About
San Jose Shotokan Karate Dojo offers karate and traditional Japanese karate-do as a form of martial arts practice. The program follows the non-commercial approach of Shotokan Karate of America (SKA), with a focus on high quality authentic, traditional martial arts instruction. The curriculum structure allows new students to join at any time, and combat outside the dojo is strongly discouraged, with an emphasis that a mature karate practitioner uses words before fists and that using diplomacy or humbly turning away from a confronting situation is best.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: It is suggested that children or youth initially practice for 45 minutes, and after training for a while they usually attend the entire 90 minutes.
• Price: Free for the first couple of practice sessions; after that, participation requires joining Shotokan Karate of America at $125 per year. As an SKA member, students may attend any SKA regional, national, and international event open to their rank and may test for rank twice per year at no charge. Black belt testing is free but by invitation only. San Jose Dojo does not charge for ranks, promotions, or belts, and dojo fees are waived for SKA members in good standing who are only visiting for a few practices.
San Jose Shotokan Karate Dojo was founded on October 1, 2012, and continues to be led by Johnny Martin, a 2nd degree black belt student of Tsutomu Ohshima, founder of Shotokan Karate of America. The dojo extends a warm welcome to kids, children, teens, and their parents, and also offers a warm welcome to members from other SKA dojos or SKA affiliated dojos from other countries. Age 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult who also participates in karate practice, while age 8 and above are considered to have sufficient independence, with parents not required to practice but expected to be available in the event of an unforeseen event.
Shotokan Karate of America is a non-profit organization teaching traditional Japanese karate-do. In keeping with Japanese karate traditions, San Jose Shotokan Karate Dojo uses only white, brown, and black belt colors, and neither the dojo nor the national organization provides children encouragements with a rainbow of belt colors, belt stripes, patches, trophies, and similar items. Children may be invited to participate in kyu testing typically once per year, with tests usually held in April and November, and a child is not eligible for testing for black belt until reaching age 16.
The dojo states that karate can be practiced by everyone at any age for self-defense, to strengthen the entire body, improve balance, efficiency of movement, breathing, and overall health. It also states that karate helps to strengthen the mind, develop courage, fortitude, and the ability to achieve goals, and that karate practice emphasizes spiritual values of courtesy, integrity, humility, justice, honor, and self-control. The dojo states that the study of karate benefits the student in all areas of their life, and that its mission is to strengthen body, mind, and spirit, perfect character, and faithfully transmit the art to future generations.
No special equipment is needed to begin, and beginners are advised to wear comfortable clothing suitable for physical activity, such as a T-shirt, yoga pants, shorts, or sweat pants. Because children outgrow uniforms quickly, the dojo suggests investing in a uniform only after a child has attended a few practices and it is clear the child will continue. San Jose suspended their regular practices in July 2025.
Last updated May 22, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: It is suggested that children or youth initially practice for 45 minutes, and after training for a while they usually attend the entire 90 minutes.
• Price: Free for the first couple of practice sessions; after that, participation requires joining Shotokan Karate of America at $125 per year. As an SKA member, students may attend any SKA regional, national, and international event open to their rank and may test for rank twice per year at no charge. Black belt testing is free but by invitation only. San Jose Dojo does not charge for ranks, promotions, or belts, and dojo fees are waived for SKA members in good standing who are only visiting for a few practices.
San Jose Shotokan Karate Dojo was founded on October 1, 2012, and continues to be led by Johnny Martin, a 2nd degree black belt student of Tsutomu Ohshima, founder of Shotokan Karate of America. The dojo extends a warm welcome to kids, children, teens, and their parents, and also offers a warm welcome to members from other SKA dojos or SKA affiliated dojos from other countries. Age 7 and under must be accompanied by an adult who also participates in karate practice, while age 8 and above are considered to have sufficient independence, with parents not required to practice but expected to be available in the event of an unforeseen event.
Shotokan Karate of America is a non-profit organization teaching traditional Japanese karate-do. In keeping with Japanese karate traditions, San Jose Shotokan Karate Dojo uses only white, brown, and black belt colors, and neither the dojo nor the national organization provides children encouragements with a rainbow of belt colors, belt stripes, patches, trophies, and similar items. Children may be invited to participate in kyu testing typically once per year, with tests usually held in April and November, and a child is not eligible for testing for black belt until reaching age 16.
The dojo states that karate can be practiced by everyone at any age for self-defense, to strengthen the entire body, improve balance, efficiency of movement, breathing, and overall health. It also states that karate helps to strengthen the mind, develop courage, fortitude, and the ability to achieve goals, and that karate practice emphasizes spiritual values of courtesy, integrity, humility, justice, honor, and self-control. The dojo states that the study of karate benefits the student in all areas of their life, and that its mission is to strengthen body, mind, and spirit, perfect character, and faithfully transmit the art to future generations.
No special equipment is needed to begin, and beginners are advised to wear comfortable clothing suitable for physical activity, such as a T-shirt, yoga pants, shorts, or sweat pants. Because children outgrow uniforms quickly, the dojo suggests investing in a uniform only after a child has attended a few practices and it is clear the child will continue. San Jose suspended their regular practices in July 2025.
Last updated May 22, 2026.
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