Rayford Shorin-Ryu Karate & Kobudo

01/17/2026

Open Dojo will be one Saturday per month and this is the first Open Dojo of 2026. The fog was thick with very poor visibility and we did not expect anyone to attend. Despite the weather conditions, families from Atwater and Merced were there to train anyway! We love these folks!
Open Dojo Saturdays will appear on the dojo calendar each moth.

12/18/2025

Some of our young adults have been with us since they were small children. This young lady will be a senior in high school next year. When she began training, she was a small child. When she used to hug Kyoshi Amy, this girl wasn't any taller than Amy's shoulders. Girls like this are very special to Amy, they become dojo-daughters to her and sometimes I get adopted as a father. She is the baby of the family and one of six people in the family who are training and teaching in the dojo. We are blessed to have the kids grow up in the dojo, develop an understanding of our art, and help us to pass the art along to future generations.. Amy Kyoshi really enjoys working such drills with her "daughters", and she has no problem with serving as the uke or attacker, so that her girls can learn.

11/20/2025

updated calendar

11/05/2025

Please take note of some changes for this week. Also the Friday after Thanksgiving we will be taking off.

10/26/2025

Congratulations to Brian M. McWashington Promotion to 5th Dan in the ATAMA Hombu Do in Merced, CA.

10/07/2025

This young man, Ace, was brought to me a few years ago as a timid boy who tried and worked hard. He has continued to work hard and is now a confident young man that is one rank away from earning a Black Belt. Congratulations Ace! We are so proud of you!

10/04/2025

Congratulations to Eric Haux who traveled down from Idaho to be examined for his Black Belt yesterday morning. I am pleased to announce that Eric has earned his 1st Dan Black Belt and has joined the list of Rayford Shorin-Ryu Black Belts. Eric, his wife, and his three boys have been training online with us for a few years now and we are especially proud of their continuing this journey. I know that his wife and sons are proud of him!

09/27/2025

08/05/2025

So nice of Hanshi Miguel Jurna to have this banner made for our dojo! Thank you Miguel Jurna Hanshi!

06/28/2025

Congratulations! Stuart Ingle drove down from Idaho to be examined this morning in the Rayford Dojo, and has been promoted to 5th Dan Renshi! Thank you Kyoshi Amy Rayford, Renshi James Hiller, and Renshi Corey Martin for your assistance on the exam.