Sensei Jay Castellano began his judo and karate training in 1966. He is a highly respected martial arts instructor in the United States and internationally. He has been chief instructor of Satsuma Dojo since 2000.
Sensei Jay currently holds a 8th dan (black belt) in Shotokan Karate and a 3rd dan from Soke Iwao Tamotsu (1948-2016), the familial head of the Renshinkan style of Shorinji-ryu Karate.
In 2024, Sensei Jay was highly honored with the title of Hanshi.* This is a rare honor in all karate and is mark of distinction and dedication to his students, his dojo, and karate-do. He has also earned the rank of Nana-Dan (7th Dan) in 2011 from Kancho Kanazawa.
Satsuma Dojo was founded by Shihan Isao Wada (1952-2018). Wada Sensei began his karate training at the age of 12 with Soke Isamu Tamotsu, founder of Dai Nippon Renshinkan Karate-Do, while attending school in Kagoshima, Japan. He returned to the U.S. in 1970 to join the Army, where he taught hand-to-hand combat and trained with renowned Shotokan karate master Takayumi Mikami while stationed in New Orleans.
Upon leaving the Army, Wada Sensei moved to the Bay Area and founded Satsuma Dojo. In 1983 Satsuma Dojo became one of the first three dojos in the U.S. to join Soke Hirokazu Kanazawa’s Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation. Wada Sensei first performed at the Cupertino Cherry Blossom Festival in the late 1980’s. Regrettably, he needed to retire from karate in 2000 and passed away in 2018.
*Kyoshi = Master Teacher
Satsuma Dojo 