Seito Bushido Karate Kai Offers Free Classes to the Pinellas County Community: Local Nonprofit Uses Martial Arts to Help Build Families and Develop Youth

Seito Bushido Karate Kai organized as a nonprofit corporation this year to provide free Karate
classes to families in the greater St. Petersburg area. Classes have already started at the
Campbell Park Recreation Center, and plan to begin teaching in Clearwater in the near future.
Todd Irvine, Chief Instructor (Sensei) and Director, has taught Karate for over 35 years and
recently started teaching in St Petersburg after moving to the city.
According to Irvine, “We seek to do two things: offer classes to families who otherwise wouldn’t
be able to train and to preserve the traditional martial arts through the next generation.”
Teaching self-defense will stay the main purpose, but the martial arts provide a great platform
for instilling discipline, building strong values, and developing leadership skills among youth.
Also, training with children and parents together can also help to build stronger family bonds.
Martial arts classes can often cost $150 or more for a month at most academies, or dojo. Seito
Bushido’s classes allow families to enjoy the benefits of training who may otherwise be unable
to afford such fees. Sensei Irvine recalls, “my instructor let me train for about six years when I
was in college and graduate school without ever charging me, so I want to pass on the
opportunity to train, just as I was given such opportunities.”
Seito Bushido focuses on children and families, but anyone can join and start training. Anyone
who has an interest can visit our website at https://st-petersburg-karate.org/ or call/text Sensei
Irvine at 813-641-4487. Classes are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.