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Stratford Shotokan Karate
4.9 ★★★★★ 27 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Stratford, Connecticut
Part of Shotokan Karate (JKA)
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
- 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 stratfordshotokan.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 203-913-1534
Hours
| Monday | 5–7 pm |
| Tuesday | 5–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 5–7 pm |
| Thursday | 5–8:30 pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9 am–12 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“A couple of months ago my son and I did a free "Daddy and me" session and it was the first time I have seen my son who is 3 really want to commit to something.”
“A couple of months ago my son and I did a free "Daddy and me" session and it was the first time I have seen my son who is 3 really want to commit to something.”
Other martial arts here
What students say
“I love training here because Sensei always pushes me to the best martial artist I can be”
“It is a great family oriented dojo,my journey at the dojo has been awesome been with the dojo 10 plus years.”
“They are genuinely nice people who want nothing but to see our children thrive.”
“And If you think Stratford Shotokan Karate will be a soft karate you are very mistaken they will go hard on you to make sure you turn out to be a strong Men/Woman.”
“They have been attending classes here for a little over two years now and have shown remarkable improvement in discipline, focus, and physical fitness.”
From the reviews
I have been going to this karate since I was 5 and this is one if the best things I have done In life. If I never came here I would not be as strong as I am now(I still have a long way to go tho). And this karate taught me a lot of things.
My boys love Stratford Shotokan Karate. They have been attending classes here for a little over two years now and have shown remarkable improvement in discipline, focus, and physical fitness. The senseis are incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and create a supportive environment for the kids.
Love it here. Best place for a single mom to bring her sons and the Diaz men help raise them and shape them up. Teaches discipline, respect etc. A1 in my book
Can’t say enough good things about this family run dojo. They are genuinely nice people who want nothing but to see our children thrive.
New to Karate? Start at Stratford Shotokan Karate
Stratford Shotokan Karate 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 Stratford Shotokan 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 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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