James Johnston
Founder and current chief instructor of Shorin Ryu Karate Do New Zealand is James Johnston 3rd
dan. James Sensei began training in karate do in 2009, then age 40, in an Okinawan style karate
called Matsubayashi Ryu. In 2012 James was graded to 1st dan by the then newly appointed head of
the World Matsubayashi Ryu Karatedo Association Yoshitaka Taira Sensei, 10th dan Hanshi, in
Okinawa. In 2013 James Sensei began teaching Karatedo out of the Kaukapakapa Memorial hall in
North West Auckland, then called Kaukapakapa karate dojo. In early 2014 James Sensei began karate
classes in his home town of Waitoki, also in North West Auckland, also traveling to Okinawa where he
was graded to 2nd dan by Yoshitaka Taira Sensei. In 2016 James Sensei contacted Jerry Figgiani Sensei
8th dan, founder of Shorin Ryu Karatedo International (SRKDI) in New York USA, and subsequently became a
member. Kaukapakapa karate Dojo’s name was changed and officiated to Shorin Ryu Karate Do New Zealand. In 2017 James Sensei along with his wife, Jacqui, 1st dan, son Harrison, 1st kyu and Ruby, 1st kyu travelled to Okinawa to meet Tamaki Sensei 9th dan Hanshi, chairman and technical director of SRKDI and head of Shogen Ryu Honbu Dojo. After much training and scrutinizing James Sensei was promoted to 3rd dan, Jacqui to 2nd dan and Harrison and Ruby to 1st dan. Shorin Ryu Karate Do New Zealand has a current membership of 80 students and runs 15 classes per week out of five different venues.
Jerry Figgiani
SRKDNZ is the only NZ registered member of Shorin Ryu Karate Do International (SRKDI) headed by Sensei Jerry Figgiani (8th Dan) whose knowledge, practice and teachings, along with self defence and practical application, books and videos are available to Sensei James and SRKDNZ members. Sensei Jerry is based in New York and SRKDI is in 12 countries worldwide and growing. Sensei Jerry has a wealth of experience in karate and is a sort after speaker who states “The only thing that matters in our practice is that we are concentrating on our own personal self improvement! If you are mentally and physically better than the day before you are ahead of the game. The time that you take to criticise someone else is time you are losing in your own practice. The only thing that matters to a practitioner is the focus and concentration they place on themselves.”
No matter where you are at on your karate journey SRKDNZ will travel it with you and encourages dedication, attendance, focus, commitment and effort so that each day, you are better than the day before.