Why Us
Legacy and Lineage
Learn about the Chito-Ryu heritage, dojo roots, and instructor lineage that shape training at The Karate Institute.
Sensei Noonan has trained in Japan every year since 1985. 7th Dan. Kyoshi title. Graded personally by Soke Chitose — the Supreme Chito-Ryu instructor.
Michael Noonan began training in 1980. After establishing himself as a karate student and instructor in Australia, he travelled to Japan in 1985 to deepen his knowledge of Chito-Ryu at its source. He has returned every year since.
In Japan, he trains and teaches alongside the highest-ranked Chito-Ryu instructors in the world. In 2017 he was promoted to 7th Degree Black Belt and awarded the title of Kyoshi. His grading was conducted personally by Soke Chitose — the Supreme Chito-Ryu instructor.
He has taught in Japan, Ireland, Scotland, and across Australia. When you train at Tasseikan Dojo, you are training within a direct, authenticated lineage — not a localized variation or a franchise adaptation.
Direct Lineage
Graded by the source, not a representative
Most Australian karate schools operate several steps removed from the original style — trained by someone who trained with someone who trained in Japan, years ago. Sensei Noonan is not in that category. He maintains a direct, active relationship with the highest levels of Chito-Ryu in Japan, returning every year to train and be assessed. That relationship is what authenticates everything taught at Tasseikan Dojo.
Gallery
A closer look at the training environment
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More from Why Us
Training Philosophy
Traditional Chito-Ryu — not fitness karate. A complete martial arts system with an unbroken lineage from Okinawa, taught by an instructor who has trained in Japan every year since 1985.
Choosing a Karate School
What to look for, what to ask, and what separates a genuine school from a commercial operation — before you sign anything.
Facilities
Tasseikan Dojo. 2/113 Boundary Road, Peakhurst NSW 2210. A dedicated training space — not a converted gym or shared hire floor.
What is Chito-Ryu
Chito-Ryu is a traditional Okinawan martial arts system — not sport karate, not fitness training. A complete method founded by Dr Tsuyoshi Chitose with an unbroken lineage dating back centuries.
Training Benefits
What students actually gain from training — not what a brochure promises. Confidence, discipline, physical fitness, self-defence, and changes that show up well outside the dojo.
Start Your Journey
Experience the dojo and see if it feels right for you or your child
Visit the dojo, explore the training environment, and take the next step with a free trial class or an enquiry.