SHOTOKAN KARATE
Traditional, influential, and most popular Karate Style
Valley Martial Arts Center, Best Shotokan Karate School - Los Angeles, CA
松濤館空手
Shotokan Karate Classes in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles
Valley Martial Arts Center (VMAC) offers traditional Shotokan Karate classes in Sherman Oaks for all ages, for both men and women, beginners and experienced students. Our training follows the teachings of Master Hidetaka Nishiyama and emphasizes proper technique, discipline, self-defense, physical fitness, and personal development. Our experienced instructors help students build strength, confidence, coordination, and focus in a welcoming environment.
Conveniently located near Encino, Van Nuys, Studio City, and North Hollywood, VMAC welcomes adults of all skill levels.
Join us today and start your martial arts journey!
The first class is free! Easy enrollment. Affordable rates. No contract.
valleymartialartscenter@gmail.com or (310) 388-7274
We are a member of the national traditional karate federation, WBKA (World Budo Karate Association). (https://www.budokarate.art), a non-political and non-profit organization.
World Budo Karate Association follows the sensei Nishiyama system of principles, which are universal and can be applied by any karate-style practitioner.
SHOTOKAN KARATE INSTRUCTORS
Learn Shotokan Karate from Experienced Black Belt Instructors
More than 30 years of Karate experience, 10 years training under Sensei Nishiyama, and multiple U.S. national champion.
A World Medalist, Pan-American Champion, and multi-medalist in the US National Championships.
32 years of Martial Arts experiences. Including Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Shotokan Karate Class
Tuesday 7:00 - 8:00 pm (All levels)
Thursday 7:00 - 8:00 pm (All levels)
Friday 7:00 - 8:00 pm (Open Mat)
Saturday 11:00 - 12:00 pm (All levels), 12:00 - 12:30 (Advanced)
Sunday 5:30 - 6:30 pm (All levels)
We provide affordable monthly membership rates with no long-term contracts, making it easy to begin your martial arts training. Contact VMAC to learn about current membership options, available discounts, and class schedules.
First class free · No contract · $50 joining fee
Guest/non-member class: $35.
Discounts are available for families, multiple-class enrollment, and eligible military or law enforcement members.
SHOTOKAN KARATE Q&A
What is Shotokan Karate? Shotokan Karate is a traditional Japanese martial art that emphasizes powerful strikes, blocks, precise techniques, and disciplined movement. Training helps students develop strength, coordination, focus, confidence, and self-defense skills.
Is Shotokan Karate suitable for beginners? Yes. Shotokan Karate is suitable for beginners of all fitness levels. Students learn fundamental techniques step by step, gradually developing physical fitness, balance, flexibility, and confidence.
Is Shotokan Karate effective for self-defense? Shotokan Karate teaches practical striking, blocking, distancing, and defensive movement. Regular training can improve awareness, reaction time, and confidence in self-defense situations.
What is the difference between Shotokan Karate and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Shotokan Karate focuses primarily on standing techniques, including punches, kicks, and blocks. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu emphasizes grappling, ground control, and submission techniques. Both offer different approaches to martial arts and self-defense.
Where can I learn Shotokan Karate in Sherman Oaks? Valley Martial Arts Center (VMAC) offers traditional Shotokan Karate classes in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. Students can develop martial arts skills, physical fitness, discipline, and confidence in a supportive training environment.
Shotokan Karate History - Our Masters
Our karate style is Shotokan, the most widely practiced and considered a traditional and influential form of karate. The founding father was Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957). In 1936, Funakoshi built the first Shotokan dojo in Tokyo, Japan.
Funakoshi laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate (Niju kun), which formed the foundations of the art. Within the principles, based on Bushido and Zen, lies the philosophy of Shotokan. It alludes to humility, respect, compassion, patience, and inward and outward calmness. Funakoshi believed the karateka would improve themselves through karate practice and observation of these 20 principles.
Funakoshi's students continued to teach karate after he died in 1957. One of them was Hidetaka Nishiyama (1928-2008), a founder of the Japan Karate Association (JKA), American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF), and International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF). Nishiyama brought karate to the US in 1961 and continued to spread it all over the world. Our instructors are direct students of Hidetaka Nishiyama. As Sensei Nishiyama taught, we aim to develop and nurture karate as Budo. We want to share its benefits and better the lives of many people in the community and worldwide.
Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957)
Funakoshi was born in Okinawa in 1868. He was of samurai lineage, from a family that had been vassals of Ryukyu Dynasty nobles.
Funakoshi trained in Okinawan karate, Shorei-ryu, and Shorin-ryu. After years of study, Funakoshi arrived at a new understanding of martial arts and a more straightforward and modified style - Shotokan karate.
By the late 1910s, Funakoshi had many students who could pass on their master's teachings. He ventured to mainland Japan in 1917; in 1930, Funakoshi established an association, Dai-Nippon Karate-do Shoto-Kaito, the official keeper of Funakoshi's karate heritage.
In 1936, Funakoshi built his dojo in Tokyo and changed the written characters of karate to mean "empty hand" (空手).
Hidetaka Nishiyama (1928-2008)
Hidetaka Nishiyama was a Japanese martial arts master, an internationally recognized instructor, author, administrator, and karate pioneer. A student of Funakoshi, Nishiyama brought karate to the United States of America in 1961 and worldwide.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Nishiyama started kendo training in 1933, followed by judo in 1938. In 1943, he began training in Shotokan karate at the Tokyo dojo. By 1946, he had his black belt in karate and the second dan in 1948. At his death, he was respectfully a 10th-degree black belt.
In 2000, the Nishiyama Cup in Moscow was the first official karate event in Russia since the end of the Soviet Union, honoring Nishiyama. In 2000, the Emperor of Japan was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Gold Rays with Rosette). In the first Traditional Karate World Cup in 2001, Poland honored Nishiyama with the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.
Nishiyama taught karate daily at Central Dojo (NKI) in Los Angeles, CA, until his death. Sensei Nishiyama's full biography
Traditional Shotokan Karate in Sherman Oaks and the San Fernando Valley
VMAC welcomes students from Sherman Oaks, Encino, Van Nuys, Studio City, North Hollywood, Burbank, and surrounding Los Angeles communities. Whether you're searching for beginner karate classes, traditional Japanese martial arts, practical self-defense, or advanced Shotokan Karate training, our instructors provide structured lessons to help you develop your skills and confidence.