I wasn't going to say anything but this man Shawn is mentally unstable and should not be around children. If your children are students here, please don't EVER just drop them off or wait in the car. Shawn cannot control his rage or the WILD things that come out of his mouth. He is not a man of integrity OR a man of God like he proclaims to be.
What's finally making me speak up and say something, is I saw him get out of his wife's car this afternoon to scream at another driver in the middle of the road. This was at the intersection of Madison and Fair Oaks today, 9/29/25 just after 3pm. I will NEVER forget that face or that rage.
Shawn said some really inappropriate things at our 2nd karate lesson that made me immediately withdraw my son from their dojo. He trauma dumped on the small group of 8-9 year olds and spoke in VIVID detail about the DV he witnessed as a child. He told the kids he heard a voice tell him to shoot his father, so he tried to, but the gun was empty. Among other highly inappropriate things. The kids started getting bored of his ranting and Shawn turned his attention towards me and the other couple sitting near me and told us specific details about his sister's SA while in foster care. I cried when I got in the car because I never wanted to know something like that.
I scheduled a meeting with Natasha his wife, to tell her what happened and that was why we were leaving the dojo. Shawn insisted on being in the meeting but didn't want to hear anything I had to say. He interrupted me multiple times. Said he didn't have to answer to me or to anyone else. He adamantly defended what he said because it was his "testimony." He dismissed my concerns completely and told Natasha to "give her her money back and get her out of here." But I was determined to repeat the words he used in front of him and Natasha because I don't think he even realized what he was saying when he said it, it was so unhinged.
At one point in our meeting he leapt out of his chair, yelling at me and squared his body up. He turned and started yelling at his wife that I was trying to "come between them." That body language screamed inmate and it is in fact public record that he has been to prison. My first thought when he did that was, if he hits me just once I'm dead. I got out of there quickly after that.
My son went to TWO classes. They tried to charge me the entire month. I disputed the charge with our bank and won the dispute and was refunded the money. Natasha told me I was lucky they weren't charging me 6 months. This was after she promised to refund me without me even needing to ask. Shawn also said he'd refund me AND the contact states they have a "30 day guarantee." After the meeting Natasha completely changing her tune with me. She's clearly afraid of her husband. I don't blame her, I was afraid just to write this review.
Beware to any Christians, they use God and Shawn's conversion story and "miraculous healing" to trick people into trusting them. As a Christian I initially fell victim to their story telling and I have forever learned that lesson the hard way. Our first class was so extremely positive and I was SO naive in signing the contract that night. That was my huge dumb mistake. Luckily it worked out in my favor in the end.
They will tell you that you get a week free, it states it on their website. They will tell you they have a "30 day guarantee policy." But they have zero intention of honoring any of that. Learn from my experience and don't EVER sign any contracts with these people.
Most importantly, DO NOT TRUST THESE PEOPLE WITH YOUR CHILDREN. They are dishonest, untrustworthy and Shawn is unstable and accountable to no one. Kovar's is amazing and so professional, just saying. read more