• CONFIDENCE • COURAGE • COMMITMENT •

Welcome to Ciraco's Karate
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Not all Karate Schools are the same. We were recently named one of the Top 20 schools in the country by the AAU. We have been serving the area since 1992.
Come in for a free trial lesson and see why we are the #1 rated Martial Arts Program on the Grand Strand!
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‍Serving Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach,
Murrells Inlet, and Pawleys Island since 1992

Want to know more about our classes?
We have a variety of classes for children and adults of all ages. In addition to traditional Okinawan Karate, we are Dragon Society International Certified Instructors. Click on the link and one of our instructors will contact you ASAP.
We look forward to speaking with you.

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ABOUT

We are committed to preserving the ancient arts of Okinawa. Our program teaches the Traditional Arts of Goju-ryu, Shorin-ryu, and Hakutsuru White Crane Karate. In addition to our regular arts we have integrated special programs for Stranger Danger and Bully Buster skills to help protect you and your family. Self Defense is a priceless gift that all children and adults need. Traditional Martial Arts and our unique way of teaching can improve your child's grades, boost their confidence and self esteem along with helping them to avoid the peer pressure that might lead them down the wrong path. Our leadership training class will teach your child about setting goals and taking responsibility for themselves. The life skills we teach go a long way to ensure your child's success in school, college and life. We have been teaching since 1992 on the south end of the Grand Strand. Our program has produced many high caliber black belts along with State, National, and World Champions.

Why do parents enroll their children in our program?
‍1) Structure / Discipline / Respectful After School environment
2) Character Development / Life skills
3) Self Protection skills

Please choose carefully when deciding on a dojo!
All martial arts are not the same. Just because your teacher is a "world champion" does not mean they are a qualified instructor. All martial arts have not been tried and tested. All martial arts do not equate to self defense. Find out why we are the better choice, have more value, and are different then all the other schools!

PROGRAMS

Children

Our martial arts classes are shocking parents at the kinds of results their children are seeing. Unshakeable focus, confidence, self-esteem, honor, courage, good manners, listening skills, and character development are all a natural outgrowth of our martial arts life skills program. Promotions in our dojo are earned not given away or paid for. The student learns success one step at a time. This Black Belt attitude prepares them for the future ahead and teaches them patience. Fire safety, active shooter safety, bully management, stranger danger awareness, and anti-drug skills are taught on a regular basis. Through our structured program students are taught to channel aggression and to focus their energy. Believe it or not, we've seen plenty of kids get better grades and your child will be proud of their accomplishments in the dojo and at school. Many teachers are simply amazed by the level of respect kids in the martial arts give them. We have also been teaching in the Horry Country School System since 1997. We will teach your child the character and confidence to stand up for themselves and others. They will learn discipline and hard work by setting and accomplishing goals which create a desire for self-improvement and learning. Our program will create the habits needed to grow into a physically and mentally healthy adult. Your child will learn a talent that they will be proud of. Not only does it look and feel very cool to their peers, but they will gain valuable skills that other activities don't provide. Our program is non- violent, safe and fun. It is for boys and girls and even for children that are non-athletic. The above skills help your child for LIFE! Your child's Inner Potential Determination and future success are just a few martial arts classes away. Call us today so that we can help your child make the right decisions when you are not there.

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Teen/Adult

Our diverse curriculum covers all of the principles of health, fitness, stress relief, and self-defense techniques. Come and experience the mind, body, and spirit training that only a traditional martial arts program can offer. The goal at our dojo is to preserve the ancient fighting arts of Okinawa that included striking and kicking skills, throws, takedowns, ground fighting. We also teach the use of pressure points and joint locking techniques that utilize the martial science that was once a well-guarded secret. We are the only dojo in South Carolina authorized to teach this material by the Dragon Society International. Our varied program and vast-range of martial arts knowledge teaches material from several different styles of Okinawan Karate. Goju-Ryu, Matsumura Shorin-ryu, and Hakutsuru White Crane. You can learn, train, & work out at your own pace. Gain the knowledge and skills to protect yourself and your loved ones.

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Self-defense

Ciraco's Okinawan Karate and Kobudo offer Real Self-defense classes every Monday evening from 7:15-8:15 using the principles of Martial Science. Learn reality-based self-defense through simple, no-nonsense techniques that are effective in defending yourself from attackers. Classes are fun and safe. Street clothes, NO UNIFORM! Parents of students are invited along with other friends. Cost is free for students. $10 for parents or relatives, $15 for all others. This class is beneficial for police and security personnel as well as for women concerned about how to really protect themselves.

