Kodokai Dojo

Kodokai Dojo is a remarkable place to both cultivate self-defense, as well as discipline and mindfulness. Having come here for nearly one year now, I can say that the instructors here are genuine in their care for their students, and even more so in their craft. It is clear they have dedicated a considerable number of years, and invested greatly in their passion for martial arts. While on the mats, you will learn vital and realistically applicable self-defense skills and techniques that reply on principles of human biology and physics. As a smaller person (5’4”, 120 Ibs), and especially as a woman, these techniques have enabled and prepared me to deal with any assailant, regardless of their size. As a secondary result of coming to this dojo, I have learned to be more mindful, and shift my mind to a better set of perspectives. I can say with certainty that coming here has positively impacted both my body and mind, improving my overall health. For anyone interested in martial arts, I wholeheartedly recommend this dojo, for both the kind and caring community, and for the effective techniques.

I've been attending Kodokai's adult classes for just about a year. In that time, I have seen remarkable changes in every area of my life. While I have learned invaluable self-defense skills, I've also grown in my humility, courage, and critical thinking. As someone with teaching experience, I am amazed by the classroom setting cultivated in the dojo. Regardless of age or background, Kodokai is a safe space. The instructors (Sensei and Kim) are highly qualified individuals. Plus, they are some of the kindest, most patient, and encouraging people I've met. The students are equally warm-hearted and supportive towards everyone. I've had no encounters with unfriendly drama or cliques. If you're looking for a school to join, come here! The time and money you and/or your children invest here will be absolutely worth it. Everyone will be happy to have you! :)

Kodokai is a dojo that teaches practical and effective martial arts techniques passed down through generations before on Okinawa, and it’s done in an authentic and personable way. It’s a place of zen and focus where, no matter your own skill level or prior martial arts experience, you can join in and feel right at home. There’s a strong focus on self defense alongside martial katas and weapon arts, but there’s never any pressure to try and catch up or compete with others. Above all, what they teach is real and not for sport, and you’ll feel every improvement on your own journey if you take the first step. The atmosphere is welcoming and friendly, and you’ll find plenty of like-minded students if you visit!

First, I should disclose that I am Sensei Branchaud’s daughter. I have also been a student of his on and off for nearly 30 years, and this review is based on that. Kodokai Dojo is an exceptional martial arts school where you can learn a mix of open-hand and weapons skills. It is a privilege to learn from Sensei Branchaud who was trained in Okinawa directly under instructors who were and are masters in their respective styles. The instructors at Kodokai maintain relationships with their senseis in Okinawa, returning there on occasion to receive more training which they are then able to bring back to the dojo in Rhode Island. In the past they were able to bring senseis over from Okinawa, which gave an opportunity to learn from them directly. Sensei Branchaud has been teaching martial arts for nearly 40 years, and I’ve experienced fist-hand his growth over the decades. He is constantly refining his teaching, mixing up materials, and pays very close attention to the skills and growth of his students. Care is taken in class to mix and match students who can learn from each other. He and Sensei Kim have a well-rounded knowledge base of multiple forms of martial arts. This means they are able to teach self-defense for a variety of contexts which is important because you cannot control when you might encounter danger. Sensei Branchaud and Sensei Kim break down the mechanics of techniques so that students can really understand the how and why behind the way techniques are done. Classes are offered for different skill levels and age groups so that instruction can be tailored accordingly. The main style they teach, Motobu Udundi (Palace Hand) is extremely effective and does not require muscle strength. I am a 5’3”, 120 (at the time) pound woman and I’ve learned skills that can take 300 pound men to the ground, or flip someone off of me from a laying position. I especially recommend this school to women since we need these skills most. There is usually a good reperesnetation of women in the dojo, but you get valuable experience practicing techniques on men, too. Kodokai offers more than martial arts lessons; it offers philosophy, a community, exercise, a sense of empowerment, and practical self-defense skills. It is a positive learning environment where everyone is supported and no one is left behind. The students you work with also have valuable experience to share, and you get real hands-on experience in each class. Kodokai’s approach is non-competitive, which means you can focus on developing your skill without pressure. My favorite part of attending the dojo is being able to unplug and be present in my body. Both of those things are essential especially after long days of desk work. Since I am sensei Branchaud’s daughter, I grew up with some awareness of what a good dojo looks like and some knowledge of what a bad school might look like. I am currently living in Austin, Texas and in searching for a new school that is up to my standards, I am appreciating more fully how rare of a place Kodokai is. There are not a lot of schools in the United States that have 1. authentic connections to a martial arts lineage 2. an instructor with multiple decades of experience and 3. a culture of respect and community. If anyone reading this is unsure about where to start, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Kodokai Dojo.

I cannot say enough good things about Kodokai. I have studied at Kodokai since 2001, when I began studying Okinawan karate, and in addition to that, I now study Motobu Udundi (“Palace Hand"), which I began more recently in 2021 (I should note that today, Kodokai focuses on Palace Hand for its regular classes and I study karate solely through private lessons as a former karate student). Kodokai teaches traditional martial arts from Okinawa, Japan. In the roughly 25 years since I started my martial arts journey, out of curiosity, I have occasionally stopped into other schools and dojos, and nothing has compared to the authenticity, quality, and overall experience at Kodokai. Sensei Branchaud and Senpai Kim are experts in their profession in every sense of that word. Their teaching style is tailored to each student, pushing when necessary for the student's growth, but always measured at a pace that's appropriate. The dojo atmosphere is always warm, welcoming, and respectful. Kodokai does not teach sport or competitive martial arts. This dojo stays true to the authenticity of its traditional Okinawan roots. Sensei Branchaud and Senpai Kim continually demonstrate an astonishing ability to apply tried and true authentic Okinawan martial arts effectively to the more likely contemporary physical altercations. I have found that the Kodokai experience offers not only practical and useful self-defense for modern day real-life scenarios, but also offers valuable insights, rooted in Zen, to living a better life for yourself, staying focused and disciplined both in your training and in your life, and being a better human toward others. After all these years with Kodokai, I love that I am perpetually in awe of how much I know, and humbled at how much I don't know and that I have yet to learn. To me, that is the mark of a top-notch martial arts dojo. I strongly recommend Kodokai without hesitation.