About Us
Sensei Fred Christian started Karate in 1968. He received his Yon-kyu in 1969 from Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine. He then studied and received his Sho-dan (Black Belt) in 1971 under Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine's U.S. representative, Chotoku Omine, a Roko-Dan (6th degree black belt). In 1974, under Takayoshi Nagamine (Grand Master Nagamine's son) he earned his Ni-Dan (2nd degree). In 1970 he estabished the Karate program at South Western Illinois College. In 1977, he earned his San-Dan (3rd degree) from Grand Master Shoshin Nagamine in Ohio. In 1983 he received his Yondan (4th degree) from Sensei Frank Grant, Master Nagamine's mid-west representative. He stuidied and earned his Go-dan (5th degree) in Okinawa from Grandmaster Shoshin Nagamine, Soke Takayoshi Nagamine, and Yasuharu Makishi Sensei. He Received his Rokudan (6th degree) in New York from Soke Nagamine. In 1994, Sensei Christian was very instrumental in the creation of the WMKA (World Matsubayashi Ryu Association) and was one of the first members. He tested for 7th and 8th degrees in Okinawa in front of a board of Masters. He was the highest rank in the world outside of Okinawa. He currently holds the rank of 9th Dan after testing in front of the founder of Tiida-Ryu, Lara Chamberlain (Kaiso), in 2019 and is now the highest rank in the world in Tiida-Ryu. Visit: www.sczenkarate.org
Sensei has over 50 years of teaching experience and has taught all over the world in Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, and across the United States. He has been to Okinawa more than a dozen times and has taught over a thousand students. and has trained many black belts over his 50 plus years of teaching.
SENSEI FRED CHRISTIAN
9TH DAN-HANSHI
Our Roots
Grand Master Shoshin Nagmine was born in Tomari, Naha City. he began studying Karate at the age of 17 in March 1928. He earned the nickname Chippaii matsu which means Tenacious PineTree. At the age of 25, in May of 1940 he was awarded his Renshi Rank. In 1941 he created the kata Fukyugata Ichi. In 1947 the name Matsubayshi Ryu was adopted to honor Sokon Matsumura and Kosaku Matsumura. In January 1953 the first dojo was opened in Naha City called Kodokan Karate-do and Kobujutsu Dojo.
Grand Master Shoshin Nagmine
Founder 10th Dan-Hanshi
July 15, 1907–Nov. 2, 1997
Soke Takayoshi Nagamine
10th Dan-Hanshi.
Aug. 12, 1945–April 25, 2012
Gallery
Yudansha
- Bob Seibert, 8th dan, Kyoshi (deceased)
- Martha Evans, 7th dan, Kyoshi
- Robert M. Brooks II, 6th dan, Renshi
- Steve Clement, 5th dan, Shihan (emeritus)
- Bill Blanchard, 5th dan, Shihan
- Darrell Robinson, 5th dan, Shihan
- Kathy Costello, 4th dan
- Jesse Williams, 4th dan
- Jason Williams, 4th dan
- Darrell Addison, 3rd dan
- Forrest Heusinkveld, 3rd dan
- Bob Skevington, 2nd dan
- Darwin Cabb, 2nd dan
- Lori Libby, 2nd dan
- Linda Christian, 1st dan
- Ervin Morris, 1st dan
- Alexandra Christian, 1st dan
Curriculum
Our style has 18 kata. Through the diligent study and practice of these kata, our students honor the essence of Okinawan karate, embodying its principles of discipline, respect, and self-improvement.
- Fukyugata ichi
- Fukyugata ni
- Pinan shodan
- Pinan nidan
- Pinan sandan
- Pinan yondan
- Pinan godan
- Naihanchi shodan
- Naihanchi nidan
- Naihanchi sandan
- Ananku
- Wankan
- Rohai
- Wanshu
- Passai
- Gojushiho
- Chinto
- Kusanku
Class Schedule and Events
Class Schedule
Tuesday/Thursday: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00am
Contact
Location:
Belleville Health and Sports center
1001 S 74th St, Belleville, IL 62223
Email:
xian7@charter.net