My daughter earned her black belt at DDK and we have just enrolled my grandson. This is an excellent program if you want support for character development, discipline, and physical fitness. Also helps with confidence and the self defense aspect is a plus. But it does require engagement by the student and parents. I have found the instructors to be uniformly excellent. However, as in everything, you will get out of the program what you put in. read more

I had my kids in David Deaton Karate for about a year. I honestly don't know enough about dojos and karate to tell you whether the instruction was any good but the instrutors were all very disciplined but good to the kids. I found that the price was really exorbiant and it seemed to get more expensive the further we went along. The general idea is that the kids learn a kata and some rudimentary moves and then they can move belts for which there is a ceremony and then additional purchases of pads. My main gripes were the prices $125 a month and the pads seemed to run you and extra $100 or so everytime they moved up a belt which at first can be every 4-6 weeks . I probably could have lived with the pricing but my kids were sort of ambivilant to going so it wasn't worth it for me. My other gripe was that there was all this saluting the flag and pomp and circumstance about god and country and supporting troops. It's not that I mind that either but we are studying karate which you know didn't orignate here in America. It just seemed like it was David's politics with some Americanized Brentwood Karate mixxed in. Not my bag. read more

As a black belt and a four year student of DDKS, my advice is to study martial arts with anyone else but DDKS. If you sign the contract, MAKE SURE YOU READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT. I paid through 2nd Dan but because too much time had elapsed between my lessons, they expected me to pay all over again. What a ripoff this place is. read more

One of Nashville best trainers--great family guy and helps the kids learn discipline and karate!

Wow from reading the previous posts only one thing comes to mind . Sour grapes from sour people. I can only speak from personal experience. After checking out several martial arts studios in the south Nashville/Brentwood area we decided on David Deaton's Karate Studios. Our 7 year old daughter had no previous experience but was very excited after the kids summer camp she attended to further pursue her training in Wado Ryu Karate. Her, and our experience has been nothing short of amazing. I have watched a little girl grow into a young lady (she will be 13 this month) who embraces the values and physical prowess she has learned over the last 5 years. Mr. Deaton and his staff are consummate professionals who truly care for their students and offer them guidance that goes way beyond martial arts training. My daughter is currently working towards her second degree black belt and is performing with the school's elite demo team. She is also competing in nationally sanctioned tournaments around the southeast and midwest. Her skill set continues to expand with the expert training she is receiving from DDKS. My response to the previous reviewers would be: Anna - Karate is not a gym membership. A child gets out of it what they and their PARENTS put into it. Charles - The contract I signed had a provision in the event a sabbatical has to be taken. It also identifies expectations on attendance. Maybe you should have contacted the studio and let them know about your absence. Andy - Having been at that tournament I do not recall anything like that being said. If a statement like that was made and brought to his attention, I know without question Mr. Deaton would have addressed it. read more

David Deaton Karate Studios has an amazing group of instructors who share their love and passion for the martial arts with their students and the community. Not only do they share their love of the physicality of the martial arts, but other attributes as well: humility, respect, perseverance, honesty...the list goes on and on. As a student for over 20 years, I could not imagine my life without the leadership and community that I have found from this dojo. read more

