Sempai Adrian Labrador instructs during a karate class Thursday afternoon at All Saints Gym in Kapaa. In the forefront is student Elora Phuthamma Bray.
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Nick Celario / The Garden Island
Sensei Rodney Woodward, left, and Eliana Bray follow along to Sempai Adrian Labrador, not pictured, during a karate class Thursday afternoon at All Saints Gym in Kapaa.
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Shibo Cho Luis Soltren, left and Elora Phuthamma Bray follow along to Sempai Adrian Labrador, not pictured, during a karate class Thursday afternoon at All Saints Gym in Kapaa.
Nick Celario The Garden Island
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KAPAA — A different style of karate is now being taught on-island.
KAPAA — A different style of karate is now being taught on-island.
A group of instructors recently started teaching classes twice a week at All Saints Gym in Kapaa.
“This place has a history that’s incredible,” said class instructor Shibu Cho Luis Soltren. “A lot of schools started here.”
Soltren said they started the class because they wanted to offer another option on-island. The fee is $70 per month. If a parent enters more than one child, then the class offers a discounted rate.
“Karate for me has always been a passion,” Soltren said. “I started this when I was 13 years old. I’m 66 now. I’m never going to make money out of teaching karate, but I’m going to make wonderful things happen with it.”
Goju karate, or “hard-soft style,” is what’s taught.
“Goju-ryu is something that someone can learn and do into their 80s and 90s,” he said. “It doesn’t consist of jumping in the air, trying to flip around, do somersaults and all that stuff. It’s a Japanese traditional art. We stay low to the ground, and you do your thing.”
He added: “It’s a traditional style. The last time this style was taught on Kauai is 1934. My head instructor, Han Shi Tino Ceberano, is Filipino born and raised on Kauai. He joined the Marine Corps. back in the ’50s. He wound up in Japan, and he started learning this art.”
Keiki and adult classes are taught Mondays and Thursdays.
Info: Soltren, 639-4836.
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Nick Celario can be reached at 245-0437 or ncelario@thegardenisland.com.
