The San Diego Dojo of Shotokan Karate of America (SKA) was established in June 1975 by Sandan John McClintock. Initially the group practiced at the Solana Beach Military Academy. The group trained at the military academy only for a short time and, eventually, a long-term practice facility was found at Torrey Pines High School in Del Mar. In 1984, the group moved to our current practice facility at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas. We enjoy a dual status as an SKA Dojo as well as a physical education course in the San Dieguito Adult Education Program.


San Diego Dojo, Encinitas around 1991 (Winter Special Training, Long Beach)
Back row: Daniel Nemiroff, Greg Block, Derek Greene, Ken Burrows, Bob Sullivan,
Tran Nguyen, James Weinberger, Nancy, Brian O'Neil
Front row: Martin Vargas, Roger Argus, Martyn Edwards, Jeffrey Teza

Among the original members of the San Diego Dojo was Larry Lazarus, who today is a Godan leading the Chapel Hill Dojo. In 1980, Shodan Jean Linder joined the group and taught the Thursday evening practices until 1991. During the early 1980's Jerome Williams joined the club and became the first San Diego Shotokan homegrown Shodan. Jerome, now a Yodan, currently leads the Figueroa Dojo in Los Angeles. In 1985, John McClintock stepped down as dojo leader, and this responsibility was undertaken by Nidan Mahlon Wilkes, who had been training with the club since 1976. Also, in 1985, Martin Vargas joined the group. Martin, who came over as a brown belt from JKA, has since been promoted to Nidan and continues with the club teaching Tuesday evening practice. In August of 1989, Mahlon Wilkes moved to Northern California passing on leadership responsibilities to Roger Argus. Starting originally at Long Beach State University, Roger came to San Diego as an unranked white belt and in 1986 was awarded Shodan. Roger, who has since been promoted to Nidan, currently shares teaching responsibility for Monday evening practices with Sandan Derek Greene. The Thursday evening practices were led for many years by Nidan and Vietnam Veteran Bob Sullivan. Bob, who began training with the group in 1988, sadly, lost a long battle with cancer in 2001. In 1999, Roger asked Nidan Darren Pike to step in to lead the Thursday evening practices and help manage the dojo. Darren, who joined the group in November of 1993 as an unranked white belt, has since been promoted to Sandan. Together, in June 2003, Darren and Derek became the groups first homegrown Sandans and co-leaders of San Diego Shotokan. Since 2004, we have been fortunate to have Yodan Gary Shockley from Garden Grove Dojo as a guest instructor leading practice every first Thursday of the month. Other blackbelts currently practicing with our group include Nidan Daniel Baird, and Shodans Jason Dedrick, Peter Buerki, Sanae Okada, and Dave Patterson. The group also includes many strong brown and white belts.


San Diego Dojo, Encinitas, 2005
Back row: Mark Frantz, Angel Antezana, Jean Scally, Daniel Unger, Rachel Walborn
Middle row: Ladislao Garcia, David Patterson, Sanae Okada, Peter Buerki, Robert Schmitz
Front row: Daniel Baird, Martin Vargas, Darren Pike, Jason Dedrick

In 1981, we hosted our first Annual Beach Practice. This annual event has continued every year since and is very popular among SKA membership. The 6th, 10th, and 11th Annual Exchange Practices were lead by Ohshima-sensei. The opportunity to practice with members of other SKA dojos is always a rewarding experience. Our beach practice also serves as our main fund-raising activity on behalf of SKA. Take a look at our beach practice page with more information and photos from past events.

Our dojo has been visited by Ohshima-sensei and many senior SKA blackbelts, including Don Depree, Steve Bankes, Jeff Klein, Marion Taylor, Chris Hunt, Jeff Ross, Greg Scott, Randy McClure, Yoram Cohen, Dave Lechuga, Frank Cole, John Blair, and Ken Osborne.

Want to know more?
Attend one of our practices, view short bios and pictures of our black belts, or email us at: info@sandiegoshotokan.org.