Empire Martial Arts (EMA) was founded in 1988 by 6 degree Black Belt Sensei Joseph LaPlaca. Originally the dojo was located in Webster Shroeder high school as part of a self-defense/karate night school.

Later the school was moved to the Rochester Christian School, and within 2 years the school saw a boom in enrollment, resulting in an expanded class schedule.

  3 Years later the school moved once again, to Creek Street in Webster and became a free standing dojo for the first time. 

About this time EMA became a member of the Shotokan Karatedo of Japan Federation (SKJF).

During this time EMA produced both adult and child national champions.

In 2009 the world economy took a turn for the worse and due to tuff economic times Empire Martial Arts had to close its doors.

But the spirt of EMA lives on. With new ownership and a new location in downtown Webster, EMA has become Matsunami Karate: Rochesters premier Shotokan Karate School.