About Tokuiten Karate
Traditional Shotokan Karate is the root discipline of Tokuiten Karate. Because of Okinawan, Japanese, Chinese and other international contributors, especially in the United States, karate is more than just a Japanese art. Tokuiten Karate is affiliated with The United Self-Defense Federation (USDF) and a member school of USA Karate which is regulated by the US Olympic Team.
The goal of this school is to provide students with functional self-defense skills and mindsets. Tokuiten Karate school achieves this by incorporating the striking strategies from Shotokan karate and learned from our predecessors. Additionally, Judo and Sumo techniques including standing grappling and take-downs are considered standard interpretations of basic techniques and kata.
Tokuiten translates to “Singularity”, which has two derivative meanings. The first and most direct meaning is the essential karate concept of “kime” (決め) or focus. The ability to focus the entirety of one's strength, body dynamics, and momentum through refinement of intent, body kinetics, and connectivity into the smallest possible point so as to deliver the fastest and most effective technique.
Singularity is also in reference to a black hole. The martial arts curriculum is a refinement of knowledge and techniques from many sources consumed and compressed to provide the densest possible martial arts curriculum while still remaining true to traditional karate. Tokuiten Karate will apply effective concepts from striking, grappling, throwing, mobility, strength training and physical conditioning, and strategy and tactics in addition to the core concepts of karate to produce highly effective martial artists.
Our Classes Are For
Anyone interested and willing to learn, from grade school aged students, to young adults, to seniors are all welcome. Karate provides a useful understanding of one's self, and you can never age out of learning. We are happy to welcome students of all abilities and identities.
- Learn valuable self-defense skills
- Improve your personal fitness
- Gain self-discipline
- Challenge what you thought you were capable of
- Develop friendships through training
- Connect with your inner self
Meet Antonio
Classes are lead by Sensei Antonio DiNunno, who holds a 2nd degree black belt (2nd dan) in Shotokan karate. Antonio started his martial arts journey in college, and over the last 16 years has learned from many distinguished martial artists in karate, and kung-fu.
Antonio was trained and ranked under his grandfather's school. He was the first in his family to receive a black belt from this very demanding school which has been teaching since the 1960s. Sensei F. DiNunno (8th dan) played a role in bringing karate to America and has been taught by numerous instructors from Japan.
Antonio also trained for 8 years under Sensei D. Baldis (5th dan), one of the most decorated US athletes and 7x national champion. Sensei Baldis is a head coach of the USA Karate national team.
Meet Ryu
Sensei Carlos (Ryu) Santiago, born and raised in Puerto Rico, holds a 3rd degree black belt in Ishindo Zen Kenpo Karate.
Sensei Santiago started his martial arts journey at 8 years old, in a small Dojo located in San Juan, PR, under the tutelage of Sensei Gilberto Hernadez (Kyoshi, 7th Dan), founder of Ishindo Zen Kenpo, a branch of Shorin Ryu Karate, influenced primarily by Tode, Old Karate focused on self defense.
He has been doing Karate for 30 years, as well as acquired varying levels of experience in a myriad of other systems, including Jyoshinmon Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu, Jujutsu, Kendo, Iaido, WTF Tae Kwon Do, ITF Tae Kwon Do, Moo Duk Kwan, Hapkido, Kumdo, and U.S. ARMY Combatives during his time as a U.S. Soldier. He has also dabbled into some of the more "exotic" systems, like Capoeira, and various Ninjutsu arts.
His martial arts lineage can be traced back from teacher to teacher to important figures in the earlier recorded days of Karate in Okinawa.
Today, he focuses his efforts on helping students improve their skills in martial arts, working to pass on his knowledge to future generations.
Testimonials
After working on kata with Antonio, the rising block has become second nature. That reflex probably saved my life when a heavy bi-fold door in an entryway closet jumped its track and came crashing down on me. I walked away from that encounter with a bruised forearm instead of a cracked skull. I had my back turned and barely saw it out of the corner of my eye. Pure reflex. No time to process what happened until I was looking at the door on the ground.
Sam. S - Yellow Belt
I highly recommend Tokuiten Karate. The teacher is a dedicated life long Karate devotee who is highly skilled in his craft. Old school training at its best.
Sifu Kisu - Instructor for Harmonious Fist School of Northern Shaolim
Martial arts choreographer to Avatar the Last Airbender
DiNunno Sensei boasts a strong karate pedigree dating back to the founders of the American-based Japanese Karate Association (JKA) and his Grandfather Frank DiNunno, a trailblazing, well-decorated North American karate-ka. A chemist by trade, DiNunno Sensei has devoted himself to the craft of karate-do and sharing its physical, philosophical and moral elements with students of all ages. When earning my shodan - first degree black belt, I trained with DiNunno Sensei, internalizing the technical basics of the art and its cultural and philosophical lessons. Throughout his karate journey, DiNunno Sensei labored extremely hard, spending hours reading martial arts texts, sharpening his karate basics and kata in the dojo, and attending expert seminars to enhance his overall knowledge of the art. In addition to focusing on improving his technique and pursuing the karate precept of perfection, DiNunno Sensei always demonstrated compassion and respect while engaging with new students, veteran karate-ka and instructing senseis. During his past teaching experiences, DiNunno Sensei often prided himself on technical precision and establishing a warm, welcoming training atmosphere, which emphasized inclusion, discipline, and health and wellness. A commitment to preserving karate-do, combined with a strong desire to introduce the art to children, families and young adults, makes DiNunno an excellent, one-of-a-kind candidate to lead a karate dojo and serve as a role model for young, impressionable students. It is obvious that DiNunno Sensei possesses the spirit and strong credentials needed to direct (and expand) a thriving karate school and community.
Most importantly, however, I believe that DiNunno Sensei - and his specialized karate curriculum - succeeds in transferring life lessons and sound ethical values to all participating students.
Phil H. - Black belt
US