About us

Our Club & Our Senseis

A Silicon Valley-based group of dedicated karateka with a long tradition, now meeting live on Zoom so students anywhere in the world can train with us.

We are a Silicon Valley-based group of dedicated karateka ranging in age from 15 years and up. We have a strong tradition — some of us have been training together for over 40 years. We meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays online on Zoom, and during the summer months we train two Fridays per month outdoors in Jollyman Park in Cupertino, California.

We welcome Shotokan karateka of all ages at or above blue belt to train with us. If you are new to karate, please join us first as an observer; one of our instructors will be happy to speak with you about how you might begin your martial arts studies.

We regularly train kihon (basics), kata (forms) and kumite (fighting stances and self-defence techniques). Because classes are on Zoom, karateka from any country are welcome as long as our Pacific Time class times suit them.

Pacific Coast Karate Do members at De Anza College, back in the day — Some of our karateka at De Anza College — a club with members who have been training together for decades.

Instructors

Meet the Senseis

Sensei Rick Roberts

Yondan (4th dan), Shotokan karate · Yondan, Aikido

Rick started training in karate in 1979 at De Anza College and was awarded his first black belt (Shodan) in 1984. He has held the rank of Yondan since March 2002, awarded by Irv Ploke Sensei of Pacific Coast Karate Do. Rick has also held the rank of Yondan in Aikido since September 2021, awarded by Toshiharu Sawada Shihan of Kimori Dojo in Nagoya, Japan. He still enjoys training as well as teaching, and believes that proper body mechanics increase power and speed of movement — and that anyone willing to train can improve.

Sensei Mark Bailey

Yondan (4th dan), Shotokan karate

Mark started training in Shotokan karate after finishing his college football career at Princeton in 1981, continuing later that year at De Anza College. He earned his black belts under Irv Ploke Sensei of Pacific Coast Karate Do and has held the rank of Yondan since 2010. An avid cyclist, mountain biker and skier, Mark enjoys both teaching and training, with an emphasis on technique fundamentals, body mechanics and core stability.

Visiting Sensei Mark Wright

Godan (5th dan), Shotokan karate

Mark started training in the late 1970s at De Anza College. He earned his black belts under Irv Ploke Sensei of Pacific Coast Karate Do and was later awarded the rank of Godan in recognition of his many years running his own club in Cupertino introducing a great number of young students to karate. As part of continuing and expanding his own martial arts training, Mark is now studying Tai Chi.

Want to train with us? Email info@pacificcoastkaratedo.com and a sensei will reply with a Zoom link.