We at Dokan Karate Have Maintained / Restored This Site In Memory Of Sensei Don. 

"Karate is an art, and I will help you to learn a little about the art of Karate, as well as Kendo, Aikido, and Jui Jitsu and Martial Arts in general, and I will also try and interest you in the whole aspect of the Arts, from Masters to modern day Karateka."
Sensei Don Racine 

Zen Nippon Shorinji ryu Karatedo is a relatively small style compared to the "big ones" such as Shotokan or Wado-ryu. The style is also known as Zen Nippon Shorin-ji ryu Renshin-kan Karate-do in Japan. There are some 400 000 people practising the style in Japan and some more outside of Japan. In USA there are active shorinji ryu karatekas. In Finland, it is (at least from the statistical point of view) the most popular style.

Shorinji ryu is known and famous for its spinning and jumping techniques. Kicks are favoured in ratio 70%-30% to punches. The use of footwork and evasions is similar to old schools of ju-jutsu (ko-ryu ju-jutsu) and aikido; the main purpose is not to meet force with force but to use body-evasions and footwork combined with kicks and punches used both in blocking and counter-attacking. This approach (to fighting) is very different compared to many modern styles of karatedo, yet truly effective. The stances are relatively high and narrow compared to e.g. Shotokan. O'Sensei Kim (Hanshi)changed the old style of Okinawan Shorinji Ryu to that which looks and feels a lot like Shotokan. In kata and in kumite they look a lot alike.

I have been involved in the Martial Arts for over 45 years. I have studied and attained black belts in Shorinji-Ryu Karate, Ju-Jitsu, Kendo,and Aiki-Jitsu. My Sensei (for the past 20 years), was the renowned and famous O'Sensei Richard Kim (Hanshi) from San Fransisco, California. (O'Sensei Passed away in November of 2001) Sensei Kim was the HIGHEST ranking SENSEI outside of Japan and the Head of the Butokukai outside of Japan. In Japan the head of this organization is the Emperor of Japan. I was/have been a member of the Butokukai for the last 20 years. As in all forms of life politics prevail, therefore I have opted to leave the Butokukai. I now train with Shihan Gary Legacy (8th dan Shorin Ryu) in Legacy Matsumura White Crane, as well as other high ranking instructors in different disciplines.