Kingstowne Family Martial Arts
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Our Club

KFMA partnered with Kingstowne in June of 2001.  Since then KFMA has provided Kingstowne residents with quality training in authentic Japanese karatedo as well as special interest classes in tai chi, kickboxing and basic self-defense. 

The backbone of KFMA's program is Shitoryu Karatedo.  Shitoryu is one of four systems of karate recognized by the World Karate Federation for international karate competition.  More importantly, Shitoryu is an effective system of self-defense that emphasizes practical application of movement and economy of motion.  Shitoryu is a graceful, thoughtful system of training that is easily adapted to the individual. 

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Sensei Oviatt

KFMA classes are taught by Sensei Brian Oviatt.  Oviatt Sensei began studying the martial arts in 1988 in St. Louis, Missouri.  His first few years of training included a mix of arts as he attempted to find the system that was right for him.  In 1992 Oviatt Sensei enrolled at what was then a Black Belt Self-Defense & Fitness-affiliated club where he studied old-fashioned International Taekwondo Federation taekwondo and a mixed arts program consisting of full-contact kickboxing, shootfighting, escrima / kali, arnis de mano, pentjak silat and Muay Thai.  Initially he enrolled for the mixed arts, but it wasn't long before Oviatt Senei began cross-training.  Eventually Oviatt Sensei earned a second degree black belt in taekwondo and took over the daily instruction at his club.

In 1995 Oviatt Sensei's club began shifting from the taekwondo foundation to Japanese karatedo.  Ultimately Oviatt Sensei came under the instruction of Shoko Sato Kyoshi, the Pan-American Director of the World Shitoryu Karatedo Federation.  In 1997 Oviatt Sensei received a second degree black belt from Sato Kyoshi.  This was followed by a 3rd degree diploma in 2000 and a fourth degree diploma in 2003.  In 2004 Oviatt Sensei began the study of Shurite Jujutsu under Tashi Troy Price as a means of more fully understanding the application of Shitoryu movements.  This influence is reflected in many applications that Oviatt Sensei transmits to his students. 

Oviatt Sensei earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education from the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1996 and a Masters of Education from the University of Virginia in 2004.  His education and his experiences as an adapted physical education teacher, a general physical education teacher and a former law enforcement officer have given Oviatt Sensei a unique perspective on martial arts training. 


Our Goal

KFMA's mission is simple: 

To promote the health and well-being of our members though the vigorous practice karate. 

To provide our members with instruction in practical self-defense skills. 

We also seek to prepare our karate athletes to participate in appropriate athletic venues.  From 2001 to 2004 we competed primarily with the USA National Karate Federation.  From 2004-2009 we competed primarily with the Amateur Athletic Union in Northern VA.  During the 2009-2010 season we will be returning to the USA National Karate Federation.  Our athletes have competed both nationally and internationally as well.