcatta Bedford Bunbury Mandurah | ||
| 1995 | Fremantle | Andrew Tulloch | |
| 1995 | Carine | Jesper Rasmussen | |
| 1995 | Greenmount* | Gerry Healy | |
| 1995 | Safety Bay | Judy Hoath | |
| 1996 | Fremantle Armadale | ||
| 1996 | Kelmscott* | John Mauchel (now Tim Stephenson) | |
| 1996 | Mandurah | Kevin Seymour | |
| 1996 | Cottesloe | Tim Stephenson | |
| 1997 | Cottesloe | ||
| 1997 | Gosnells | John Mauchel (then Tim Stephenson) | |
| 2001 | Gosnells | ||
| 2002 | Sorrento | Jesper Rasmussen | Carine |
| 2004 | Rockingham Safety Bay Sorrento | ||
| 2007 | Carine | Lex McKinley | Nollamara |
| 2010 | Bertram | Evita Ross | |
| 2010 | Northshore* | Alistair Clark | |
| 2011 | Bertram | ||
| 2012 | Carine | ||
| 2013 | Scarborough | Bruno Zadeh | |
| 2013 | Kenwick | Corey Giles | |
| 2014 | Scarborough | ||
| 2015 | Kenwick | ||
| 2015 | Port Kennedy | Paul Buck | Port Kennedy |
| 2017 | Lathlain | Nash Davis | |
| 20?? | Lathlain |