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About Us
Our Mission
- At Nashville Shotokan Karate Club, our mission is to empower individuals to achieve their full potential through the practice of Karate. We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where students can develop not only their physical skills, but also their confidence, self-discipline, and respect for others.
- Our club is notably multicultural. Adults and children from all over the world have joined, and multiple languages are spoken within the club! We value and enjoy our partnership with the Hispanic Family Foundation.
Our Philosophy
- The club prioritizes a friendly and open-minded atmosphere. Everybody is always welcomed and appreciated!
- Our credo is that Karate-do can be learned by anyone, regardless of age or level of physical fitness. In Karate, there is room for everyone!
- Our goal is balanced physical and psychological development of respected and successful personality.
- Using latest sport and medicine methodologies, we apply a personalized approach to every student!
Instruction
The club’s foundation is built on the principles of respect, fairness, and excellence.
Our Chief-Instructor, Dr. Nataliya Pidkovka, is a biomedical scientist and an experienced educator. Sensei Nataliya began her karate journey in Ukraine in 1993. Her black belt degrees have been certified by Sensej Hirokazu Kanazawa (Shotokan Karate-do International Federation), Sensej Teruyuki Okazaki (International Shotokan Karate Federation/Japan Karate Association), and the examination panel of the Hombu Dojo Karate International organization (HDKI). Throughout her athletic and coaching career, Nataliya and her team have successfully competed in national and international level karate tournaments.
In the 2000s, Nataliya established a Karate Club at Lviv National Medical University in Ukraine. She then founded the Nashville Shotokan Karate Club in 2018 with the assistance of her daughter, Luisa, who was only 4.5 years old at the time.
Nashville Shotokan Karate Club is a member of HDKI and Sunday Morning Keiko International organizations.
Make your first steps in Karate with us!
Wear comfortable clothing you can move freely in, most classes are held barefoot. Bring water!!!
DOJO RULES
"KARATE BEGINS AND ENDS WITH COURTESY."
- Please stay at home if you had fever, cough, or body aches for the last 48 hours.
- Bow when entering & leaving the Dojo (a place where you learn Karate-do).
- Remove shoes when entering the Dojo.
- Make every effort to not be late to the class, come at least 10 min early.
- If you are late, wait for the Instructor's permission to join the group. Don't walk in front of the row to be polite and to not disrupt the class. Take the place pointed by the Instructor quickly.
- Address all instructors as Sensei (teacher).
- Say "Osu" when Instructor is addressing you or after the explanation of a technique to demonstrate your attention and understanding.
- Hygiene: please keep your finger & toenails short & clean, wash feet and hands before you come to the class.
- Gi (karate uniform) must be kept clean & in good condition (do smell test😊), sleeves & trouser legs must be the right length & are not to be rolled up.
- Jewelry must not be worn during training, if a ring or bracelet cannot be removed, it must be taped up.
- Bring your own water bottle and a towel.
- Help to prepare and clean the room before and after the class