Kodokai Dojo

One day, on the island of Okinawa, I was visiting Master Toma in his rustic little home. He was a karate master, a calligrapher, and was reputed to know a very old martial art, one that many people thought had been long lost. 

He was 82 years of age, a little shaky on his legs and didn't speak a word of English, but when he rose to his feet and demonstrated a few moves on me his technique spoke volumes.  

That moment was like peeking through a crack in a wall and glimpsing a room full of treasure- I had found something special but, at the time, it was out of reach. Many of our martial arts students come from Cumberland, RI, Lincoln and Providence.

This martial art turned out to be far more then I could have imagined- practical, straightforward and intelligent, and with a hands-on approach rather than emphasizing forms. 

Now, nine years later and with the support of several teachers in Japan, we can share this art with you. We no longer teach karate, we have something that better serves the self-defense and fitness needs of our community.  

We made many trips to Okinawa to learn this style. We also brought our teachers to Rhode Island several times to insure that we were properly teaching this art.

It is proving to be just what many people have been looking for. Maybe you'd like it, too.

                         
Palace Hand was the private martial art of the royal family on Okinawa. For 450 years it was practiced only by the ruling class. Reflecting the travels enjoyed by the nobility, it came from the same roots as several other styles. Some movements hint of kung-fu, others jujitsu or aikido, others Japanese sword, and others are like tai chi. It is very diverse yet refined so that movements flow together easily. 

Like many samurai arts, practice is about learning principles of movement rather than memorizing countless techniques. The same principles are used whether one is bare-handed, armed with a sword, or, nowadays, swinging an umbrella. This makes the art very adaptable without being complicated.

It is a straightforward self-defense style with specialized skills for multiple attackers, countless throws and diverse striking drills with the feet, hands, elbows and knees.

Palace Hand is a great fitness method and employs sensible movements which are easier on the joints than many other martial arts. You don't need to be an athlete to enjoy it and it isn't just for the young. Many people are finding that they can enjoy this training long after they have given up karate.

If you have never studied martial arts we welcome you! If you have years of training in another style this is still an ideal choice. In fact, many people with previous training have joined us. One nice thing about this method is that your previous training won't be wasted. Many of your skills are part of this style.