Japan Karate Institute 908 Peters Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC 27103

"The true strength of a school is its ability to reach students of every age and ability. And to inspire each to their own best. It was certainly true for me, coming back to Wado-Ryu at age 60 and I'm now facing my black belt test in the spring. Our motto "Not to conquer others but to conquer the weakness within oneself" Thank you JKI & Senseis Ben & Mark"

"My son started JKI Karate a year ago when he was 9. It has been a great outlet for him physically and mentally. My son had not had any martial arts experience before this class and the instructors have been very patient with him. A year later he is still very engaged and eager to learn. They do take Karate seriously but not to the point of making anyone feel like an outsider. They have been inclusive and welcoming to my son. I appreciate that."

"This review is by Kirk Buckner: I have been training at JKI for 2 years. Senseis Mark, Ben, and Chris have a vast amount of experience and knowledge. They are outstanding teachers and martial artists who place on a premium on both skill growth and strong character. They are patient and encouraging and conduct their classes in ways that are both challenging and fun. JKI is a fantastic place for students of all ages. I highly recommend it!!!"

"My daughters started in the Little Ninjas class around 3 years ago, when they were 3 and 5. Since then they have graduated to the big kid's class and have grown in their abilities and confidence. This dojo is very low pressure and the children have a lot of fun in their classes while learning karate. We attend one class a week, but they offer 3 different time options and students are welcome to attend as many classes as fits their schedules. My husband has since started taking the adult classes and also loves it. I would recommend this dojo to anyone who is looking for a fun way for their children to learn a martial art."

"My son has been taking classes here for the past year, starting with their Little Ninjas program & he has enjoyed every minute of it. Sensei Chris Shaeffer is wonderful with them (not surprising since he is a child psychologist) & exceedingly patient. He makes class both fun & informative for all the children & seems to skillfully cater to each student according to their level of ability/maturity. As for the overall atmosphere of the dojo, it seems fairly relaxed & well managed without being overly concerned about the amount of students in the class (i.e. they're not dying to get you locked into a monthly contract). They let my son attend several classes to gauge his interest before we handed them a check & we never once felt pressure to do so during those trial sessions. All of the advanced students seem willing to teach the younger ones and respectful of each other, regardless of the color of their belt. And what little observation I’ve had of the other senseis’ instruction shows a respect for the students & desire to teach their system professionally without the need to demean or subjugate. I have taken martial arts before & know the value of a well run studio with competent instruction; this is one such dojo & am glad that my child will learn to responsibly defend himself while building strong foundations of a moral character."