Washington Karate

More than just a great karate dojo and an excellent after-school program - it's a supportive and fun community! So happy my son became a part of it 5 years ago and continues to benefit from coming here!

Washington Karate Association is widely known as the best traditional Japanese martial arts training in the Northwest. Fantastic training from Sensei Day and Hanshi Thiry for all ages and all skill and athletic levels.

Four of my children and I have been attending to the Dojo for over 3 years. Karate started as another activity to take the kids to after school; however it has grown to be an important part of our lives. It has helped the boys to build character, respect and self-confidence. For myself, Karate has helped me to recover from a two year-old disc herniation and sciatica. From not being able to reach my toes or to seat down more than 5 minutes I could say I am fully recovered. These are just some benefits that Karate from WKA Ballard Dojo has provided to our family. WKA Ballard Dojo is an exceptional place. Sensei Day, is a fabulous instructor. He teaches Karate not only in the form of kumite or kata but also in live lessons of respect, humility, perseverance, respect, courage and friendship. He is very approachable and teaches the majority of the classes. Other black belts are also incredible and very reachable and help you every time. There is a wonderful Karate community formed around WKA Ballard Dojo, very supportive and friendly. There are people of all ages and races; young children, teens, adults, moms and dads doing Karate with their kids. Everybody is welcomed. My kids and I feel as part of a big family here. There are kids-tailored classes, basic karate, advanced karate, kata-only classes, kumite classes and tournament oriented classes. Finally, there is Kata fund, a nonprofit that born from WKA which helps families, like ours, which need financial aid to fund Karate, lessons and tournaments. Thank you Sensei Day, Sensei Guitierrez and all black belts. Ossu.

This is my first google review, or any online service review in that matter. I gave one star because I do not think the man who seems to be the karate coach (the mid-aged man who has a bald spot in the back of his head, judging from the google photos) is capable of interacting with kids. I am morbidly shocked by the attitude that he gave me just a moment ago when I was trying to avoid the rain by standing under their roof while waiting for my Uber. He came out of the door and asked me for my business, I told him kindly that I was there to dodge the rain while waiting for my car to arrive. He then rudely asked me to get out of the property. “There are little kids coming in, little kids, man, little kids.” As he offensively guided me all the way on the street, he kept repeating “little kids” for at least a dozen time. It was so shockingly upsetting how he acted with no manner and rushed in treating me as a child molester out of nowhere. I have never been treated with such disrespect. I am a cancer survivor who studies nursing and dedicated to become an pediatric oncology nurse, it worries me greatly to see someone so offensive and rude is interacting with children and adolescents on a daily basis. The way he speaks about “little kids” was very unsettling. If I were a parent, I would not trust my kids with this man.

Sensei Day openly teased my child in front of all his peers after being admitted to the hospital and missing a second tournament. He won two gold medals at the tournament the month before, to give an example of what an exemplary student he is. This apparently took place because he was "not there to uphold his title of grand champion, but appeared to perfectl|y healthy" (direct quote, confirmed by the other students and staff! Direct HIPPA violation.) My son and myself both qualify under the definition of "invisible disability" (severe life long breathing problems, so they do not necessarily show outwardly on a daily basis). If your child has a chronic health condition, DO NOT SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH THE SENSEIS, simply give the most vague notice of absence possible. Not only will they not take it seriously, they will use it as ammunition to try and shame them for not being present, even with discharge paperwork forwarded to the school they coordinate with and pick up from for their after school program; confirming his admitting Doctor from Children's Hospital, primary care physician, AND school nurse all agreeing he needed to remain home for the week after release (he was hospitalized for the same symptoms not even a week and a half before this incident, to highlight the severity of his health condition).l emailed asking to speak to him after class after the incident, and he's stayed in his office with the door shut, hiding. I asked to speak to the other sensei on staff, and she told me to email him (which I've already done extensively). He has been an active member for multiple years now, and it says "health and education center" on the website and on the side of the vans! To see him disregard basic health and this standard of care was shocking to experience. On top of that, I've been trying to get tuition help from their non profit the Kata Fund for MONTHS! You attempt reaching out on the website, you get nothing. He keeps claiming he's sent emails with details, to the point where I had to send screenshots to show him what I had and had not received. They finally provided a single piece of paper in an envelope delivered indirectly by the other staff members, with no further instruction after MONTHS of attempting to work with him on the issue. My son openly admits to being actively afraid of sensei, and that he doesn't trust him to take his health condition seriously. The employees and community however are truly genuine, lovely individuals. We will not continue with our membership moving forward due to this behavior on his part.