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Reid and Lail Karate School of Oyama
5 ★★★★★ 5 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Hickory, North Carolina
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
- Website & schedule oyamakarateofhickory.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 828-328-8082
The classes they run
What students say
“First time as a beginner, very welcoming.”
From the reviews
I studied karate here for almost eight years. The classes are well structured and challenging. The instructors are excellent and well trained in their discipline and some have even trained in Japan. This school is as close as it gets to getting the kind of training you would receive in Japan.
Out of 4 Martial Arts styles that I have trained with. This school is the most effective. The instructors are amazing. I received a black belt from them years ago and you definetly earn the belt under their training. This school has been around for a very long time.
First time as a beginner, very welcoming. Great school with students of all ages and abilities. Highly recommend!
New to Karate? Start at Reid and Lail Karate School of Oyama
Reid and Lail Karate School of Oyama comes up as a beginner-friendly dojo, going by their listing and students’ reviews. 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 Reid and Lail Karate School of Oyama
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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