Nakata Dojo Is Hosting the AAU Iowa District Karate Championship
Why hosting the AAU for the first time matters for our community
We talk a lot at Nakata Dojo about being part of something larger than yourself. On March 28, 2026, we get to live that out.
For the first time in our school’s history, we are hosting the AAU Iowa District Karate Championship at the Grimes Community Complex. This is a sanctioned qualifier, meaning athletes who compete here can earn their path to the Regional Championship in Chicago and eventually the Junior Olympic Games. That is not a small thing. That is the door to the highest levels of amateur karate in this country, and we are the ones opening it in Iowa.
I do not take that lightly.
Hosting this event is an extension of how we train. We frame discipline as care: care for your technique, care for your opponent, care for the space you’re in. That same philosophy will govern how we run this tournament. Every athlete who walks into that gym, regardless of belt or background, deserves a professional, structured, and respectful environment. That is what we are building.
Competition has always been part of traditional karate. When Shihan Murayama taught us about “imaginary combat,” the mental rehearsal behind every kata and every kumite exchange, he was preparing us for exactly this. The mat makes it real. Standing across from an opponent, managing your awareness, your restraint, your timing under pressure, that is the practice made physical. There is no better test of what you have actually built.
This event is open to everyone. Beginners who want to understand what competition feels like. Advanced practitioners looking to sharpen their edge. Families who want to watch what disciplined young athletes are capable of. All of it belongs here.
We are proud to bring this level of traditional karate competition to Grimes, Urbandale, Waukee, and the surrounding Des Moines metro area. This is a new chapter for Iowa karate, and Nakata Dojo is leading it.
Come see it for yourself.
The AAU Iowa District Karate Championship takes place Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Grimes Community Complex. The event features Kata, Kobudo, and Kumite divisions for all ages and skill levels. Registration is open now. Full details on schedules, rules, and AAU membership at www.iowakarate.com.
Nakata Dojo is a traditional Shito-Ryu martial arts school in Urbandale, Iowa. We offer karate classes for kids and adults across the Des Moines metro area, from beginners building their foundation to competitors stepping onto the national stage. Learn more at nakatadojo.com.