The Columbia School of Karatedo, a national center for the martial arts, opened for business on Meeting Street in West Columbia Tuesday, September 4, 1979.
“It has been a blessing to be a part of this community and to be a positive influence to our area and to our youth,” said Ridgely Abele, owner of the Columbia School of Karatedo.
“Our school is dedicated to teaching the art, sport, and science of Karatedo and is a registered club with the USA National Karatedo Federation, the national governing body for Karate in the United States.”
Over 100 black belts and many National Champions have come from the school. One of Abele’s students, Tommy Hood was named United States Olympic Committee “Athlete Of The Year” three times.
The school holds classes for men, women, and children of all ages. The martial arts taught are karate, jujitsu, and kobudo, which are cultural Okinawan weapons designed to provide positive challenges appropriate to each student’s level of experience.
“Our focus in training encompasses a total approach; mental discipline, physical conditioning, and responsible actions. Martial arts training is a lifetime fitness activity, and training helps maintain weight, flexibility, cardiovascular fitness, and muscular strength,” said Abele.
Abele says The Columbia School of Karatedo combines the old with the new. These ancient and traditional lessons are combined with modern principles of scientific exercise physiology to help each student develop their body, mind, and spirit in a personal and meaningful way.
This instructional approach has had such an impact and world- wide recognition that hundreds of athletes come to West Columbia from all over North America, Europe, South America, Australia, Japan, Okinawa and India to train at the school.
Abele hosts an annual International Symposium held in October and attended by athletes and instructors from all over the world.
For more information contact Ridgely Abele at 794-3908 or at www.shurite.com.
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