Silicon Valley Karate Celebrates 25 Years…PLUS

Silicon Valley Karate has been holding classes in the area since July 1998. That’s 25 years. But many of our members have been at it far longer than this. Our Chief Instructor started doing Shotokan in 1982 and teaching in 1984. Sensei Fred Borda also started teaching in the 1980s. Many others in our group started in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Sensei Keeling had been teaching at another dojo in Palo Alto when he approached the main instructor to suggest expanding the class schedule from what it had been for years – 3x/week, 90 minutes each. When that instructor said he was not interested, Keeling Sensei decided to open a place of his own and expand the schedule there. Starting as “JKA of Silicon Valley,” we began with just adult classes, expanding to add separate kids classes in 2008.

We have been in multiple locations, starting in a gym, then a warehouse, then a church, all in Redwood City. While still headquartered in Redwood City, Sensei Keeling started teaching after-school programs in various locations over the years in Redwood Shores, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Redwood City, Los Altos Hills and Mountain View. We added kids classes at the Palo Alto Buddhist Temple, then added classes at Cubberley Community Center in Palo Alto at a dance studio around the corner where we are now. We eventually consolidated to our current location.

Over the years, we have taken part in many special events, including our annual charity kick-a-thon, guest instructor events including some of the best camps in the world, tournaments and more. Friendships have been born and bonds strengthened over these many years. And we now have many of the region’s top instructors working together at our dojo to provide the best instruction with a full schedule of classes and many special events spread throughout the year.

The pandemic took its toll on our membership, reducing our numbers from over 100 to nearly half that. But we have been building back the quantity of members while maintaining quality and now we have students spread around the globe, participating over Zoom when their schedules align.

Look for announcements about upcoming special events. Lots of things in the works…