About the Club

The George County Karate Club was established in 1973 by Sam Henderson, who was a first degree black belt at that time. The club has since called Lucedale home and has trained many award winning students over the years. The club's name was suggested by well known boxer and master karate instructor Gerald D. Giles of Brandon, Mississippi. Giles, who was a fourth degree black belt, was instructing Shotokan Karate-do in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at that time.

The club's style of karate is Shi Toh Ryu. It came about as a combination of what Shogo Kuniba, Soke, had learned from Master Kenwa Mabuni who taught a style of karate-do he called Shito Ryu, and from Master Choki Motobu who taught a style of karate-do he called Ryukyu Motobu Ha Karate-do. Thus, it was Shogo Kuniba, Soke, who started the name Motobu Ha Shi Toh Ryu Karate-do.