While I don't know much about any other Karate Schools, I can tell you that Seichou Karate is absolutely amazing for children. Richard Romero takes a fatherly approach to each child focusing on their mental and physical development. He teaches Karate and life lessons with a passion for making children better not only at Karate but life as well. Additionally, he doesn't give his students anything and makes them put in the work and truly earn their next belts. If you are looking to enroll your kids in Karate, you really should check this Dojo out. Richard Romero is exceptional and the reason we drove 20min plus several nights a week for our kids to attend. I really am at a lost for words on how lucky we were to find this Karate Dojo! read more

This past weekend we had an awesome birthday party for our now five year old son. He and all of his guests (and parents) were very impressed by the entire experience the dojo provided. Thank you. We are also thankful for the photos and all the other extra touches the staff and Shihan Romero provided. We will highly recommend the dojo to others. read more

I can't thank enough Shihan Romero and all the senseis and senpais. This place is not just a martial arts school, it goes beyond that. Initially, I found Seichou karate because they teach Japanese abacus. I had enrolled my child to abacus but since we were there anyways, I ended up enrolling to karate and Japanese language. The beginning was rough because my child has behavioral problems and ADHD, but with support and consistency I could see improvements in my child. My husband ended up joining also and he is greatly enjoying the karate as well. I felt Seichou has provided something I could have never imagined. A bonding experience of a parent and child with a common goal. The dojo kun (rules) of Seichou Karate are daily reminders to ourselves that are applicable not only to martial arts but also to everyday life. I am eternally thankful to Seichou karate. read more

It's been about four months since our five-year-old son joined Seichou Karate, and we have nothing but praise for the dojo and its instructors, Shihan Romero and Sempai Gautherin! In a relatively short time, karate has become one of our son's favorite activities, and we are fortunate to have such a great facility so close to our home. To me, the most noteworthy characteristic of the dojo is the level of mutual respect between the instructors and their students. The instructors demand that respect, and gently but firmly correct students who speak out of turn, fidget excessively, or fail to pay attention. But here's the thing: they also give that respect *back* in equal measure. There's plenty of positive reinforcement, plenty of encouragement, and they absolutely never give up on a student. If one of the kids is lagging behind, they'll get the whole class to cheer and clap until that kid makes it to the end of the activity. It's really a heartwarming thing to watch when your kid is the poky one that day. They also seem to have a good sense of how far to push each student. We tried another class before Seichou, and the instructor there would endlessly nitpick the kids. At Seichou, they're much better about not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. The kids are challenged and pushed to the limit of their ability, but not to the point where they get frustrated or upset. Finally, I think Seichou does a really good job of teaching the culture and values behind karate. Classes begin and end with brief periods of meditation, guided by the instructor in Japanese. The kids are taught the Japanese name for every activity, and learn to count to ten and beyond in Japanese. And despite the time spent learning kicks, punches, and strikes, they learn the importance of *avoiding* fighting whenever possible. Shihan even has an excellent book where he lays out these values as told to him by his own instructor, Soshu Shigeru Oyama. There are generations of wisdom and a remarkable heritage behind the classes at Seichou, and it shows. If you're on the fence, sign up for a trial and give it a shot! We initially thought our son wasn't ready for what seemed like such a serious place, but we were way off. They're friendly and welcoming, and I can't recommend them highly enough! read more

I started taking classes at Seichou about four months ago, and I consider myself very fortunate to have found a great dojo. Shihan Romero is has spent decades mastering Karate. He is a former Kyokushin knockdown champion and taught karate at the Oyama Karate headquarters in New York. He has a deep respect for the art and is passionate about passing on his knowledge and love of Karate to his students. Shihan Romero and Sempai Gautherine excel at knowing the progress of each of us. They are patient, yet push us contantly. In every class I feel like I am making progress and learning something new. The dojo is a welcoming community, and other students are eager to help you succeed. It's a very nice group of people. So if you have been thinking about trying out Karate or looking for a new Dojo, I highly recommend visiting Seichou. read more

