About Us - Butler Shotokan

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The Butler Shotokan Karate Club is a member of the International Shotokan Karate Federation.
The ISKF is comprised of over twenty eight Pan-American countries and has over 50,000 members.
Its goal is the promulgation of true Japanese karate-do as espoused by the founder of modern karate Gichin Funakoshi. The ISKF is a non-profit organization dedicated to upholding the principles of
Master Funakoshi's Dojo Kun:
Seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor, respect others, refrain from violent behavior.

The benefits of karate practice are many.
Physically it enhances strength, coordination, stamina, balance and flexibility.
It is well documented that regular exercise can improve both the quality and longevity of your life and that it makes people feel happier and more alert. There is also evidence that exercise can help cognitive brain function. Everything that you do in your life becomes a bit easier because of your karate practice. Karate trains the mind as well as the body, resulting in improved self-awareness, discipline, confidence and will power. Not only will you become more confident that you can defend yourself, but your confidence to tackle most of life's trials will grow.

The Butler Karate Club is also a ministry of St. Luke Lutheran Church
We train at St. Luke Lutheran church and School. We adhere to the teachings of Jesus Christ, first and formost.
Our martial arts training is based upon the teachings of Gichin Funakoshi, the great karate master who was a key pioneer in the development of modern karate.

Our students are taught that it's better to avoid a single conflict than to win 1000 battles. Valor in the martial arts is the ability to remain self-controlled during intense and heated moments. Compared to football or hockey, the martial arts are like ballet, mainly because they are an art as much as they are a sport. In fact, martial arts actually teach students how to turn the other cheek, and respond to insult in a Godly way. Trained martial artists know that responding to insult in a gentle way softens our enemies' hearts and puts us in a valorous and advantageous position. .
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Meet our Instructors:

Sensei
Dino Capestrani
Mr. Dino Capestrani began his martial arts training in 2002 under the training of Sensei Andy Babay. Since early in 2006, Mr. Capestrani has been training beginner level students in all aspects of basic drills, Kumite (sparring) and Kata.
Mr. Capestrani has been the personal trainer for Sempi Kelly Capestrani leading up to her Shodan Black Belt received in 2005.

Mr. Capestrani has attended several advanced black belt clinics. He has also attended the ISKF Fall Camp in Philadelphia to enhance his skills as a Sensei in Shotokan Karate. Senei Dino has received his Shodan Black Belt in 2006.

Mr. Capestrani is a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church along with his family, Lynn and their daughter's Katy and Kelly.

Sensei is a Japanese title used to refer to or address teachers, and professionals. It is also used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in an art form or some other skill: accomplished novelists, musicians, artists and karate instructors.

"I love teaching and I love Karate.. Being a sensei is nothing mystical, nothing magical. I'm just a specialist and a technician who is dedicated to those eager to learn this wonderful martial art called Shotokan."

Sensei; Dino Capestrani

Sempai, 1st Ranking Student
Kelly Capestrani
Ms. Kelly Capestrani began her martial arts training in 2002 under the training of Sensei Andy Babay as well as continued training under Sensei Dino Capestrani. Kelly has been training Shotokan karate consistently and has passed all her exames on her first try. Kelly's focus is to assist children in the beginner's class.

Sensei
Andy Babay
Mr. Andy Babay began his martial arts training in 1986 at a school in Erie, PA He later became the main instructor at that small local school. In 1995 the school joined the The International Shotokan Karate Federation. Over the years, Sensei Babay traveled bimonthly to the headquarters in Philadelphia, PA.

Mr. Babay has been fortunate enough to teach with and train under some of the most outstanding Shotokan karate practitioners in the world. Currently, he is a member of the International Shotokan Karate Federation.

Sensei Andy Babay is studying full time to become an Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Sensei Babay is also an accomplished carpenter and specializes in custom wordworking.