About Us

The dojo is a full time dojo ideal for locals and visitors to Sydney.

Suited for professionals that work in the city CBD area as well as for locals who live in Sydney. If you are a traveller from any part of the world and you wish to keep up your training regime this dojo is located near to many of the cities hotels and youth hostels.

Level 5 332 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000.

Conveniently located within 10 mins walking distance from Town Hall the headquarters of Zanshin Shotokan Karate provides training aimed mainly at adults between 21 and 50 years old in a safe and supportive environment. Karate brings to participants the following benefits:

• develop self confidence and respect towards other others

• promote mental strength, agility and decision making

• improve discipline and focus

• develop positive goals, attitudes and other life skills

• relieve mental and emotional stress; and

• enhance quality of lifestyle

Each class is led by a qualified Karate instructor who will go through stretching/warm up exercises, Kihon (basic movements), Kumite (sparring exercises) and Kata techniques (choreographed Karate movements).

CSK has frequent classes that are delivered by a group of highly qualified and well respected instructors in the Karate community. See Training Timetable for more information

Sensei Ron Richmond 6th Dan

Honbu Dojo

Sensei Ron Richmond, 6th Dan, became chief instructor for Zanshin Shotokan in 2007. He started his karate training in Honolulu Hawaii in late 1965 initially with the Japan Karate International Centre and later with the JKA.

He linked up with the Sensei Frank Nowak during Sensei Nowak’s visit to Fiji in 1979. At that time Ron was the Director of Mineral Development in Fiji.

Ron migrated to Sydney in late 1981 and continued his shotokan training career under Sensei Frank and Sensei Kora. He was a founding member of Zanshin Shotokan Karate-Do in 1986 with Sensei Frank, Sensei Kora, and Sensei Tom Orsos.

He has gained a reputation as an effective administrator and leader in his stints as Manager of Table Officials during the 1986 WUKO championships in Sydney, as a past Deputy President of the NSW Karate Federation, and as a past National Secretary of the Australian Karate Federation.

Sensei Ron is a firm believer in emphasising the basics in karate and prefers to teach self defense using the simpler basic techniques rather than convoluted but forgettable fancy combinations. He pays homage to Sensei Frank Nowak, Sensei Stan Schmidt, and Sensei Arie Farcas as the very best instructors he has ever trained with. Sensei Ron’s favourite kata is Goju Shi Ho Dai.

Sensei Yossi Litvin 6th Dan

Sensei Yossi Litvin first began training in 1970 and has extensive experience training overseas including training in Japan, Europe and Israel. His 4th dan grading was conducted and awarded by Master Taiji Kase.

As a national and international competitor, Sensei Yossi has had much success including titles as the National Kata & Kumite Champion (1995), and 2nd in Kumite in the international Shotokan Tournament in Japan (1996).

Sensei Yossi commenced teaching Shotokan over 16 years ago when he opened up the Randwick Dojo in 1987, he now runs and teaches at the full time City Dojo. Sensei Yossi's skills & experience are reflected by his appointed positions as Kata Coach and Vice President for the New South Wales Karate Federation. He is also an appointed International Referee for the Australian Karate Federation.

Sensei Nabil Lakiss 5th Dan

Honbu Dojo

Sensei Nabil, Godan, started Karate at university in England with the Karate of Great Britain (KUGB), which was affiliated to JKA with Sensei Nakayama as the Chief Instructor. He trained under Sensei H. Tomita and the late Sensei Keinosuke Enoeda who was the Chief Instructor of the KUGB, and achieved his Shodan under the late Sensei Enoeda. He initially studied Aikido for 9 months and Judo for one year before changing to Shotokan karate.

Nabil also attained Shodan in Budo of Great Britain with specialisation in karate.

Sensei Nabil initially trained with JKA in Sydney when he first migrated to Australia but later opened the Artarmon Dojo and joined Shotokan Karate Association of Australia (SKAA) under the guidance of the late Sensei Frank Nowak. He developed a self defense course for ladies only and successfully ran several courses at the Artarmon Dojo. Nabil became involved with Zanshin Shotokan when Sensei Frank Nowak decided to separate from SKAA in the late eighties.

He is a NSW kata and Kumite Judge but unfortunately work commitments make it difficult for him to attend on a regular basis.

Over the years Sensei Nabil has accumulated experience with various aspects of Karate-do including self defense which he brings to his teaching. He particularly enjoys kata and combination techniques and is committed to sharing his knowledge with all students.

