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Founded by Sensei Richard Gracie in 1973, Ken Yu Kan Karate School's instructors headed by Sensei Michael Croft and Darin Sanders, have dedicated themselves to providing martial arts instruction, specifically AUTHENTIC Japanese Karate, to the Atascadero, Templeton & Paso Robles area...

We hope you enjoy our website and will stop by and visit us if you are in the area. This site is designed to give you information about our facility, our style of martial arts, our staff and provide you with information on how to contact us as well.



Ken Yu Kan Moves to New, Larger Facility!


Ken Yu Kan (The House of Fists & Friendship) has opened a new, larger Dojo (training facility) at 3210 El Camino Real. We're located about halfway between Kennedy Fitness and the Mission Oaks Annex at Del Rio Rd. (formerly Factory Outlets). Just look for the red "KEN YU KAN Martial Arts" sign on our building. Our brand new facility is nearly twice the size of our old location and nothing has been spared to create this beautiful, 3,600 square foot Dojo. It promises to be the finest martial arts training center you've experienced. More news is coming, but in the meantime, please note our new address. We look forward to seeing you here!

Ken Yu Kan Offers New Class on Friday Nights

Ken Yu Kan is now offering a Friday Night class. This class is now available to all members. Students will practice Kihon (pronounced kee-hohn). These are the basic techniques of Shotokan, including stances, blocks, punches, elbows, knees, kicks, sweeps, throws, grappling, joint control and Atemi (pressure points). Shotokan is considered a balanced art in the sense that it utilizes many techniques in its self-defense arsenal.

Kumite (pronounced koo-me-tay) which means sparring, will also be practiced. Kumite is the sport aspect of Karate. However, it is much more than simply competition. Kumite teaches timing, distancing, combinations, and Kime (pronounced kee-may). Kime is intense focus and concentrated energy. Kumite also helps a person overcome their fears of engaging. Early practitioners of our style of Karate, Shotokan, actually invented the rules of Kumite, its scoring system, safety, etc. while adhering to superior technique, form, and applicability to real self-defense.

Unfortunately, many schools in the U.S. today have abandoned the original guidelines of budo-based (self-defense based) sparring. Many schools have turned sparring into a glorified version of tag; lacking stances, effective techniques, and Kime (pronounced kee-may). Applying this type of "flashy" sparring to a real self-defense situation would not likely help a person.

We at Ken Yu Kan are dedicated to maintaining the integrity and practicality of authentic, traditional Kumite. Japanese/Okinawan techniques and scoring systems are based upon altercation-ending scenarios. Of course, our Kumite is taught in a very safe, structured environment. Please note: This is NOT "Fight Night". Beginners start very slowly, with little or no contact. We are also training as a team, patiently helping each other along the path. This class will be taught and supervised by Sensei Olaf Saul, a 3rd degree black belt with extensive Kumite experience and a champion tournament competitor. Twice this year alone, Sensei Saul has won Grand Champion, all ages, all belts, all styles at tournaments.Sensei Saul is a very friendly, patient instructor who uses a lot of humor to make learning Karate FUN! (Yes, we allow fun).

What is Karate?

"True karate is this: that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice."
-- Gichin Funakoshi, Founder of Shotokan Karate-Do and creator of the phrase "Karate"

Karate translated either means "Chinese hand" or "Empty hand" depending on which Japanese or Chinese characters you use to write it.

Okinawan Karate styles tend to be hard and external. In defense they tend to be circular, and in offense linear. Okinawan Karate styles tend to place more emphasis on rigorous physical conditioning than the Japanese styles. Japanese styles tend to have longer, more stylistic movements and to be higher commitment. They also tend to be linear in movement, offense, and defense.

Both tend to be high commitment, and tend to emphasize kicks and punches, blocks, strikes, evasions, throws, joint manipulations and a strong offense as a good defense. Karate techniques consist basically of hand and foot techniques. Hand techniques are divided into defensive or offensive moves. Foot techniques are divided into kicking techniques; snap and thrust kicks. Other important elements of Karate include stances, posture, body shifting, hip rotation, and breathing.

Training differs widely but most of the Karate styles emphasize a fairly equal measure of basic technique training (kihon), sparring (kumite), and forms (kata). Forms are stylized patterns of attacks and defenses done in sequence for training purposes.

An art of self-defense as well as a sport, Karate has in recent decades proliferated worldwide. It is one of the most widely practiced of the Asian martial arts, with a large following in the U.S., Japan and Europe. For more information about martial arts, click on "you should know" on the left of this page.

Ken Yu Kan Instructors Place 1st at 2 Tournaments!

Olaf Saul, Steffi Ketzler, and Steven McMurray of Atascadero’s Ken Yu Kan Karate recently competed in karate tournaments held in San Diego and Exeter.

Steven McMurray, a 3rd Degree Black Belt and instructor at Ken Yu Kan, competed in a traditional tournament held at San Diego State University. McMurray placed 2nd in Black Belt Kumite (point fighting), losing in the final round by one point. He placed 1st place in the Black Belt Kata (forms) competition. Sensei McMurray performed an ancient and difficult kata called “Gankaku”, or Crane on a Rock. An estimated 200 competitors from around Southern California participated in the event. McMurray has been a member of Ken Yu Kan since 1990.

Steffi Ketzler competed in Exeter in the Women’s Brown and Black Belt kata division, placing second overall. Ketzler performed the Okinawan kata “Seienchin”, or Calm Within the Storm, a difficult Black Belt form that emphasizes deep stances, proper breathing, precise movement, and explosive power. Competitors from throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast competed in this large event.

Olaf Saul also competed in the Exeter tournament. Saul is a 3rd Degree Black Belt and a Ken Yu Kan Instructor. He placed second in Men’s Black Belt Kata and 1st in Men’s Black Belt Kumite (point fighting). Saul then went on to take the ultimate title of Grand Champion Kumite, all styles, all belts, all ages. This was an “Open Tournament”, meaning competitors from all styles competed, including Traditional Okinawan and Japanese Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, and mixed styles as well. After Saul won awards in both Kata and Kumite, he was presented with the prestigious award “Best Technician”. This award is given at the Exeter event for the competitor who exhibits the most technically correct technique, including power, accuracy, timing, and focus. Saul won every Kumite match on his way to Grand Champion, using precise striking and kicking techniques, and earning this award. “Of all my awards, the Best Technician trophy means the most to me”, said Sensei Saul, “I was awarded this by my Black Belt peers of all different styles, which was really an honor”.

“I am very proud of them” says Michael Croft, Head Instructor for Ken Yu Kan, “When our instructors do this well, it’s our students who really benefit. Instead of dwelling on winning-or-losing, we constantly strive for perfection of technique and character”, adds Sensei Croft, “It always pays off in competition, and in life for that matter. Imagine how a student feels, especially a young one, when his or her karate instructor wins first place or is awarded a Best Sportsmanship or Best Technician trophy. As instructors, we’re very important role models, and we can’t ever forget that."

Below are photos of Olaf Saul & Steffi Ketzler, and Steven McMurray, respectively: