Oh my gosh this place is amazing and my child loves coming here he is learning so much. Although…read morestrict like a dojo should be very warm and welcoming. It's only been a week but he is totally soaking up everything his instructor says. This is a great place for children to go.

From the owner: We teach a traditional Okinawan Shorin-ryu style of karate to children and adults. Our roots are…read morebased deep in the teachings of traditional Okinawan Seibukan Karate-Do, which has been passed down from Chotoko Kyan through Zenryo Shimabukuro. Here students are taught in an atmosphere of mutual respect and dignity with a commitment of excellence.

I was looking for something, ANYTHING, to get my teenager into. We have a rule in our home that…read moreyou must do something active, one activity at a time, but you have to be doing something. Well this all went out the window when the pandemic hit and our then 5th grader was stuck home for essentially three years. Around the two year mark we tried floating ideas by them, they tried to go back to basketball, nope no interest. So when I found Z-Ultimate I was convinced that this would be another hit and miss - but boy was I wrong. First of all going into this place they were SO warm and welcoming. They focused their attention on my child and not me, and made sure they understood what was going on and what the process would be. When my kid told me this was the place they wanted to be, they walked me through the pricing in a very clear and efficient was and scheduled out our personal lessons on the spot. In addition to all the above they are so cognizant of anxiety and great with personal pronouns. I cannot thank Z-Ultimate enough for their dedication to my child.

Perfection reached.....great instructors, great place, Perfect at rescheduling lesson. ABSOLUTE…read moreCINIMA!

This is the place to go if you want to learn original Okinawan karate. Matsumura Shorin ryu and…read moreHakatsuru white crane are taught by Sensei Vellucci. He has over 40yrs experience in martial arts. He lived on Okinawa and studied under Sensei Oshiro. Sign up for classes and Sensei Vellucci will teach you these great authentic fighting arts.

Got to work out at this dojo tonight as a guest and it was an amazing experience. Sensei was great…read morewith a calm and focused teaching style. Students were friendly and passionate. Wish I lived closer so I could spend more time here and very thankful for the opportunity to train with them for the evening. If you live in Bellingham you should check it out!

If you're looking for a traditional karate dojo, this is the place to go in Bellingham. No mixed…read moremartial arts, no upselling expensive packages or "karate birthday parties": just real, formal karate in the shito-ryu style. Be prepared to work hard on the basics rather than advance quickly through the ranks... this is not a McDojo-style outfit. General classes include: warmups (with lots of stretching and core strengthening); standing basics; moving basics; kata; partner drills; and sparring (several forms). Classes are offered three days a week: Tuesday evening; Thursday evening; and Saturday morning. Additional seminars are occasionally offered so advanced students can focus on their work. This means that beginning students get a lot of attention from Sensei and senior students, rather than the focus being on advanced practitioners' work. There isn't a lot of safety gear used (just fistpads and mouthguards), so you'll learn how to take targeted punches in a relatively safe environment. Younger students (12 or so and under) need to have a parent willing to train with them; they're expected to develop the same discipline as adult students. This curriculum has been excellent for developing discipline and self-control in my son and me. There are several families that train together here. Sensei Bellingar is an excellent instructor. He maintains the rigor of this martial art while at the same time understanding the individual needs of each practitioner. He pushes each student to deliver his or her best, but without berating anyone or comparing us to each other--which is as it should be, because each person's abilities and challenges are unique. I'm a female practitioner and really appreciate that I'm held to the same high standard as the men I train with. Stepping onto the dojo floor transports students into a culture very different from the mainstream culture, which offers a much-needed contrast. The focus is on our work, not on our egos... and many of the lessons learned in the dojo are valuable in other aspects of our daily lives. Traditional Karate of Bellingham is a great place to discover one's true mettle and to develop one's best qualities.

Great space, amazing teachers, fun & engaging classes. We enjoyed our two week trial very much! And…read morelook forward to returning with a monthly membership. The only challenge we have: we'd love morning or early afternoon classes during the week.

