Shotokan Karate

The instructors here teach and practice Shotokan Karate. This is the ancient japanese martial art developed to defend oneself without weapons primarily. Karate-do translates into The way of the empty hand. There was a time when the daimyo in Okinawa got paranoid and ordered that there be no weapons of any form to be found on his citizens. The people still needed to defend themselves against thieves so they developed this martial art.

The first lesson in class is a reminder that this is not just a sport like others around. This is a martial art that can be dangerous so all students are asked not to play around and to find a more peaceful solution to any situation. However, if it is unavoidable, one can defend himself or herself. Control is of utmost importance because as one develops his skill to point where “ikken nisatsu” or to kill with one blow is possible, students know that there are repercussions to their actions and are thus encouraged to be more careful. Avoiding conflict would be the more prudent thing to do.

This martial art is open to children starting at an age where they are capable of understanding commands and instructions. We will not accept children who will just play in the dojo. Our goal is to spread the teachings taught to us by those who have gone before us. If students are too young, they can go do other things until they are old enough to learn the skills, the discipline and the control necessary. We have developed a class for kids younger than 7 yet old enough to understand our instruction. It is safe for young kids and people with disabilities.

We have had students who are older than 60 years of age. It is not too late to begin. Karate is not just for fighting and self defense. It is a way of life where one’s everyday is changed for the better. It is a very good source of cardiovascular exercise as well as strength development and maintenance of flexibility.

Feel free to contact us to find more or better yet, visit and ask one of our students.

started to move away from the local ISKF group since it no longer is attuned to what the Pioneer Karate group desires for its students. Since then ISKF has changed locally and internationally.

Resident Chief Instructor’s Profile:

Sensei Erico Super Perez, M.D.

• 5th Dan Blackbelt local rank
• 4th Dan Blackbelt International Rank
• Graduate of The Ateneo and Fatima College of Medicine
• Started Karate in 1982
• Founding Secretary General of ISKF Philippines (2007 to 2015)
• Founder and Resident Chief Instructor of Pioneer Shotokan Karate Club
• Creator of the Joint Safe Defense Program

Sensei Super Perez takes a different approach to teaching Karate. The focus is to making the students, whether 6 or 60, understand the concepts of karate and not just copying movements and practicing strikes and kicks. As a father of 2 boys, kids are taught with patience and care just as a father should. As a medical doctor, age appropriate exercise, levels and techniques are applied to ensure proper growth and development for kids while adults are kept safe. Students are encouraged and trained to advance to their full potential.

Sensei Super started karate in 1982 for various reasons. Things soon changed as regards confidence and general good health. This puts him at a good position to understand young kids and those with negative experiences outside. The class is engineered to slowly build up their bodies and minds and yet teach them that violence is not the first thing they should resort to in a conflict.

He attained his shodan blackbelt with AAK in 1989, 3 years after attaining his 1st kyu brown belt due to local age requirements. He understands that skill and love for the art is more important so given the freedom, promotion is not based on the length of time in that belt but on the attainment of the skills required for that rank.

He was invited into a different club in 2005 after self training during medical school. Here is where he became an active member and a 2 term board member of that organization.

In 2007, he went to the USA along with two of his then club seniors to appeal to ISKF (International Shotokan Karate Federation) to give Philippine clubs a chance to join the prestigious international organization. As the spokesperson, ISKF Philippines Inc. was established in 2007 and he was elected to be the Secretary General. ISKF is a worldwide organization headed previously by Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki, the student of Gichin Funakoshi who is the father of modern day karate. It was formerly the USA branch of the Japan Karate Association (JKA). In 2007, Super Perez Sensei went to the USA and helped bring ISKF to the Philippines. ISKF Philippines was formed with Perez Sensei as the Secretary General. The group brought Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki to Manila a few times in 3 years to learn from him. In 2014, Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki retired.

In 2008, he was tasked to look for a new club hombu dojo by his former local instructor. He was able to find one in Shopwise cubao, deal with the management for good rates, daily check the construction and approve plans and modification, and in April 2008, the hombu dojo was opened. He managed this studio to profitability and taught multiple classes until its turn over to the board in 2010.

After two transfers, the parents of 3 students decided to invest in setting up a studio for karate and other arts like music and dance. Thus was Trainstation studio born.

In 2015, a year after the retirement of Shihan Teruyuki Okazaki and after realizing that his goals for himself and his students are not in line with the direction that his former local group is heading, Pioneer Shotokan Karate Club was formed in the brand new dojo he has set up at Sparta sports and recreation training arena.

Since then the development of a child friendly and Disabled-person safe version of karate was also developed. The joint safe defense program allows for younger kids to learn SOME basics of karate for the sole purpose of defense. This is also a good starting point since defense is half any battle. This also solves the problem of teaching young kids how to attack which was basically like giving immature children a weapon. A student of the Joint safe defense program has already benefited from this when a bully attacked him in school. He got off without being hurt and he didn’t get in trouble with the school.

With venues being an issue, eventually, Pioneer Karate settled in Aheadstart Child Development Center and Forge Martial Fitness in Pioneer st. Classes temporarily stopped during the covid crisis and eventually resumed in the open air, covered court of Montessori De San Juan in O. Arellano St.

In February 2022, the Japan Karate Association (JKA) in the Philippines (JKA-NKK Inc.) accepted Pioneer Shotokan Karate Federation to be a JKA branch. This is a great honor and a privilege. JKA is the oldest, largest and most prestigious karate organization in the world. This is the first organization formed to foster the traditions of karate and spread it to the world. All the other organizations are offshoots of JKA when JKA members leave to form their own organization.

JKA encourages the maintenance of the traditional martial way of Karate. It is an organization full of martial arts masters and will continue to do so in the centuries to come. Our growth as instructors and students will increase as we study under the masters as well as develop our own understanding as we continue our practice with their guidance.

Pioneer Karate, a proud NCR affiliate of THE Japan Karate Association – Nihon Karate Kyohai Inc., have found its final “home.”