Arizona Budōkan

Kurobayashi-Ha Shitō-ryū Karate

Powerful and Effective

Kurobayashi-Ha Shitō-Ryū Karate

If you want karate training that goes beyond surface techniques and sport to offer hidden practical applications, energy work, and rich historical authenticity, you've come to the right dojo. Whether you’re completely new to martial arts or have trained extensively before, our small class sizes and personalized approach to instruction make karate at the Arizona Budōkan accessible to people of all ages, experience, and levels of athleticism.

  • Unbroken lineage
  • Practical authenticity
  • Pressure Points & Take-downs

Most of today’s top Shitō-ryū instructors derive their source information from one or two teachers who studied directly under Kenwa Mabuni or under one of his protégés. Shihan Rudy Crosswell (full biography) is unique in that he holds master-level rank in three separate sub-styles of Shitō-ryū as taught by three of Kenwa Mabuni’s top students, and has continued to interact closely with many more senior Shitō-ryū masters over the years. His passion for detail and insistence on the historical preservation of traditional forms has allowed him to develop a nuanced and multifaceted understanding of what is arguably the most comprehensive style of karate ever developed.

Train in one of the most complete karate systems ever developed under a third-generation master who spent decades learning directly from students of the founder of Shitō-ryū. You will not find a more complete or authentic traditional karate curriculum anywhere.

A Brief History of Shito-ryu Karate:

What impressed me the most, its more than just kicking and punching. Its a complete experience."

Bill T.

Arizona Budōkan
4744 E Thunderbird Road Phoenix, AZ 85032

Kurobayashi-Ha Shitō-ryū Karate

A balance of hard and soft techniques, practical grappling, pressure point, and take-down applications.