The name Seitou Ryu means “Traditional School”, and incorporates many of the core values of traditional karate with modern training methods.

Seitou Ryu Karate® uses both hard and soft fighting principles to incorporate circular blocking movements with linear and circular strikes. This combination of hard and soft fighting therefore forms a flexible style of karate that is geared towards close range combat and long-range attacks.

The club was founded in 2005 by Richard Hang Hong with the help of his instructor, Shihan Rod Martin. Both were senior instructors with Kenshukai, an Australian-based karate organisation, but later left to pursue different paths.

Since the club’s inception, the system and training methods of Seitou Ryu Karate® have continued to grow and evolve. Developing a strong balance between traditional, pragmatic, practical karate and dynamic, successful sport karate.

Originally affiliated to NAKMAS, the club later left them to join Steve Rowe’s Shi Kon Martial Arts Association in 2008 and later also affiliating to Goju Ryu Karatedo Seiwakai and the JKF Goju Kai under Shihan Leo Lipinski in 2010 where it has remained members of the three associations since.