About Us

Shihan Rossetti was actually studying Judo, when in 1969 he first witnessed a demonstration by Shihan Tadashi Nakaumura, then North American Chairman of the Kyokushinkai Karate Organization. Never before had the young Frank Rossetti seen such power and Karate technique, and it was then at that moment that his feet were first set upon that” road less traveled.” A road that would take over two decades and lead from Nakumura’s dojo in New York City, where he would become one of the top students, to the Branch Chief  of one of the largest branches in the World Seido Organization, and finally, to the hardest decision of his life.

 
   In order to study karate from Shihan Nakumura (who was the number one student the great Mas Oyama) the young Frank Rossetti would ride the bus every week, three hours, to New York City to train at the Honbu.In those days work outs routinely ran overtime, with everyone including white belts participating kumite(fighting), with out the benefit of protective gear.During brutal training sessions, which included beating the students fists with heavy pieces of wood to toughen their knuckles and full contact blocking drills in which injuries were common place, Shihan Rossetti was often worked even harder than usual to make up for the classes he could not attend at the Honbu. Afterwards, (many times with hands and body beat up so bad it even hurt to drink a coke!), he would make the long three hour bus trip back to Troy only to repeat the whole ordeal the following week. Also let us not forget he was still practicing Judo during much of this time. It was not long before Shihan Rossetti realized he wanted to make Karate his way of life. Shihan Nakumura, knowing he had something special in this student, who trained so hard, traveled so far and had even been heard of at the Kyokushinkai Honbu in Japan, allowed Shihan Rossetti to open a dojo in Troy, NY. (In what few people know was a one-time gambling parlor!). Though it had three names on the door, there has always been the same man in the office. Shihan Rossetti taught Kyokushinkai Karate until 1976 and then became Adirondack Branch Chief of the World Seido Karate Organization until 1987. Shihan has won numerious tournaments in both Karate and Judo and was awarded Most Outstanding Instructor and Most Outstanding Branch Chief by the World Seido Karate Organization.

    Many who now teach Karate in Up State NY have at one time or another studied with Shihan Rossetti. This includes the heads of some Karate styles as well as many Judo players, Boxers and Wrestlers.
 
     Shihan Rossetti a 39-year veteran of the martial arts has won many championships and has trained students to become champions. Shihan Rossetti has said “ My proudest honor was when Sosai Mas Oyama requested to meet me on one of his visits from Japan to New York City”. Master Oyama stated his admiration for the dedication Shihan Rossetti has shown to the true meaning of the Karate Way. Shihan Rossetti still teaches Black Belt Students each week as well as giving clinics and over seeing all promotional exams in the Kokorokan System. Shihan Rossetti has dedicated his life to the Kokorokan Karate Way and plans to stay with it for decades to come! Shihan Rossetti began his formal training in 1968. 

        In March of 1987 Shihan Rossetti founded the Kokorokan Karate-Do Organization " The Way of the Heart". Shihan took with him his closest and most dedicated students. These students formed the foundation upon which he began to build a style of karate based on the principles of ; Love, Respect, Character and Determination This new style of karate was not so much a change, rather, it was a commitment to the ideals of traditional Japanese Karate
 
   Each of us train in our dojos because of our belief in the principles of the Way of the Heart and while training is often difficult, the benefits we all receive are well worth the effort.
 
In years to come as Kokorokan continues to grow, we can all look back and know that we each played a part in making a dream become a reality.
 
On this very special occasion, we would like to thank Shihan Rossetti for his instruction and guidance and extend our warmest wishes and most heartfelt congrtulations.
(Written by Sempai Lynch and Sensei Burke

(518) 235-2115
No contracts required!

Heart - Respect - Discipline - Family - Spirit- Work - Training

KOKOROKAN KARATE DO
607 2nd Avenue
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 235-2115