Information on the Okinawan Karate Club of Ann Arbor

The Okinawan Karate Club of Ann Arbor is a group dedicated to the teaching of Grandmaster Eizo Shimabukuro's Karate, Kobudo, and Jujitsu. We have classes for adults and teens, women, and children. Head instructor Barbara L. Christensen holds the rank of 6th degree black belt and trains directly with Shimabukuro O'Sensei.    

The Okinawan Karate Club was started in 1980 by Sensei Christensen as an official sports club of the University of Michigan. After 10 years, OKCAA moved to a dance studio in order to offer classes to those outside the University community.

A children's class was added in 1998. The club also recently partnered with Scott and Amanda Read to join the Arts in Motion Studio at 2839 Boardwalk in Ann Arbor.

A large variety of movement arts are taught weekly at the studio.  Christensen Sensei has a background in Aikido and Shudokan Karate, but she currently restricts her training and teaching to Shorinryu Karate, traditional Okinawan Kobudo, and Toyei Torite Jujitsu.  Christensen Sensei's training and rank of 6th degree black belt comes directly from 10th dan Eizo Shimabukuro of Okinawa, Japan.

In addition to starting the Okinawan Karate Club, Christensen Sensei is also one of the founders of the National Women's Martial Arts Federation (NWMAF). The yearly special training of the NWMAF attracts over 500 female martial artists worldwide.