Maryknoll Shotokan Karate Club

I have been practicing at the Maryknoll Karate dojo for the last 10 years. If you are interesting in learning traditional karate, this is the place for you.

The Maryknoll Dojo of Shotokan Karate of America is basically the birthplace of karate in the United States. This is the group that first practiced with Tsutomu Ohshima, who brought karate from Japan to the U.S. It has continued the tradition for over 60 years. All members of this dojo share an honest attitude, very strong mentality, and a desire to further advance their martial art. When I'm in LA, I try hard to make it to Little Tokyo and practice here, and I cherish every opportunity for this. If you're thinking about trying karate or trying a new dojo, I highly recommend visiting Maryknoll Shotokan Karate Club. You will not be disappointed.

Practicing at Maryknoll has been overwhelmingly positive experience; I would recommend it to anyone interested in training in Shotokan or martial arts generally in LA. As a new student, I've received tailored and individualized training and feedback alongside welcoming and challenging group instruction. Some of the (many) senior members who teach classes have been involved in this same dojo and SKA broadly for decades, so the level of expertise is unmatched. Practice is fun and rigorous, and they don't rush advancement. They neither take it easy on students nor make it inaccessible to beginners. Meanwhile, the community is really friendly and inviting. It's a diverse group, and people are invested in everyone feeling comfortable and supported. That's been an unexpected but very cool part of my experience as well!