Suibukan Dojos

What is a dojo?

The dojo is the physical location of martial arts practice. It’s the school where knowledge is transferred from the teacher to the student. It’s the place where words become action, the place where the virtues of obedience, discipline, persistence, respect, and devotion are tested and developed through physical practice.

The dojo closely resembles the principles of the ancient gymnasium – where ideas and physical training were being practised in harmony – but remains quite far from the «gym» of the western world.

The essential difference between the dojo and that of the modern gym lies in the meaning of the «do» in ( do-jo). "do" signifies a place with direction. A traditional dojo depicts simplicity in both the physical space of the room and in the appearance of teacher and students - as everything is tuned to assist the «direction» (shaping the character, our real self) and not creating impressions.

Hombu dojo
kyoshi Polychronopoulos

The Hombu Dojo, or simply put, “Main” Dojo, is the actual place where the instructors of the organization are trained and developed. It’s where the family – or ryuha – gathers. It’s where the fou...

Salonika dojo
renshi Velissariou

Salonika dojo was founded in the Autumn of 1998 following a successful four year operation of the Suibukan Club of The Aristotle Univercity of Thessaloniki (A.U.TH.), which at that time had already...

Patras dojo
shihan George Katselis

The Suibukan Patras dojo created by students of the first Suibukan club at the University of Patras in 1994 with instructor sensei Agathi Sarandi (2 dan, personal student of the Head of the Organiz...

Sykies dojo
sensei Karagiaouris

The Sykies dojo was established by sensei Anastasios Karagiaouris in 2007. The first students came form the county Suibukan karate club of Ano Poli in Thessaloniki. The basic element for establish...

Head instructor (Greece/Europe)

kyoshi Polychronopoulos

Kyoshi Babis Polychronopoulos is one of the most noted trainees of hanshi Tadashi Yamashita. He holds the rank of 8th dan in Kobayashi Shorin Ryu Karate do and a 7th dan in Matayoshi Kobudo. Having been practicing martial arts for more than 40 years, in Greece as well as in the U.S.A., he has established himself as one of the most integrated trainers/masters worldwide.

In Greece, he is the founder of the Suibukan Martial Arts Organization and has inspired thousands of students to delve into the martial arts, quite differently from what one would experience in the contemporary martial arts world today.

Faithfully following in the steps of his teacher, master Tadashi Yamashita, kyoshi Polychronopoulos has established his training and teaching on transparent principles, not on fancy passing impressions. He continues to study and experience the “do”.

read full story