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Karatedo Shinyokai
5 ★★★★★ 11 Google reviews · Karate dojo in El Cerrito, California
Plan your first class
- 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
- Adult classes adult Karate classes — training built for grown-ups, from fitness and fundamentals to kumite (sparring) at your own pace
- Website & schedule karatedoshinyokai.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 510-575-9253
The classes they run
“There is a strong sense of comraderie among the children and it is beautiful to watch how under Mark's guidance, they all work together to progress and improve their skills.”
“I've been taking adult classes with Sensei Mark for over three years.”
Other martial arts here
“Mark Sensei has been conducting excellent Zoom classes from the very start of the shutdown, for both karate and kickboxing, adults and kids.”
What students say
“I've seen so many kids transform into more confident, hard working, mature, and humble people after training at the Mind Body Dojo.”
“Tom Parker, Goju Ryu, Sydney,Australia.”
“Taking classes here has made me a more diligent, self-aware, and focused person, and the community that the Mind Body Dojo has to offer is excellent.”
From the reviews
During these troubling times of a global pandemic, and far before it started, Karatedo Shinyokai has been the soul motivating factor in my day to day life. Sensei Mark's profound understanding of karate has allowed for a mind body coherence that goes way beyond anything I thought achievable before starting.
Karatedo Shinyokai has literally kept my family sane and healthy throughout the entire COVID era. Mark Sensei has been conducting excellent Zoom classes from the very start of the shutdown, for both karate and kickboxing, adults and kids.
The teachings of Mark Sensei go above and beyond what the novice would imagine for learning karate. While I figured that I would get a good workout and the basics of karate when I registered for Sensei’s adult bootcamp, I had no idea I would learn all of that and yet so much more from six lessons.
I've been practicing karate here for around six years now, and my experience has been amazing and transformative. Taking classes here has made me a more diligent, self-aware, and focused person, and the community that the Mind Body Dojo has to offer is excellent.
New to Karate? Start at Karatedo Shinyokai
Karatedo Shinyokai 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 Karatedo Shinyokai
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 when you call. 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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