Don't you wanna Dojo

  Irashaimase.

Welcome.

One may be greeted by this Japanese phrase when coming to the Ocala Karate Dojo, located above Papa Johns on SR 200.

Chief instructor, Kyoshi Bill Woodard, has been practicing karate since 1968 and teaching the style of Motobu Ha Shito Ryu since 1985. 

He began with a traditional style dojo in the backyard of his Summerfield home, and then moved the dojo to Ocala in 2003. 

 With inspiration from the first Bruce Lee films, Woodard wanted to learn more about this form of martial arts. 

 "Karate has a self-satisfaction that other sports don't," Woodard said. "I have never found anything like it."

 Because he enjoyed and respected the art of karate so much, he wanted to teach what he had learned to others to preserve this style of martial arts that can traced back for centuries.

Woodard has students that come from all over the state to train with him, including several students from CFCC.

Jason Locay, 18, pre-med major, has been training at the dojo for almost six years, earning his black belt about two years ago.

Before joining the Ocala Karate Dojo, Locay practiced Tae Kwon Do, but wanted to do some form of martial arts that had a more complete and traditional system. When Locay found Woodard's dojo, he knew it was the one he wanted to attend.

"There is no other martial arts school like it," Locay said. "We are passing on a tradition that has been done the exact same way for hundreds of years."

The fact that there is so much history and tradition in what Locay is practicing is the reason why Locay prefers forms, or katas, over sparring and weapons.

Katas are blocks, stances, punches, strikes and kicks in specific patterns. These combinations utilize the performer's power, speed and balance, training in the development of powerful techniques.

At the Ocala Karate Dojo, Locay learns and practices the same katas that the first royal families of Japan practiced.

Aside from learning self-defense and tradition, Locay says that karate teaches a student to live life the way it should be lived, with respect.

"Before karate, I put myself first before everyone else," Locay said. "Now, it's about others. I would love to be a sensei (teacher) to do it for the kids." 

Between going to school and working 20 hours a week, Locay finds time to teach a class at the dojo two nights a week and train one other night of the week.

Robbie Clark, 26, adult enrichment major, also splits his time at the dojo between training and teaching.

As a 10-year-old boy, Clark took up karate because all of his friends at the time were doing it. Unlike most of them, he kept with it.

Clark returned to the dojo this past August after a five year break because he "missed it."

"I had to relearn a lot, but I did not forget everything," Clark said. "This is something I will do forever."

Like Clark, Michael Paglia, 19, pre-med major, plans to keep karatea part of his life forever.

"Karate builds character and influences your life,"Paglia said."You gain confidence and patience."

After graduating from CFCC, Paglia plans to continue his education at a chiropractic college while continuing karate. If he cannot find a dojo to join, he plans on opening his own.

"Once you start, you can't stop," Paglia said.

The Ocala Karate Dojo offers a 10 percent discount on any program for CFCC students and will work around class schedules.

Other CFCC students that participate in martial arts at the Ocala Karate dojo are Nina Baker, Johan Calascibetta and Nicholas Torino.