Welcome
Welcome to the Greater Boston dojo of New England Seito Shito Ryu based in Lexington, Massachusetts. Erik Svenson Shihan teaches the karate passed down to him from his teacher, Gary McGuinness Hanshi.
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Here we focus on traditional karate as a way to master the balance of these elements to achieve harmony in your life. We emphasize physical and mental development, as well as practical self-defense based on sound karate fundamentals.
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We focus on "Shin Gi Tai" (Mind, Technique, Body) and "Budo" (the way of the warrior) rather than karate as a sport.
Erik Svenson, Shihan
Shihan Erik Svenson (Godan) has been a student of Shito Ryu Karate-Do for over 30 years. He began his karate training in Hayashi-Ha Shito Ryu in 1982 at the age of 19 under Richard Ingstrum Shihan while in college.
After graduating 3 years later, Svenson Shihan moved to Massachusetts where he began training with Gary McGuinness Hanshi (continuing in Hahashi-Ha Shito Ryu). After 2 more years training with Sensei McGuinness, Erik earned his Shodan rank.
Shortly after, Svenson Shinan took some time off to begin raising his young family. He then began training again in 2004 earning his Sho Dan (1st degree black belt) rank in Seito Shito Ryu a year later. Since then, he has been training consistently, earning his Nidan (2nd degree) in 2007 and Sandan (3rd degree) in 2015. In the Fall of 2022, after diligent training, he earned his Godan (5th degree) rank and in summer of 2023, he was awarded his Shihan license at the 13th International Tai Kai in Osaka, Japan.