About
Pacific Renbukai Karate offers traditional Japanese karate through group classes, kata practice, drill sets (kihon), and kumite (sparring), including structured and freestyle sparring at the intermediate level. Training includes self defense, forms (KATA), drill sets (KIHON), kumite (sparring) for counterattacking, high aerobic training for sparring competitors, pressure point attacks, power and speed training, take downs, joint locking jujitsu, Renbukai Bogujutsu for authentic protective contact sparring, Wing Chun hand trapping and checking, and chin na (joint locking and tendon seizing). The program also offers Women’s Only Self Defense Classes with a no men policy group, a beginner white belt kids-only group, and a men’s only group, along with in-person group and online private training.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Group classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, with a Wednesday 2:15–3:30 pm class during the quarter, and private lesson sessions held five days a week via the internet
• Price: Quarter $294 with a 3 month payment schedule and the option to pay month to month
Pacific Renbukai Karate is a member-supported dojo with no contracts and a three-month payment schedule. The dojo trains in one of the oldest Japanese karate ryus in Japan and includes the BOGU kumite aspect of Renbukai, with elite training compliant with USA Karate/WKF karate rules and options to compete in regional, national, and international events. The program has been serving the Portland community since 2001, with instruction in Portland for over 20 years and teaching at a Japanese immersion school in SE Portland for more than 24 years, including classes for Japanese immersion students only.
Pacific Renbukai Karate is led by Chief Instructor Shihan Sensei Robert Ishimaru and Japan Certified Sensei Bettina Ishimaru, who teach children, teens, and competition students. Shihan Sensei Robert Ishimaru began martial arts training in 1973, holds a JKF Shihan 5th Degree Black Belt grade in Renbukai, has Japanese instructor certification in the All Japan Karate Federation Renbukai, bases his curriculum on Shotokan, and studied Wing Chun for five years. Sensei Bettina Ishimaru began training in 1984, obtained a JKF 4th Degree Black Belt from the All Japan Karate Federation Renbukai in 2022, has been teaching in SE Portland at the Japanese immersion school for more than 24 years, studied chin na, and teaches up to eight classes weekly in person, group, private, video, and self defense formats. Both instructors have been committed to traditional karate instruction in Portland since 2001, have over 50 years of karate practice experience, represent the All-Japan Federation Renbukai since 2008, and tested in Japan for their certifications in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Pacific Renbukai Karate is officially a JKF member Japan Renbukai Karate Organization dojo, is certified with All JKF Renbukai in Japan, and is nationally certified with USA Karate (team USA-karate.org). The dojo is a proud member of USA Karate for 2024/2025, is listed as USA Karate members in 2021, and holds current 2025 certification with JKF in Japan. Both chief instructors hold USA Karate official licenses and Kata and Kumite referee credentials as of 2025. The instructors are Safesport certified, have passed the US Center for SafeSport required training for 2024/2025 (including mandatory reporting, sexual misconduct awareness education, and coaching emotional and physical misconduct prevention), and yearly pass NCSI background national screening examinations. The dojo states that no dangerous head locks or choke out submissions are allowed for children and that there is no wrestling where boundaries of safety are not respected.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: Group classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, with a Wednesday 2:15–3:30 pm class during the quarter, and private lesson sessions held five days a week via the internet
• Price: Quarter $294 with a 3 month payment schedule and the option to pay month to month
Pacific Renbukai Karate is a member-supported dojo with no contracts and a three-month payment schedule. The dojo trains in one of the oldest Japanese karate ryus in Japan and includes the BOGU kumite aspect of Renbukai, with elite training compliant with USA Karate/WKF karate rules and options to compete in regional, national, and international events. The program has been serving the Portland community since 2001, with instruction in Portland for over 20 years and teaching at a Japanese immersion school in SE Portland for more than 24 years, including classes for Japanese immersion students only.
Pacific Renbukai Karate is led by Chief Instructor Shihan Sensei Robert Ishimaru and Japan Certified Sensei Bettina Ishimaru, who teach children, teens, and competition students. Shihan Sensei Robert Ishimaru began martial arts training in 1973, holds a JKF Shihan 5th Degree Black Belt grade in Renbukai, has Japanese instructor certification in the All Japan Karate Federation Renbukai, bases his curriculum on Shotokan, and studied Wing Chun for five years. Sensei Bettina Ishimaru began training in 1984, obtained a JKF 4th Degree Black Belt from the All Japan Karate Federation Renbukai in 2022, has been teaching in SE Portland at the Japanese immersion school for more than 24 years, studied chin na, and teaches up to eight classes weekly in person, group, private, video, and self defense formats. Both instructors have been committed to traditional karate instruction in Portland since 2001, have over 50 years of karate practice experience, represent the All-Japan Federation Renbukai since 2008, and tested in Japan for their certifications in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Pacific Renbukai Karate is officially a JKF member Japan Renbukai Karate Organization dojo, is certified with All JKF Renbukai in Japan, and is nationally certified with USA Karate (team USA-karate.org). The dojo is a proud member of USA Karate for 2024/2025, is listed as USA Karate members in 2021, and holds current 2025 certification with JKF in Japan. Both chief instructors hold USA Karate official licenses and Kata and Kumite referee credentials as of 2025. The instructors are Safesport certified, have passed the US Center for SafeSport required training for 2024/2025 (including mandatory reporting, sexual misconduct awareness education, and coaching emotional and physical misconduct prevention), and yearly pass NCSI background national screening examinations. The dojo states that no dangerous head locks or choke out submissions are allowed for children and that there is no wrestling where boundaries of safety are not respected.
Last updated April 14, 2026.
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