Dojo

DOJO is the word used to describe the Martial Arts Temple of Learning.  It means "place to learn the way"

Head Instructor

In our DOJO, the head instructor is George M. Marenco, Ph.D., meijin & 9th dan (degree) black belt.

Kami-Do-Ryu

The style of Karate that is taught at Marenco Karate Schools is called 'Kami-Do'.  The translation of KAMI is 'Superior', or 'Divine'.  Thus KAMI_DO is 'Superior Way' or 'Divine Way': another translation is 'The Way of the Gods'.  This style originated in China.  There in the Chinese Buddhist Monastery or Shaolin Temple, in the year 520 AD the roots of modern Karate were established.  RYU means 'Style' or 'System'.

Karate-Do

The Japanese word KARA means 'Empty', and TE means 'Hand'.  The second Japanese word DO means 'Way'.  Thus KARATE-DO means 'Way of the Empty Hand'

Kiai

In each of the four TAIKYOKUs there are two KIAIs.  KI means 'Spirit' and IA means 'Harmony'.  This refers to the harmony of the abdomen.  The purpose of the KIAI is both physical and mental.  By exhaling, you help to tense the muscles of the body and at the completion of a Karate technique, the muscles must be tense.  The purpose of the sound is more of a Spiritual Expression of the Will.  It also serves momentarily to distract or to startle an opponent.

Taikyoku

TAI means a great moment or celebrated event.  KYOKU means the unification of body and mind.  Together they form the phrase TAIKYOKU, which means "the great moment when body and mind come together".

White

The beginner wears a white belt.  The colour WHITE is symbolic, meaning the beginning of a transition.  The colour white is perhaps the most important colour - for it is the first step.