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instructors

Michael Ciraco

Michael Ciraco was awarded the rank of 8th Dan and Grandmaster in Okinawan Kempo by the Dragon Society International in October 2014. He holds the rank of 7th Dan Kyoshi in the Okinwan Konankyu Kohokan. Michael Ciraco is a Master Teacher and fully Certified International Instructor (5th Dan) for the Dragon Society International (May 2019). Sensei Ciraco was awarded a Hanshi Teachers license by the Dragon Society International on September 24, 2022. He was awarded a Shihan grade teachers license by the Universal Martial Arts Association in April 2011. Hanshi Ciraco is also a 3rd Dan in Okinawan Kobudo. Hanshi Ciraco trained with Kyoshi Chuck Chandler for 12 years learning many White Crane karate katas and Matsumura Seito Shorin-Ryu Karate. He also holds the rank of 2nd Dan in Shorei-Kan Goju-Ryu. Just some of his awards are : In 2009 he was an inductee in the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Regional Instructor of the Year. His dojo has been the winner Best Martial Arts on the Grand Strand WMBF News many times. 2009 Superior Leadership International Shurite Yudansha-Kai 2008 Sensei of Merit International Shurite Yundansha-Kai 2007 Professional Martial Artist Shurite Yundansha-Kai 2005 Renshi grade teachers license Okinawan Konanryu Kohokan. USANKF Official Referee and Judge, AAU Successful Coaching Principals 1999. Shihan Ciraco has been teaching on the Grand Strand since 1992 and began his martial arts career in 1986. For over 20 years he ran successful after school programs in the Horry County Elementary and Middle Schools. Hanshi Ciraco has produced many high caliber Black Belt instructors who help to teach classes under his direct supervision. Hanshi Ciraco and his students have won more than 45 National and World Championships in numerous AAU and USA Karate traditional tournaments. In 2021 and 2022 his dojo was named one of the top 20 schools in the country by the AAU. Hanshi Ciraco is a retired engineer from the Murrells Inlet Garden City Fire Department and an Ex-Captain in the Village of Mamaroneck Fire Dept.

Joshua Dunn

Sensei Joshua Dunn started Okinawan Goju-Ryu karate at the age of 5 in 1994 training under Sensei Michael Ciraco. Sensei Dunn achieved the rank of Jr.Shodan in 1999 and the rank of Shodan in the year 2000. He currently holds the rank of Yondan (4th Degree BB). He trained with Shihan Ciraco for 13 years and at the age of 18 joined the US Air Force and was an aircraft mechanic on the KC-10. While stationed at McGuire AFB in N.J. Sensei Dunn pursued Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He had multiple amateur MMA fights. Hi also studied May Thai and American Kickboxing. After his service the the Air Force Sensei Dunn returned to his Martial Arts roots at Ciraco's Okinawan Karate and is now a partner in the business. Sensei Dunn attended Coastal Carolina University where he achieved a degree from CCAF in Aerospace Science. Sensei Dunn has been the lead instructor at Lakewood Elementary School's Stranger Danger and Bully Awareness Program since 2015. Currently, Sensei Dunn is an Associate International Instructor with the Dragon Society International, he holds the rank of Sandan (3rd degree BB) in Torite Jutsu and is also a Sandan in Okinawa Kenpo. Sensei Dunn is currently a Technical Coach for AAU Karate. He has been the Head Coach for the tournament team at Ciraco's Karate for the past 7 years. In 2016 he was awarded Black Belt Instructor of the Year.

Caleb Gillespie

Caleb Gillespie has been training since May of 2011. He actively teaches and assists in all of the children's classes and achieved the rank of Shodan in September 0f 2020. Caleb is the 2021 AAU National Champion in sparring.

Alyssa Sasso

Allysa began training with us in 2017. She had a number of years training in a previous style. She is especially talented in kumite and ground grappling. Alyssa actively teaches and assists in the children's classes. She currently holds the rank of Shodan. Alyssa is on our competition team and earned 3 Bronze medals in the 2021 AAU National Championships.

Jesse Poyer

Jesse began training in 2013. He hold the rank of Shodan. Jesse is also a Shodan in Torite Jutsu with the Dragon Society International.

Mina Klein

Mina began training in March of 2014 and currently holds the rank of Shodan. She is a fourth generation Okinawan Karateka and actively teaches and assists in all the adult and children classes. Mina has been on our competition team since 2015 and over the years has been a 2 time National Champion, a 1 time National Silver medalist, and a 1 time National Bronze medalist in the USANKF as well as a 3 time National Bronze medalist and a 2 time National Silver medalist in AAU Karate. Mina was on AAU's 2022 USA National Team, receiving a Silver at the AAU Karate Nationals and competed on behalf of the US at the 10th WUKF World Karate Championships.

Taylor Priewe

Taylor has been training in karate since 2015. She currently holds the rank Shodan and actively teaches and assists in all the adult and children’s classes. Taylor is a two-time National Champion. She represented the USA on the AAU National team in 2021 and 2022, earning back-to-back World Championships in Kata and also a Bronze and Silver medal in Kubodo.

Haley Mortensen

SCHEDULE

Curriculum Rotates Each Week of the Month
Week 1: Kata Week 2: Kiso Week 3: Sparring- bring gear Weeks 4-5: Open curriculum

SPARRING (Kumite)
Sparring begins the third Monday of the month, for the full week.
Students Ages 6-9 attend the White-Green classes.
Student ages 10-12 attend the Purple-Brown classes.
Classes will also be divided by size and ability for safety or by Shihan and Sensei Dunn.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING
Purple, Brown, and Black Belt Club members may attend any and all White, Gold, and Green Belt classes and the Mini Dragon Program for Leadership Training, By SPECIAL INVITATION ONLY.

Students NOT enrolled in the Black Belt Club may only attend one class session each day.
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We can help "Bully Proof" your child

• CONFIDENCE • COURAGE • COMMITMENT •

Children

Teen/Adult

Self-defense

Michael Ciraco

Joshua Dunn

Caleb Gillespie

Alyssa Sasso

Jesse Poyer

Mina Klein

Taylor Priewe

Haley Mortensen

Mini Dragons

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT (AGES 6-11)

White thru Gold Belts

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

Gold, Green, and Purple Belts

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

Green, Purple and Brown Belts

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

Purple and Brown Belts

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

Black Belt Club

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

Adult Beginner/Novice/Interm.

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

THUR

FRI

SAT

Jr. Black Belt Instructors

MON

MON

MON

TUE

WED

We can help
"Bully Proof" your child

SAT
(AGES 6-11)