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Rabouin, Sensei moved the school back to the north-east section of Phila. Shuto Karate Club #2 opened at 7706 Castor Ave., but most of the old students did not come along. Within two years, declining enrollment forced its closing.
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Nate Sparrow breaks six 12"x12"x1" pine boards (no spacers) |
Nate Sparrow at Chito Kai gathering with Wm. Dometrich and Dr. Chitose
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Nate Sparrow continued to teach karate for the Phila. Recreation Dept. until his death in 1997. Rabouin, Sensei conducted seminars and acted as technical advisor at various karate schools throughout southeastern Pennsylvania.
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On March 17, 2004 Louis Rabouin was awarded a commendation by the Pennsylvania State Senate for his lifetime dedication to karate. The ceremony was held in Bethlehem at the United Alliance of Shotokan Karate headquarters.
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On March 28, 2007 Rabouin, Sensei (now 80 years old), passed on the leadership of the Shuto Karate Club to Larry Flournoy. And designated his Phoenixville dojo as the new Shuto Karate Club headquarters at 225 Bridge St..
In an official ceremony, Rabouin presented Flournoy with the school’s six foot square banner that was first unfurled in the Chelten Ave. location nearly a half century before. He also passed on the Shuto Charter which serves as a record of the schools lineage and an oath that the head instructors of Shuto are sworn to uphold the highest standards of karate training with the purpose of said training aimed at the practical self defense applications of the art. |
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After the ceremony Rabouin presided over the first promotion testing at the new Phoenixville Hq. While observing Sabrine Habouchi, 10 years old, perform a kata he commented to Flournoy how things had changed. He said, “When I first started Shuto the students were all men. They were cops, G. I.’s and tough guys”. He implored Flournoy not to forget those early days and to maintain the standards he had set for them way back then. Flournoy responded that those were the standards he had always held and would always have. |
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[2007] Robert Trotta - Louis Rabouin - Larry Flournoy (Sabrine testing for 7 kyu) |
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Flournoy's senior black belt, Robert Trotta, was designated head of Shuto Karate Club #4 which was located in Hatfield Twp., PA. |