This dojo definitely deserves a recent review. My 5 year old daughter has been going to Emerald…read moreCity Karate for a little over a month now and she can't get enough if it. She loves it. She's taken many lessons in other sports and activities and I've never seen her so excited and willing to go any other class, ever. The Sensei, Sensei Tobey I believe, is amazing with kids. Parents are welcome to hang out and watch the classes and it's great to see someone who can command attention, keep kids focused and still allow them to have fun at the same time. All the while, learning self defense and valuable life lessons. The Sensei's assistants are amazing and so is the woman who greets us when we come in and checks the kids in. I'm so happy we found this dojo and we'll be sticking with it for a long time to come.

Posting on behalf of my wife and son We love the passion,…read moreskill and dedication that Shihan and Sensei bring to class everyday. Students greatly benefit in this environment where karate is the primary focus along with respect, discipline etc. Other places make you sign contracts etc...Not this one. In fact they even offered us trial classes to evaluate fit and get a feel of the environment. We have been going since 2017 and highly recommend Eastside Kyokushin.

I've been training with Eastside Kyokushin since early 2007 - that being said, my perspective is of…read morea long-term student. This dojo has come a long way from training in a park, out of a house, renting space from an Aikido dojo to having our own dedicated dojo space. I've researched cross-training and I've come to realize it's incredibly rare to find a place to train that isn't commercialized and profit driven. Eastside Kyokushin is a registered non-profit - there are no contracts, hidden fees or strings attached. The monthly dues are incredibly low ($50/mo.) You show up, sign a standard waiver, train hard and learn something new. Training is largely made up of challenging cardio workouts, basics, kata, self-defense and sparring. One notable difference from us vs. most other karate dojos you'll find is; we are full contact and primarily don't use pads. This is a deal breaker for some, but you need to be okay with not only hitting/kicking an opponent but being hit/kicked in return. We train for practicality and we adapt based on your experience, so if you have no experience you'll start with the basics. The bottom line is whether you're looking to get into better shape, learn self-defense, how to be a fighter or just to expand your current skillset you can't go wrong with Eastside Kyokushin.

This place has changed my life. Seriously! My mother signed me up when I was five, because I…read moreliked Ninja Turtles and I refused to play team sports. Eighteen years later, I am still a member, I earned my black belt, and nothing has been the same. I have confidence, self-esteem, and grew up an empowered, self-reliant young woman. I'm now a confident, fit adult, and it's my karate that has made all the difference. I made great friends for life, and have found a second family in the community there. You will not be intimidated here. You will be accepted and valued no matter what your age or current level of fitness. You will learn that you are capable of far more than you thought you were if you are new to the martial arts, and you will be impressed with the devotion and passion of the instructors regardless of your previous experience. There are no contracts, there are very reasonable rates, and they have reduced rates for families. There's something here for ages 5 - 80, trust me. Go take a free introductory class, and I promise you won't regret it. This is Marysville's oldest dojo for a reason. I can guarantee you that it's the best.

I studied under Hammond Shihan 30 years ago and for my own personal reasons my life took a…read moredifferent course and I left. I returned a little over a year ago this time with my family. I've again rekindled the love and appreciation for martial arts that I had many years ago. My family seems to really enjoy it also. Ronin Dojo's proprietor is, in my humble opinion, second to none. I've seen other styles and even other instructors in the Seito Shito Ryu style and, for me, only solidifies my reason for returning to Hammond Shihan. Sensei's teachings provide discipline of the mind and body while making it fun and enjoyable at the same time. Personally it provides a means in which to become more physically fit and maintain a healthier life style. Ronin Dojo isn't a "black belt factory" for the martial arts. The leadership ensures that the discipline remains pure and it's students maintain a level of respect to the art. Although the goal is to earn your black belt it doesn't come quickly or easily for that matter. You'll get out of it what you put into it! I can honestly say that my endeavor with Ronin Dojo is now a life long personal commitment and I would recommend Ronin Dojo to anyone interested in the martial arts or even just as a means of becoming physically fit!