I have trained at Seichou Karate since 2001. Before I joined, I already had a history of martial arts training, but my first conversation with Shihan Richard Romero convinced me immediately that Seichou was the right place for me, because I could speak so openly with him about the challenges of someone who is a nice person who nevertheless realizes that the world out there is not always so nice. Since then, Seichou Karate has helped me overcome old fears and self-doubts in way no other dojo did in the past. This is accomplished by a mix of teaching of solid basic technique, thoughtful and detailled teaching of kata, and regular fighting classes which have enough contact to provide an honest feedback of actual fighting skills while maintaining a safe framework. read more

I moved down to DC from NYC a few months ago. Having trained at Seido Karate under Kaicho Nakamura, who originally brought Kyokushin to the US in the 60's, I had been searching for months for a real traditional Japanese karate without much luck... Then I found Seichou in a google map search. It is run by Sensei Richard Romero, who also comes from Kyokushinkaikan, and brings a great mix of this and his own style to his classes. The dojo is really nice, very clean and professional... I couldn't be happier! If you're looking for a traditional japanese karate dojo, I've checked them all out in the DC area, and this is your place! Great teacher, and dojo! read more

After hopping from dojo-to-dojo in the DC area for years, I finally found a home at Seichou Karate. I have been training there for almost five years. The style is at its core Kyokushinkai and training is very traditional and holistic (which is what I was looking for). Head Instructor Richard Romero is fluent in Japanese, very experienced (he trained under Kyokushinkai founder Masutatsu Oyama) and he demands the best from his students. Everyone is welcome, classes are well managed and no one is left behind in the training. The assistant instructors are accomplished DC professionals, many are parents of students that have earned black belts themselves, and each have an area in which they excel. Students who attend class frequently will get very well-rounded training. Give it a shot and I hope to see you on the mat. OSU! read more

Wonderful, clean, safe studio. My 7 year old has taken karate there since last July. He has grown in confidence and coordination. He went because he wanted to go to ninja school, but we kept him there because of all that he gained in body awareness, where his hands and feet were, what they doing and when, balance, all round proprioceptive awareness. The instructors are strict but appropriate. Parents can observe every class. We are extremely grateful to have a professional studio in the Ft. Hunt area and not have to drive to Arlington/DC. read more

This is the best karate program for children! Hands down. Nothing more needs to be said (but I will :-)). Sensei has an innate ability to connect with the children on their level. He immediately commands respect and the children LOVE to please him by following closely to his direction. I love the yoga integration into the karate. Sensei is "true" to the art of karate in keeping it very Japanese culutre -- eg., there is no American dumbing-down (they also offer art and calligraphy classes!!!). The dojo is really nice. I have recommended to several families and enjoy them now as fellow Seichou Karate students. We will be involved in karate with Seichou Karate for a long, long time. I am grateful that Seichou Karate is in our lives!!! PS: We really enjoyed participating in the Japanese festival tied into the Cherry Blossom festival. read more

I had trained in martial arts for over 15 years, and wanted to find a studio in northern Virginia. I spent two months searching, and knew I had found what I was looking for when I walked into Seichou Karate. Sensei Romero is focused, very well organized, and helps students reach their potential rather than just coaching them through the motions. read more

I signed up for an eight week Spanish course through Spanish Blackbelt to supplement a Fairfax County advanced conversation class I was taking. My hope was to get some individualized attention to help me progress at a greater speed. It worked. My tutor, Gonzalo, from Venezuela, was an excellent tutor. He was always prepared and ready to go. I downloaded the assignments during the week, and we went over them in "class". Gonzalo was immediately able to assess my ability to comprehend the lessons and put them into practice. When we finished the homework, we would engage in fun and challenging conversation. As a result, my confidence in my ability to speak Spanish grew by leaps and bounds. I definitely recommend the program and Gonzalo. read more

My child is a student of Shihan Romero. She enjoys the instruction and discipline immensely. Seichou Karate is more than kicking and punching. It's a positive example for children who thrive in challenging situations in and out of the dojo. read more