Sensei Benjamin Ong 4th Dan

Honbu Dojo

Benjamin started his karate training in 1987 with the Karate of Australia (KUA) Shotokan organisation. He was awarded Shodan in 1992 and Nidan in 1995 with KUA. When his instructor in KUA retired in 2000, Benjamin joined Zanshin Shotokan. He was awarded his Sandan both with Zanshin Shotokan and Karate Do Shotokan Ryu Kase Ha in 2004.

Benjamin co-manage (with Sensei Steve Jones) Baulkham Hills Dojo between 2005 and 2010. Unfortunately due to work commitment, he had to relinguish management of the Dojo in 2011. He now train and assist in the Honbu Dojo. Benjamin was awarded his Yondan in November 2011. Since 2001,Benjamin is accredited with the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (Level 1 Karate Instructor). He is also a certified fitness instructor - Level 2 certification with Fitness Australia - since 1994.

Sensei Marcus Sherwood 4th Dan

Honbu Dojo

Sensei Marcus started karate training in Switzerland in the 1970s but was unable to continue. However the seed was planted and 15 years later he came back to karate after meeting Sensei Kora.

In 1996 Marcus competed in the NSW Open and the Australian Open where he won silver in the Seniors Male Team Kumite. In that same year he was examined by Sensei Ron Richmond and Sensei Kora Nowak and was granted his shodan.

Sensei Steve Jones 3rd Dan

Honbu Dojo

Sensei Steve is a 3rd Dan ,accredited level 1 Sports Coaching Accredited Instructor

He commenced training in the UK in 1976 in the KUGB organisation passing his Kyu grades under Sensei’s Tomita, Kawazowe and Enoeda

In 1980 he emigrated to Brisbane and at the time found it difficult to find a Shotokan organisation so commenced training with Shuto Ryu starting from scratch and achieved Shodan (Black belt) in 1986

In the same year he became re-acquainted with friend and senior student from his dojo in England Sensei Trevor Roberts who was then a Shodan and training with Sensei Frank Nowak

Sensei Steve attended a seminar with Sensei Frank and never looked back – Realising that training with Sensei Frank and Shotokan karate was where his real passion was – He returned to Brown belt in Shotokan karate and later achieved Shodan with the S.K.I organisation in 1988 and later in 1992 his Nidan

Sensei Steve was a regular competitor from 1982 – 1995 representing Queensland in Kumite and Kata during this period and appointed Captain of the Queensland AKF team in 1994 and 1995 at the National Championships

In the year 2000 Sensei Steve moved from Brisbane to Sydney and commenced training with Zanshin Shotokan organisation initially training at the Baulkham Hills Dojo and later jointly running the Dojo with Sensei Benjamin Ong from 2004 to 2011
In October 2004 Sensei Steve passed his Sandan (3rd Dan) with the Zanshin Shotokan organisation

Sensei Ricky Rigor 3rd Dan

Seven Hills Dojo

Sensei Ricky Rigor has been training Shotokan Karate since the age of 10 years old. He currently holds an internationally recognised 3rd Dan Black Belt.

He is a consistent member of the NSW and the Australian Karate team. He has numerous tournament success, specially in 2004 where he won 1st place in the male under 60 kg's Kumite at the Australian National Championships. In the same year he also won 3rd place for both Kata and Kumite at Oceania Karate Championships.

In 2007 Sensei Ricky was granted Kata Judge A and Kumite Judge A, enabling him to officiate in various local and official karate tournaments in NSW .

Sensei Ricky also assists Sensei Yossi in coaching the State representatives for Kata. In 2008 Sensei Ricky was granted NSW Kumite Referee accreditation.

Sensei Michael Pearn 2 nd Dan

Honbu Dojo

Sensei Michael Pearn started training in Tasmania at age five. In 1997 he joined Goshyn Ryu while living in Bathurst. By age twelve he had achieved shodan. In 2004 Sensei Michael moved to Sydney and joined Zanshin Shotokan. Since 2004 Sensei Michael has been a consistent member of the NSW Karate and continues to compete today. He has had numerous tournament successes, especially in 2006 where he won 3rd place in the male 15 years kumite at the Oceania Championships. In 2009 Michael continued his competition career as part of the National Team representing Australia in the Copenhagen Open and the Junior World Championships in Morocco. In 2007 he was awarded his second dan (nidan) by Sensei Kora. Michael trains at the Seven Hills Dojo but teaches the young students at Honbu.