Kokondo Karate is a dynamic Japanese self defense art that has been time tested.  Whether your attacker is alone, in a group, or armed, you are going to know what to do. 

Our founder, Paul Arel  (Nov. 12, 1935 – Jan 2, 2009) created the unique self defense systems Kokondo Karate and Jukido Jujitsu. He began his training in 1950 and earned a black belt in Massachusetts from Sudo Sensei, a Jujitsu master from Japan. 

He joined the Marines and while stationed in Japan he received advanced martial arts training from Oriental Masters on contract with the US government for both overt and covert purposes.  He taught and developed the unarmed skills of his fellow Marines. 

After his Honorable Discharge, he transitioned to civilian life with martial arts in his blood. He studied Jujitsu and traditional Okinawan and Japanese karate under great masters as Don Nagle and Gary Alexander (Isshin-Ryu), H Ishikawa (Sankata) and the legendary Masutatsu Oyama (Kyokushin). 

Paul Arel was a true Martial Arts pioneer.  As a 4th degree black belt under Oyama he opened one of the first karate schools in Connecticut. 

Kokondo translates as “The Way of the Past and Present”.   Our traditional self defense techniques apply the art of the ancients to modern self defense confrontations.  When karate began to emphasize sport Paul Arel founded Kokondo Karate to preserve karate as pure self defense.  To apply old traditional and devastatingly effective karate techniques to defeat an attacker in the shortest possible time. 

Over the years many different martial arts fads have been introduced by copy cat martial arts schools to maximize business profits.  Kokondo training is a dynamic self defense in its purest and most efficient form.  Over the years we have been steadfast in our solid self defense teaching.  When warranted we deliver appropriate and debilitating self defense responses that will quickly defeat  any mode of attack.  

It was our honor to train directly under Shihan Arel and to be one of Kokondo’s first tier of black belts. So many good times, so many memories, so many techniques and training tips received directly from Kokondo’s founder.    That is what that drives Columbia Karate’s passion to continue to advance Shihan Arel’s legacy.  You won’t be just a Columbia Karate customer.  You’ll be part of the Kokondo family.   We teach, you learn.