About the Workshop
A Traditional Dōjō Dedicated to Authentic Okinawan Karate & Kobujutsu
Welcome to The Karate Workshop.
Here, you can discover more about who we are, what we teach, and why. Whether you're new to the martial arts or returning after years away, we hope to answer your questions and give you a clear sense of what makes our approach to Okinawan Karate and Kobujutsu unique and valuable.
Who Is the Workshop Instructor?
Authentic training requires an experienced guide.
Samuel Wykoff, chief instructor and founder of The Karate Workshop, is a lifelong martial artist, licensed architect, and certified educator with over forty years of experience.
His background includes:
Graded Yōn-dan (4th-degree black belt) in Okinawan Gōjū-Ryū Karate
Graded San-dan (3rd-degree black belt) in Yamanni Chinen-Ryū Kobujutsu
Lived and trained in Japan, and trained in Okinawa — the birthplace of Karate
Trained directly under Chinen Teruo Sensei and Oshiro Toshihiro Shihan
Samuel's teaching is grounded in tradition but tailored to each student. He combines structure with flexibility, precision with patience, and offers guidance with respect, clarity, and calm intensity. He continues to train privately with Dong Tran Sensei and his small group of dedicated students.
Interested in knowing more?
“I hope that the next generations will not only improve technically but also know how to share their knowledge.
People must pass on the traditions and not lose them.”
— Chinen Teruo (1941 - 2015)