About us
The Indian division of Melbourne’s Kassis Karate Academy, sharing its Shito-Ryu syllabus, standards and lineage with students in Kerala.
Our story
Kassis Karate Academy was founded in Melbourne, Australia, by the late Shihan Con Kassis (1959–2022), a personal student of Soke Kenei Mabuni, son of the founder of Shito-Ryu. For around 30 years the academy has used traditional karate-dō to develop character, self-esteem and life skills in people of all ages, producing thousands of black belts and many national and international champions.
Kassis Karate Academy India, registered as Kassis Shito-Ryu Karate Academy International (Reg. No. EKM/TC/231/2021), carries that mission to Kerala. Led by President Sensei Santhosh Augustine and General Secretary Sensei Manoj Maniyan under International Chief Sensei Rosanna Kassis, we teach children, teens and adults the complete Shito-Ryu syllabus in classes across Kochi, Kothamangalam, Muvattupuzha, Thodupuzha, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The academy is affiliated to the District Sports Council, Ernakulam, hosts school championships and has welcomed international champions such as Olympian Yi-Ta Wang of Chinese Taipei for technical sessions on kata.
Leadership
Experienced black belts in India, guided by one of the most qualified Shito-Ryu teams in the world.
Leads the academy in Kerala and organised its first international WSKF seminar and Dan examinations in May 2026.
Works alongside the President to run the academy, its events and its gradings.
Principal Instructor of Kassis Karate Academy, Melbourne, with more than 30 years in Shito-Ryu.
A kind, humble master who travelled to Japan more than 50 times to study Shito-Ryu.
Our journey
From international matches to the first WSKF Dan grading in India: milestones of Kassis Karate Academy India.
Kassis students compete in an Indo–Sri Lankan karate match, flying the Indian flag.
Instructors from India visit Kassis Karate Academy in Australia and train under Shihan Con Kassis.
Registered as Kassis Shito-Ryu Karate Academy International, Reg. No. EKM/TC/231/2021.
More than 400 students from Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu compete at De Paul Public School, Thodupuzha.
A one-day technical training camp for senior instructors at Kuttampuzha, led by Sensei Johnson C.
Renshi George Pelekis leads an international seminar and the academy's first WSKF Dan examinations in N. Paravur.
Our values
The crest on our uniforms is the centuries-old Mabuni family crest. Its circle stands for peace and harmony and its inner lines for people: together, people living in peace and harmony, the spiritual heart of Shito-Ryu.
Our India story
Two days of training with Renshi George Pelekis, followed by the first WSKF Dan examinations held at Kassis Karate Academy India.
Our karate family
Our parent academy in Tullamarine, Melbourne: Shitoryu Karate-Do Australia Shitokai. kassiskarate.com.au
The World Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation follows the Mabuni family line. WSKF Dan examinations are now held in India.
Our competitors train for kata and kumite under World Karate Federation rules, as used at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
A registered society (Reg. No. EKM/TC/231/2021), affiliated to the District Sports Council, Ernakulam.
Children, teens and adults welcome. Talk to us about classes near you.
