Karate of LA offers traditional Japanese Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai karate, including youth martial arts, karate classes, and private training. Students practice sparring (kumite), forms (kata), foundational basics (kihon), weapons training on the mat, and high-intensity fitness drills. The program also includes preschool, kids, teen, and adult karate classes, along with monthly self-defense workshops. • Ages: 3–18 years old • Schedule: Self-defense workshops run every 2nd Saturday of the month for 1.5 hours from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM; a free trial covers the first consecutive 7 days of training • Price: Self-defense workshops are $25 per session The instructional team states that it is dedicated to preserving traditional martial arts while ensuring an empowering environment for all ages. The program offers a premier youth martial arts program called The K.I.C.K. Crew, monthly self-defense workshops, and elite private training in 1-on-1 or small group formats. It provides a full free trial week for the first consecutive 7 days of training, with no long-term contracts required, and notes that beginners and all fitness levels are welcome. Programs are available for preschoolers through teens and adults, with a focus for youth on confidence, character, bully-prevention, and boundaries, and an adult program that emphasizes physical fitness, personal growth, and mental clarity. Self-defense workshops are described as designed for everyone with no prior experience required and focus on situational awareness and techniques effective regardless of size or strength. Training follows the traditional Japanese lineage of Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai and includes instruction that integrates joint locks, throws, and weapons for self-defense, with an emphasis on functional fitness, practical safety, mental clarity, active stress relief, mat discipline, and heritage. Participants are advised to wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows free movement and to bring a water bottle to the first session. The leadership team includes Shihan Vassie Naidoo as Chief Instructor and founder of Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai Karate of LA; Senior Instructors Sensei James Daly, Sensei Edison Valente, and Sensei Krishan Narayan; and Instructors Senpai John Dean, Senpai Matt Costelloe, Senpai Crystal Villagran, Senpai Mike Lavin, and Senpai Conrad Williams. Shihan Vassie Naidoo is an 8th Dan, founder of Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai Karate of LA, holds the highest-ranked black belt in Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai (sharing this distinction with Fujiwara Shihan in Japan), serves as Vice President of Seiwa-Kai International, and brings 50 years of experience to the mat. Sensei James Daly is a 7th Dan Senior Instructor who has trained with Shihan Naidoo for approximately 30 years and began his Goju-Ryu training in New York. Sensei Edison Valente is a 6th Dan Senior Instructor who started training in karate with Shihan Naidoo about 25 years ago and has an Aikido background. Sensei Krishan Narayan is a 6th Dan Senior Instructor who has been a dedicated student of Shihan Naidoo for over 25 years, began training at age 5, and has taught both children and adults for the last 15 years. Senpai John Dean is a 5th Dan Instructor who has trained for 26 years, taught for 13 years, started under Shihan Naidoo at age 4, and has trained multiple times in Japan. Senpai Matt Costelloe is a 5th Dan in Goju-Ryu and 1st Dan in Kyokushin who has trained under Shihan Naidoo for 15 years and studied Kyokushin karate. Senpai Crystal Villagran is a 4th Dan in Goju-Ryu and Brown Belt in Shito Ryu who has been dedicated to Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai for over two decades and previously trained in Shito Ryu for years. Senpai Mike Lavin is a 4th Dan in Goju-Ryu and 2nd Dan in Isshin Ryu who spent years practicing Isshin-Ryu before joining Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai. Senpai Conrad Williams is a 3rd Dan Instructor who trained with Shihan Naidoo for four years during childhood (ages five to nine) and nine consecutive years as an adult. Karate of LA notes a traditional Japanese lineage of Goju-Ryu Seiwa-Kai and describes its environment as world-class. The program states that it is proudly serving the Westside communities of West LA, Santa Monica, and Brentwood. Testimonials describe private training at Karate of LA as a transformative experience, highlight Shihan Naidoo’s technical precision and lineage authority, and refer to the dojo as a place where students report learning respect and discipline and experiencing a hardworking and respectful atmosphere. One testimonial describes Shihan Naidoo as one of the most knowledgeable instructors the writer has found, another calls him an expert coach of Goju-Ryu Karate Do, and another refers to the dojo as “a great dojo” and “a rare gem of an instructor,” noting that students receive a grueling workout while learning what is described as a beautiful and brutal martial art. Last updated June 23, 2026.

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