My family has been taking karate at the David Deaton Karate Studio in Brentwood for a little over 4 years. For at least 3 of those years we were paying tuition for 3 students who were all in the Black Belt Club and by my calculations we have paid somewhere in the neighborhood of $15,500 over those years; so, we were very good customers. My son started as a Little Dragon when he was just under 5 years old and has been taking lessons for 4 years. He is a black belt candidate with over 300 classes and has participated in the required 4 tournaments. Other students meeting these criteria got approval to test for their black belts, which is done twice per year. My son was denied approval by Mr. Deaton to test for his black belt because the requirement is that you have to be 9 years old and the test was being given 13 days before his ninth birthday. It seemed like a technicality to me; but since my son really wanted to earn his black belt and he was so close, we settled in for 6 more months of classes and tuition so he could test in the Fall. The other black belt candidate students started the black belt review classes. On May 1st we received a letter in the mail stating that the Brentwood dojo would be closing at the end of the month. I called and spoke to the receptionist in Hendersonville and asked if my son could go ahead and test now given the extenuating circumstances. We would never be able to complete the last few months of classes to test in the Fall because the other two locations are 45 minutes from our home and it is not feasible to make a 1 1/2 hour drive for a one hour class twice per week. She spoke to Mr. Deaton and called me back and said he could take the test but it was only 3 days away and my son had not been participating in the black belt review class like the other students. We began practicing that night and I kept him out of school the next day to practice and attend 3 karate classes in order to prepare for the test on such short notice. While at the dojo practicing, one of the instructors pulled me aside and said there had been a miscommunication and that Mr. Deaton said my son could NOT test. So after all of this time and money spent to earn a black belt my son was denied the opportunity to even test. It was heartbreaking to tell him that even though he had spent 4 of his 9 years working toward this, that he would never earn his black belt in karate. In addition, we were always told that you never lose the classes that you pay for as long as you remain active. We have paid for many classes for my son and myself that we will now never be able to use. This is completely shameful and unacceptable treatment of good, long term customers. Don't assume that because this studio has been around for over 40 years that your investment is safe. Mr. Deaton is nearing retirement and his decisions reflect declining interest in the good reputation of his business and poor business acumen. read more

DDKS is really a money making pit in the name of God and country and Christianity. My son was with DDKS for three and a half years at their Mt. Juliet facility till he got his Black Belt.. All I can tell you is that they neither learn anything special nor get any special recognition for being a DDKS graduate. They publicize it as one of the best in the country etc., but let me assure you not too many in the karate world have heard about DDKS beyond Nashville and surrounding areas. I do feel bad about the few dedicated kids who teach and help out the academy. While they do the hard work, the management roams around in their swooped up SUV charging exorbitant amount for the classes. This place is really not worth it. If you have the choice, kindly take your kid elsewhere and they will learn as much karate on half the price. Avoid getting ripped. read more

My son has been taking karate here 2-3 times per week for nearly five years. DDKS does an outstanding job teaching people of all ages martial arts. For children the curriculum helps teach discipline and respect. My sons attitude has changed for the better and so has his confidence. Their instructors are full time professionals (not part time in the evenings). After many years attending I have gotten to know many parents, And as far as I know all would say the same. We have not had any bad experiences and would highly recommend. Note: I've read some other posts that I completely don't understand. 1. My son just now bought his second set of pads after nearly 5 years here, so buying pads at each belt level is simply not an accurate statement. 2. When you sign up it very clear that as your child advances and the curriculum gets more advanced, the rate does go up... But since we started almost 5 Years ago, our tuition has gone up twice like it was supposed to, but only went up $5. In total we only pay $10 more per month than when we started almost 5 years ago. Implying rates go up dramatically often is simply not a true statement. 3. Yes at graduations the Pledge of Allegiance and Star Spangled Banner is sung. If your an American... Is there anything wrong with this? Public schools still say the pledge, sporting events and even professional sporting events the Star Spangled Banner is sung... So I truly don't see the issue here. 4. Lastly I have never seen bias with races that aren't white. In fact my son has several friends at DDKS that are of other races. These students are not treated any different than any other student. If they are disrespectful, it doesn't matter what race they are, they will be spoken to and told that is unacceptable.... Which is what's required when trying to instill discipline in children and teaching them. read more

We were impressed with the instructors at David Deaton Karate Studios in Brentwood. We are glad that our grandchildren are going to be learning something else beside video games. The staff seems to be caring and motivated toward making the students better people. We enjoyed watching the training & look forward to seeing their continued improvement. read more

Amazing program! Teaches self confidence and focus for kids of all ages. Teaches kids to be aware of surroundings. Yes, you can find other schools for cheaper, but, when it comes to quality I would not put my kids in a program that is lacking in ability because of paying cheaper wages. As the saying goes..... You get what you pay for. In my opinion, best bang for the buck. Don't short change when it comes to your kids! DDKS is known across the country as one of the best of the best. Highly rated and highly recommended. Very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the DDKS black belt community. And very thankful for the allegiance to God and our country. Thank you Mr. Deaton and staff for changing my life. read more