About Metamora Martial Arts
Metamora Martial Arts was founded in 2002 by Sensei Joe Chianakas as a free, after-school karate program for Metamora Township High School students.
Since then, Sensei Chianakas has been able to extend the program to three of the feeder grade schools. Currently, programs remain active at MTHS, Riverview Grade School and Germantown Hills Middle School.
Metamora Martial Arts has performed dozens of demos for thousands students, participants and observers over the last several years, including a pre-game show for the Peoria Pirates in 2004, many MTHS varsity basketball halftime shows, ISAT prep demos for Metamora Grade School, RGS and St. Mary’s Grade School in 2009 and countless others. You may have also seen us at…
- Arts Day – Central Grade School in Washington, Ill.
- Healthy Heroes day camp – Hult Health Education Center in Peoria, Ill.
- Woodford County Teen Jamboree in Eureka, Ill., and Washington, Ill.
The club has also competed in numerous tournaments, mostly sticking to area tournaments. However, we have been to and won divisions in the U.S. Open in Orlando, Fla., twice.
The program focuses primarily on Okinawan Shuri-ryu karate, but involves aspects of judo, tae kwon do, XMA, mixed martial arts and more. MTHS students are expected to take part in conditioning classes if they wish to earn a P.E. waiver.