YSK offers training in traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate and is affiliated with the Japan Karate Association (JKA), which has dojos around the world. We train under the auspices of Shu Takahashi Sensei, 7th dan, Chief Instructor of Shotokan Karate-do America and Instructor of the New York City dojo in Brooklyn.
About Our Instructors
About Our Chief Instructor
| Instruction at Yale is provided by Craig Elkin Sensei (6th dan and internationally recognized certified instructor, judge and examiner). Craig has been teaching Shotokan Karate at Yale University since 1996. He started practicing karate over forty years ago in September 1979 while attending college at Northeastern University in Boston. Since then, he has been a member of the Japan Karate Association and has trained under the leadership of Masataka Mori, 9th dan, and Shu Takahashi, 7 dan. |  |
About Our Assistant Instructor
| Carolyn Rinaldi began training Shotokan Karate in 1990 at the University of Connecticut. She joined Yale University Karate in 2016 where she began assisting in the instruction of Self Defense and Karate. Carolyn is a 4th degree Black Belt with the Japan Karate Association, under Masataka Mori, 9th dan, and is a 2nd degree Black Belt in American Shotokan, under Robert DeLeon, 5th dan. Carolyn is a JKA certified Instructor, Examiner and Judge. A frequent competitor in local and regional tournaments, Carolyn was a member of the National Team and represented the United States in the JKA World Karate Championships in Limerick, Ireland in 2017. |  |
Join the Class
We welcome members of all levels of experience. Our class meets Monday & Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm on the 5th floor of the Payne-Whitney Gymnasium. Times are subject to change by term; please check the Payne Whitney website. Adults are welcome to join regardless of previous martial arts experience or Yale affiliation.
Interested parties are encouraged to contact us about membership. Please see our Facebook for questions you may have or fill out our contact form. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!
Class Fees
Registration and fee information is available online at sportsandrecreation.yale.edu. Fees are per person, per semester. If you wish to purchase a uniform (gi), they are typically around $50 and Sensei takes orders at the beginning of every semester.
We do not wish to turn people away for financial reasons, so those who have problems paying dues should speak with the club instructor. Make checks payable to Yale University.
Spring 2022 Class