SW Dojo's Lineage
Funakoshi Gichin (1868-1957)
If there is one man who could be credited with placing karate in the position it enjoys on the Japanese mainland today, it is Gichin Funakoshi.
This Meijin (Master) was born in Shuri, Okinawa, and didn't even begin his second life as harbinger of official recognition for karate on mainland Japan until he was fifty-three years old...
Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969)
Morihei Ueshiba was history's greatest martial artist. Even as an old man of eighty, he could disarm any foe, down any number of attackers, and pin an opponent with a single finger.
Although invincible as a warrior, he was above all a man of peace who detested fighting, war, and any kind of violence. His way was Aikido, which can be translated as "The Art of Peace." Morihei Ueshiba is referred to by the practitioners of Aikido as O Sensei, "The Great Teacher"...
Hidetaka Nishiyama
On November 3, 2000, Master Hidetaka Nishiyama, Chairman of the International Traditional Karate Federation (ITKF) and President of the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF), was recommended by the Japanese government for his worldwide promotion of Japanese culture as a Master Instructor of Traditional Karate...
Steve Gancherov
Steve Gancherov trained under Hidetaka Nishiyama a first generation student of Funakoshi Gichin founder of Shotokan Karate.
Sensei Steve Gancherov is a second generation Shotokan Karate master. His teachings have been a vital part of not only his own students' practice but dojos across the globe.
Sensei Steve recently went to Switzerland where he gave a seminar and met with other Shotokan Karate students that have been training in the forms created by Gichin Funakoshi.