About Us
A Family Karate Academy in Riverview, FL
More than 40 years of experience in Karate-Do Shotokan.
Families Grow Stronger Together
Oliver Martial Arts is a family-owned and family-oriented academy located in Riverview, FL. We proudly serve students from Riverview, Valrico, Brandon, and nearby communities, providing a welcoming environment where families grow stronger together through martial arts.
OMA is associated with Bushi-do Karate Kai Shotokan PANACO, the school founded by Shihan Cecilio Ortega.
Shihan Ortega is an 8th Dan, a member of the JKA (Japan Karate Association), and a member and founder of AFMA (American Federation of Martial Arts), with more than 40 years of experience in Karate-Do Shotokan.
Shihan Ortega oversees academies in Panama, Argentina, NYC, and Florida (Riverview), and continues to train OMA’s Sensei, Rafael Oliver, in Shotokan, Weapons, and Self Defense.
Ready for a Free Trial Class?
No experience needed, just energy and enthusiasm! It’s the perfect way to see if karate is the right fit before signing up.
OMA Academy
Our History
OMA stands for Oliver Martial Arts, where we teach the art of Shotokan, a style of Karate developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi. Funakoshi trained in popular styles of Okinawan karate and adopted the Kyu/Dan rank system and the uniform (Keikogi) developed by Kano Jigoro, the founder of judo. This system uses colored belts (obi) to indicate rank.
Funakoshi laid out the Twenty Precepts of Karate (or Niju Kun), which form the foundations of the art. They are heavily based on bushido and Zen, where the philosophy of Shotokan lies.
The dojo kun lists five philosophical rules for training in the dojo. It is posted on a wall of the dojo, and students are encouraged to memorize it, as it provides motivation and a context for further training. At OMA, we zealously follow the dojo kun.
Funakoshi had many students, and internal disagreements led to the creation of different organizations. Today there is no single “Shotokan School,” although they all bear Funakoshi’s influence. Shotokan is considered a traditional and influential form of karate-do and is a widely practiced style. Its training is divided into three parts:
Kihon
Basics
Kata
Forms, or patterns of moves
Kumite
Sparring
For more information on these, visit our dojo.
What “OMA” Means
In Japanese, OMA 黄麻 means jute, a strong fiber. In Hebrew, the original language, it means cedar tree and leadership.
Our purpose is to teach our OMA students, of all ages, to be strong leaders with integrity, so that their behavior as Shotokan karate practitioners out in the world leaves an impression like the cedar tree, of fragrant aroma. As Funakoshi wrote:
“The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of the participant.”
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan
Our Team
Meet the People Behind OMA
Sensei Rafael Oliver leads a team of black belts and staff who teach every class, drive every after-school route and know every student by name.