- "You must learn to move very quickly."
- ―Chozen Toguchi[src]
Sato's Karate Dojo was a karate dojo based in Okinawa, Japan founded by Sato Toguchi and operated by his nephew and top student, Chozen.
History[]
Founded by Sato Toguchi after having years of experience training the United States' military since 1945, Sato's dojo was active since at least 1972, where he trained various U.S. Army soldiers on Okinawa as well as his own nephew, Chozen Toguchi. Over the years, Sato's Dojo gained a huge reputation in Okinawa.
After arriving in Okinawa in 1985, Daniel LaRusso and his sensei Nariyoshi Miyagi saw an advertisement for the dojo at the airport, which showed Sato breaking a tree trunk a la Bruce Lee. Daniel was momentarily impressed by the ad, although Mr. Miyagi dryly remarked that no trees ever threatened him.
By this time the dojo was still used to train United States Military Police stationed at Kadena Air Base. Daniel LaRusso and Kumiko watched Chozen and 4 other trainees in combat through the dojo window. The dojo students were later seen in a rough bar with some GIs, where bets were being made about whether or not slabs of ice could be broken with their bare hands. Most failed, although one of Sato's students succeeded at breaking two slabs.
After Sato's death, the dojo was eventually closed. Chozen later became the sensei of Miyagi-Do in Okinawa.
Training[]
While the dojo's creeds are uncertain, we see at least two exercises that were practiced on two separate time periods. In 1972 we saw Sato making his students chop sand in order to make them forget pain. In 1985 we saw Chozen teaching some students how to fight with restrained hands. It's also quite possible that the dojo used the aggressive way of Miyagi-Do karate, especially since Sato learned karate from Miyagi's father and this knowledge was later acquired by Chozen.
Students[]
- Chozen Toguchi (promoted to sensei)
- Toshio
- Taro
- G.I.
- Multiple U.S. Army Soldiers
Trivia[]
- It is the only antagonist dojo besides Cobra Kai to make an appearance in the original Karate Kid series.
- The dojo’s karate is called "Master Sato Karate".