About Us
What is Wa Sen Shi Kan?
Wa Sen Shi Kan offers instruction in the traditional martial art of Ryukyu Kempo karate out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 2017 Sensei Adam Frey was awarded his own dojo name, Wa Sen Shi Kan, or Place of the Peaceful Warrior. His instructor, Anthony Rhoad of Shuki Kan in Story City, Iowa, noted Frey’s compassion and patience when teaching in contrast to his ferocity on the mat–look out for those knees and elbows.
In the fall, Wa Sen Shi Kan will add second-degree black belt Sensei Erika Munn from Shuki Kan to our instructional staff.
How We Started
Frey Sensei has been teaching since 2015. A martial artist since childhood, Frey Sensei found Ryukyu Kempo karate eight years ago and is testing for his third-degree black belt this summer. He began teaching as a way to stay grounded in the fundamentals and continues to help students grow.
Classes Through the CR Rec. Department
This dojo is proud to partner with the City of Cedar Rapids. Classes are offered at the Northwest Rec Center and affordable registration is handled by the Recreation Department.
United RyuKyu Kempo Alliance
Wa Sen Shi Kan is a member of the United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance (URKA), an “international karate organization that brings people together for the study and practice of good human character and the truthful art of Ryukyu Kempo Karate. The URKA follows the Ryukyu Kempo curriculum as taught to Kaicho Allan Amor by Taika Seiyu Oyata through Zenkoku Ryukyu Kempo Karate Kobudo Rengo Kai” (from the URKA website).
What is Ryukyu Kempo Karate?
Ryukyu Kempo is a generic term often used to describe all forms of karate from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, and more specifically to refer to the particular styles associated with Taika Seiyu Oyata. The URKA and Wa Sen Shi Kan follows the traditions and teachings of Oyata, including an emphasis on life protection and development of the whole person.
Learn More About Ryukyu Kempo
Want to learn more about Ryukyu Kempo? This Wikipedia page is a good place to start!
Open Hand
As Wa Sen Shi Kan grew, Frey Sensei had a decision to make. He could move away from the community center and operate for profit, but he wanted to keep classes affordable and accessible to all who wanted to be karateka.
A dedicated group of karate families and community members got together to figure out how the benefits they saw from karate–not just the physical ones–could be shared with folks in our community whether they took karate classes or not. A new non-profit, Open Hand, was formed in winter of 2019 and is quickly establishing itself.
Wa Sen Shi Kan will operate under Open Hand as the martial arts instruction piece of the organization. Stay tuned for ways you can get involved and grow with us!
Visit us at openhandcr.org