HistoryIn The Beginning......
Empire Martial Arts (EMA) was founded in 1988 by 7th degree Black Belt Sensei Joseph LaPlaca. Originally the dojo was located in Webster Shroeder high school as part of a self-defense/karate night school. Later the program was moved to the Rochester Christian School, and within 2 years the school saw a boom in enrollment, resulting in an expanded class schedule. The Golden Age 3 Years later the school moved once again, to Creek Street in Webster and became a free standing dojo for the first time. About this time EMA became a member of the Shotokan Karatedo of Japan Federation (SKJF). During this time EMA produced both adult and child national champions. A New Beginning In 2009 the world economy took a turn for the worse and due to the tough economic times Empire Martial Arts had to close its doors. But the spirt of EMA lived on. With new ownership and a new location in Webster NY, EMA became Matsunami Karate: Rochester's Premier Self Defense Academy. Karate Renaissance Matsunami Karate has taken karate back to its roots. Using Shotokan Karate as its base, its core karate program has stripped away the sport aspects of karate and focuses on karate as it was intended, a civilian self defense system. Something New... In 2016 Matsunami Karate added Machida Karate to it's class line up becoming the only school in the northeast with certified Machida Karate instructors under JKA Karate Champion & Bellator MMA fighter Chinzo Machida and his brother former UFC Light Heavy Weight Champion Lyoto Machida. In 2022 Sensei Rick and Sensei Baltazar became two of the first four certified Machida Karate Black Belts ever awarded by Sensei Chinzo Machida. |
Meet the InstructorsSensei Rick Parrinello Jr.
Owner / Instructor Machida Karate Black Belt, Instructor Level A 4th Degree Black Belt - Shotokan Sensei Baltazar Melendez Jr. Owner / Instructor Machida Karate Black Belt, Instructor Level A 5th Degree Black Belt - Shotokan Sensei Christine Norton Owner / Instructor Machida Karate Instructor Level D 1st Degree Black Belt - Shotokan 
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