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COMO Karate
5 ★★★★★ 10 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Columbia, Missouri
Affiliated dojo — reviews and the dojo's own info point to a recognized Karate style organization or franchise (think Shotokan/JKA, Kyokushin, Goju-Ryu, Isshinryu, Tiger Schulmann's or Villari's). If lineage matters to you, ask which style and organization the dojo belongs to, and under whom the head sensei earned their black belt.
Plan your first class
- Free trial / intro class most dojos welcome new students with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth Karate classes — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Private lessons private, one-on-one instruction available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
- Weapons / kobudo traditional weapons (kobudo) classes — kata with the bo, sai, and nunchaku, taught with control and discipline
- Adult classes adult Karate classes — training built for grown-ups, from fitness and fundamentals to kumite (sparring) at your own pace
- Competition team a competition team for students who want to test themselves at kumite tournaments
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule comokarate.com — book classes and see the live schedule
Hours
| Monday | 6:30–9 pm |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 6:30–9 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My daughter has been taking classes here for over two years.”
“The training is centered around practical self-defense, and I know that if the time ever comes I can protect myself and others if necessary from harm.”
Other martial arts here
“The training is centered around practical self-defense, and I know that if the time ever comes I can protect myself and others if necessary from harm.”
What students say
“Knowledgeable and friendly instructors.”
“COMO Karate (Pine Forest Way Dojo) is an incredible place to learn Karate based in the Shorin Ryu Matsubayashi lineage.”
“Her confidence, self esteem and self confidence has really grown all thanks to the care and the commitment of the instructors.”
From the reviews
I was at this dojo for a good 4 years and it was an amazing experience. The Senseis and community here are great. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants to learn traditional karate.
I've been coming to Pine Forest Way Karate for almost 10 years now, and the instructors here really have a great understanding of what they're teaching. The training is centered around practical self-defense, and I know that if the time ever comes I can protect myself and others if necessary from harm.
The class fees are very affordable and the instructors are excellent. My daughter has been taking classes here for over two years. In that time, her physical and mental toughness have both improved.
COMO Karate (Pine Forest Way Dojo) is an incredible place to learn Karate based in the Shorin Ryu Matsubayashi lineage. We are not a commercial dojo, so we adhere to more traditional training. I'm a bit biased though since I teach there!
New to Karate? Start at COMO Karate
COMO Karate comes up as a beginner-friendly dojo — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or set foot in a dojo, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and the sensei scales the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable dojos build fundamentals (stances, blocks, punches, and kicks) for weeks, and kumite (sparring) eases in gradually, with pads and control. Third, all levels and ages really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most dojos are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first Karate class at COMO Karate
Nervous about walking into a Karate dojo for the first time? Almost everyone is, and a good sensei expects beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic stances, blocks, punches, and kicks — not hard sparring. Step to the side whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot. What to bring: water, and a mouthguard if you have one — many dojos lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking. As you keep training you'll add your own gi and the belt your dojo awards you. Kumite (sparring) eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the sensei. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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