Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Chapman.
Richard, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started training in karate more than 50 years ago. I’m from New Jersey, and I’ve trained under some of the best karate masters in the world, including some of Japan’s premier karateka and the South Jersey Karate Club. I’ve founded karate clubs from coast to coast, including New Jersey, Ohio, and California. I moved to Atlanta more than a decade ago, looking to enjoy the warmer climate, and opened Tong Dojo just a few months later.
Our Tong Dojo is building on the reputation of the original school, which was located in New York City. The first Tong Dojo produced some of the finest karate practitioners and fighters in the United States, including 1969 Black Belt Magazine Competitor of the Year E. Thomas LaPuppet; William Swift; Dwight “Hawk” Frazier; Alex Sternberg; and Calvin and Marvin Miller.
The original school was founded by George Cofield, one of the great American karate pioneers and instructors, in Brooklyn in 1959. Cofield, noted for his work in organizing and teaching black ghetto youth, trained several outstanding students. Cofield also formed a popular demonstration team.
Our school teaches traditional Japanese, or Shotokan, karate. Modern karate originated in Okinawa under Gichin Funakoshi, a martial arts master universally considered to be the father of the style. Funakoshi formally introduced a style of Okinawan fighting arts, known as Okinawa-Te (later known as karate) to mainland Japan in 1917, where it soon became popular and was introduced to the west.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We started in a judo school on Piedmont Road, but that property was eventually sold for redevelopment. A few months later, we were fortunate to find a great location on Faulker Road at the intersection of Cheshire Bridge. We don’t have a street-front, Cheshire Bridge Road presence, so we continually strive to build our school through word-of-mouth and referrals.
Also, in today’s rushed, hurry-up society, we’re always looking hard for students who really want to train hard and rigorously, and stay with their training, long-term. There is no off-season for karateka; it’s a lifelong commitment.
Please tell us about Tong Dojo Shotokan Karate.
Our Tong Dojo is building on the reputation of the original school, which was located in New York City. The first Tong Dojo produced some of the finest karate practitioners and fighters in the United States, including 1969 Black Belt Magazine Competitor of the Year E. Thomas LaPuppet; William Swift; Dwight “Hawk” Frazier; Alex Sternberg; and Calvin and Marvin Miller.
The original school was founded by George Cofield, one of the great American karate pioneers and instructors, in Brooklyn in 1959. Cofield, noted for his work in organizing and teaching black ghetto youth, trained several outstanding students. Cofield also formed a popular demonstration team.
We teach our students its students in traditional Japanese, or Shotokan, karate. Modern karate originated in Okinawa under Gichin Funakoshi, a martial arts master universally considered to be the father of the style. Funakoshi formally introduced a style of Okinawan fighting arts, known as Okinawa-Te (later known as karate) to mainland Japan in 1917, where it soon became popular and was introduced to the west.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing. At all. I’ve always enjoyed practicing and teaching karate, and it’s been a wonderful journey.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2000 Cheshire Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA 30324
- Website: www.atlantashotokan.com
- Phone: 404 7545 9698
- Email: rchapman3224@yahoo.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TONG-DOJO-ATLANTA-GEORGIA-133788189980870/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tong-dojo-shotokan-karate-atlanta
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