HomeNorth CarolinaHope Mills › Smith Family Dojo

Smith Family Dojo

5 ★★★★★ 47 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Hope Mills, North Carolina

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Weapons / kobudo Competition team

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
  • Weapons / kobudo traditional weapons (kobudo) classes — kata with the bo, sai, and nunchaku, taught with control and discipline
  • Competition team a competition team for students who want to test themselves at kumite tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule smithfamilydojo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 910-987-1677

Hours

Monday 2:30–9:05 pm
Tuesday 2:30–8:05 pm
Wednesday 2:30–9:05 pm
Thursday 2:30–8:05 pm
Friday 6–8 pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, belt tests, and seminars — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Karate classes on the schedule at Smith Family Dojo, confirmed in students' own reviews and the dojo's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Karate 25 mentions

“After 2 months of not only my 5 children but also myself I can confidently give Sensei Smith and the Smith Family Dojo a 5 star rating all the way around.”

All dojos that run kids karate →

⚔️ Weapons (Kobudo)

All dojos that run weapons (kobudo) →

Other martial arts here

Karate dojos are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else students mention training under the same roof at Smith Family Dojo — mined from their reviews and the dojo's own info.

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the dojo's own info — they show what students have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, or kickboxing alongside your Karate, confirm the current schedule with the dojo.

What students say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 47 Google reviews — in their own words.

expert instruction from a great sensei 10 mentions

“Sensei Smith is extremely knowledgeable and is great at understanding how to reach children of all ages and with individual differences and needs.”

friendly, respectful dojo 35 mentions

“After 2 months of not only my 5 children but also myself I can confidently give Sensei Smith and the Smith Family Dojo a 5 star rating all the way around.”

strong technique, kata & fundamentals 3 mentions

“He works exceptionally well with children of all ages, ensuring that every student understands each technique fully before trying it themselves.”

🧒 strong kids program 3 mentions

“Kevin, is wonderful with the students, and my children have learned so much, become more disciplined and really look forward to Karate every week and they really love Mr.”

💵 good value / fair pricing 2 mentions

“The prices are also very affordable and you can tell Sensei purely out of the love of the art and to pass the knowledge on to generations after him as it should be.”

builds confidence, discipline & respect 15 mentions

“Kevin, is wonderful with the students, and my children have learned so much, become more disciplined and really look forward to Karate every week and they really love Mr.”

From the reviews

We have two boys that have been attending Smith Family Dojo for about two years now and they both love it! Sensei Smith is extremely knowledgeable and is great at understanding how to reach children of all ages and with individual differences and needs.

★★★★★ — Justin, Dec 2015

Just amazing! My son have been going here for over a year and loves every minute. It is one of the best decisions we have made. Sensei Smith is a fantastic instructor. He takes the time to make sure every student in class understands what he is teaching. Small class sizes and affordable.

★★★★★ — Amber, Dec 2022

Both my daughters attend the Smith Family Dojo and we could not be any happier with our experience so far. Mr. Kevin, is wonderful with the students, and my children have learned so much, become more disciplined and really look forward to Karate every week and they really love Mr. Kevin.

★★★★★ — Vickianna, Aug 2013

After 2 months of not only my 5 children but also myself I can confidently give Sensei Smith and the Smith Family Dojo a 5 star rating all the way around. Sensei Smith is extremely knowledgeable and well versed in karate.

★★★★★ — Joe, Mar 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 47 reviews →

New to Karate? Start at Smith Family Dojo

Smith Family Dojo 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first Karate class at Smith Family Dojo

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.

Karate is a contact sport. Ease in, train within your limits, listen to your instructors, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Smith Family Dojo

4251 Legion Rd #113, Hope Mills, NC28348

Get directions Facebook

More Karate dojos near Hope Mills

Team Tiger Karate Club - Shotokan Dojo

4.8 ★★★★★ 109 reviews

3114 N Main St #103, Hope Mills, NC

Karate dojo Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team Affiliated expert instruction from a great senseifriendly, respectful dojostrong technique, kata & fundamentals

1.6 miles away

SGRO Martial Arts

4.4 ★★★★☆ 28 reviews

SGRO KARATE, 2631 Raeford Rd, Fayetteville, NC

Memberships around $180/mo

Karate dojo Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team expert instruction from a great senseifriendly, respectful dojostrong kids program

4.4 miles away

IFK Kyokushin Karate NC

5 ★★★★★ 4 reviews

823 Elm St Ste 203, Fayetteville, NC

Karate dojo Private lessons Affiliated expert instruction from a great senseiclean, welcoming dojo

6.5 miles away

All Karate dojos in Hope Mills, NC →

Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this dojo? Claim your listing — it's free.