Hirano Ha Karate of Trussville

Sensei Ron and the other sensei are awesome. We have been with him for over three years and so happy to be in the Hirano family. If your looking for a belt factory then this is not the place for you. The students have to earn every belt they get through hard work which is more rewarding. He has a talent for bringing the best out of ever student.. if you are looking for a great instructor that will make sure they have great foundations and is rewarded for hard work this is the place for you. Our daughter has gone above and beyond our expectations with his guidance.

My son has been at Japan International for a year now and it has been wonderful! We started karate for self defense and a confidence builder. My son is achieving both while having a blast doing it. I didn't want him to take karate to just learn repetitive motion, I wanted him to learn skills to carry him through life and I have not been disappointed!

This is a very good place for training. The facility is very tidy and there is plenty of space to accommodate the instruction. The instruction Master Shin is very knowledgeable, kind, and interpersonal. He sets realistic expectations and respects progress for the endeavor of growth. The fellow participants are kind and supportive. The community within this practice is very friendly, kind, and welcoming to newcomers. I hope that many that read this review can express the same with their experience with this place of teaching.

We live in the area, and are very happy to have found this dojo. Sensei Shin knows his stuff and engenders such focus and enthusiasm in his students. My son has been learning here for almost 2 years—since he was a white belt—and plans to go all the way. He’s even started weapons training with the bo at only 9 years old. Such a great opportunity for a kid. It’s a very diverse crowd, all ages, types, and genders. Some parents even train with their kids…. Which is pretty cool. As a parent and customer, I truly appreciate the flexible drop in schedule with the flat monthly fee. It just makes it so easy to keep-up with or catch-up on classes, especially with all of our crazy schedules. Sensei is also approachable about issues like scheduling or extra training needs. Thanks Sensei Shin! You’re a great guy, and I’m glad we have you in our city.

Sensei Shin is a fantastic instructor! We love the traditional style of teaching with every belt color on the floor at the same time, regardless of age. This actually helps the newer students because they can watch the more experienced students in real time. With roots in Okinawan karate, the Shotokan style is exactly what I was looking for. Both of my children, and myself, are attending this dojo and we love every minute of it! Sensei Shin is a fountain of knowledge. Along with very reasonable prices, the monthly fee includes weapons training, should you venture into that area, though it is not required. Sensei Shin teaches the bo (staff) and sai. We do both, and love it! If you are looking for real the deal, look no further. This is Japanese Karate, not a Korean style such as Taekwondo or Tang Soo Do. There is nothing wrong with those other styles, but they are not karate, for those that care about the differences. Lastly, this is not a black belt factory either. It will take years (3-ish minimum) to achieve the black belt rank, and even then there is no guarantee. While that may put some people off, receiving a black belt here is earned, not bought or given just because you showed up for two years.