Our son started when he was six or so, and he is still going now at age 17 (and a junior black…read morebelt). Shudokan is a great place to train your mind, spirit, and body and they make each newcomer feel welcome and appreciated.

We first found the dojo when my oldest child turned 5, and we decided that some karate classes were…read morein order to help him burn off all the extra energy. As a parent I sat and watched the class in the nice open dojo (not like some of the other dojos we visited where parents are kept behind glass, or worse - not allowed to watch at all!) and was really impressed with the varied, challenging, and fun exercises he was doing. The children's instructors at this dojo are really quite genius at getting the kids involved, keeping them engaged, and teaching respect and discipline. After a year we noticed a big difference in my son - he was more focused at home and at school (yes, even at only six years of age!) and he was always ready to go to karate. After watching on the sidelines for a couple years I finally decided it was time to join the dojo myself. I can tell you that this is not a McDojo. The head instructor, Sensei Tetsuji Nakamura, is the chief instructor of the International Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karatedo Federation (I.O.G.K.F.) and holds a seventh degree black belt. Other instructors are similarly highly ranked and they have truly earned their positions. This is a place where you work hard to move up the ranks... don't expect a black belt in one year! However, it is also a friendly and welcoming place where there is a real sense of community. I have been a student at Shudokan for six years now and have loved every minute of it!

High Park Martial Arts is a child-friendly dojo located in the High Park Junction area. While much…read moreof the facility feels somewhat dated, the dojo itself (not photographed for privacy reasons) is a well-suited and functional space for classes. The main floor includes the reception area and the dojo, while the basement houses a small equipment area. The school offers a variety of classes, including karate, kobudo (weapons training), self-defence, and tai chi. Programs are available for children starting at age four, and classes are available for adults as well.

Really not sure why yelp only approves negative comments. Try reading the unconfirmed reviews that…read moreare all amazing. I've been training here for 7 years and find Sensei's approach respectful, professional and works very well. Students are pushed to work hard and everyone progresses at their own pace. The atmosphere is welcoming but there's no place here for fooling around. You come to train. This style of karate is Gojo Ryu and focuses on kata. Sparring is a part of it but not the prime focus. We all have to work tomorrow so no one here is out to hurt you while sparring (like other dojos) in the city. Karate is not about fighting. Kids are expected to participate and show respect to Sensei and the other senior belts - just like they should. It's hard for some kids because they're not expected to show respect at home or at school. Sensei is often heard asking parents to not tell their kids to have fun, but rather to work hard. That very succinctly sums it up. HPMA has been here for 26 years (I'm not aware of any dojo in the city that has been in one location for that long) and going strong so I think bad reviewers here on yelp aren't seeing the whole picture. If you're interested come and try a class for yourself.

My daughters have been coming to this Martial Arts Centre for over 2 years now. They absolutely…read morelove it!! The owner of the Martial Arts Centre Sunsei is amazing so nice and so accommodating. I have my girls every other week and my ex won't take them so I had a chat with Sunsei he was nice enough to accommodate my schedule and work out an affordable payment plan. The centre is clean and small. The other 3 teachers on staff are really great as well. I see kids that are rowdy and think they can get their way at home can do the same at the Centre. The teacher don't take BS from the students which I love. They teach them discipline and respect. I see a significant improvement in my girls. They went from being shy and intimidated to performing in front of the teachers, students and parents to get their colour belt grading. I want my girls to continue and get their black belt at 18. Because they're girls I appreciate that they're learning self defence to protect themselves. Not just do they learn the sets of martial arts moves but the class teaches them self defence. They practice if someone were to attack them what they should do. Overall I'm pleased with this Martial Arts Centre. Sunsei and his staff wants what's best for the students and it shows.

My child has studied Goju-Ryu Karate for over seven years. We decided to leave our current school…read moreafter it turned into a McDojo. We searched for another high quality Goju-Ryu school and visited six other schools. They old seemed styled after the McDojo format. At Prodigy, the owner has legitimate competitive credibility, competing throughout the world. The owner, Sensei Ryan Shields, actually teaches the classes and demonstrates unlike our old dojo and some of the other schools where access to the head Sensei was exclusive and often expensive. Sensei Shields is hands-on and will pull students aside to perfect technique. There is an emphasis on translating traditional techniques into real self defence. My child is new at the school and so far I like what I see. I won't hesitate to change my review if things change. P.S. For those of you that are looking for karate schools for your kids, be careful of franchise type schools where they follow a set format on selling, merchandising and marketing. Check the credibility of the teacher. Where did they get their black belts? I found a few of the schools were black belt mills and the teachers were giving each other black belts. Most schools emphasize teaching life skills, but there are plenty of activities that teach life skills for less than $1200 -$1800 per year. We put our kids in karate to be able to defend themselves if they need to, and sometimes you can't always walk away.

We are very happy with Prodigy for both of our children. It is a very clean and well-run place…read more Instructors are well trained and great with the kids. Adult classes and instruction too, but we have kids there. Have been members of this dojo for over a year and have no plans to leave. They offer various levels of membership, depending on the types of classes wanted by the student (karate instruction, sparring, weapons) and also offer private instruction. Introductory offer gives 1 week of lessons and a gi (uniform) for only $20.

I can highly recommend this school. My Daughter is very shy but Master Seong has so much patience…read morewith her then after a few months she was able to open up and enjoy her classes. It is a great school for kids to learn and grow. I love the discipline and love environment at this school.

My daughter who is now 11 yrs has been attending Seong's Taekwondo World for the past 2 years and I…read morehave a very high opinion of this taekwondo school. Seong's Taekwondo is an amazing organization and great for kid's after school program.

I have been studying Martial Arts for many years. Every dojo/dojang has a different philosophy…read morethat seems to follow trends rather than discipline. This place is a family run business (The Ooi family are all instructors at each of the GTA locations). Mr. Ooi, has a straight forward philosophy, work hard, get results and don't be afraid to sweat. But, they also insist on the kids classes being fun and interesting for the kids. They provide excellent instruction that gets results. The trophies and loyalty of students, that have moved on, are a tribute to that.

This is a legit BJJ academy. High level competitors train and teach there. For real, the victory…read morewall is covered with medals. The coaches are very high level and will push their students to excel. My 9 year old daughter and myself are members. We both love it. There are a lot of parent and children members; that speaks to the quality of the place. I've been there for a year and the membership has continued to grow steadily. Try it out, you'll see.

We've been going for a little bit of time here and it's incredible! Family owned, clean, and…read moregenuine Taekwondo operated and currently often trained by ethnic Koreans. They have both kid and adult classes. The system is monthly pay, 2 times a week. It is on the pricier side compared to other similar practices, however, it is well worth it in my opinion! You see progress in a timely manner and they make it super fun. They also run an afterschool program where they pick your kid up from school and bring them there for some homework help and a Taekwondo class. In addition, they offer PA camp days, march break camp, summer camp, and even birthday parties!