Customer Success Stories
Explore the experiences that keep our community talking! Dive into real stories from our students who have seen their confidence, skills, and lives transformed through our martial arts programs.
Great place for kids- thank you.
When I initially checked out this dojo, I honestly had no intention of actually training here due to the commute from where I was living at the time. However, a few minutes into my first class at Shuhari, I felt right at home as I was kindly welcomed by literally everyone. I signed up right away, and haven’t looked back! This school is solid and tight-knit. Training includes both traditional martial arts as well as practical self-defense, so students are incredibly well-rounded. Kyoshi Baker is a skilled and dedicated instructor who genuinely loves what he does and challenges each of his students to become better individuals (no matter what age or skill level). The skills and wisdom gained from Kyoshi and the other instructors here have been so very valuable. I cannot recommend this dojo enough!
My daughter (age 7) and I had the great fortune of finding this dojo just over a year ago and decided to give it a try. It’s been the best decision we’ve made since moving to Sarasota!
Both of us attend training here several times a week, so I spend Mon-Fri at the dojo, either attending class myself, or watching my kiddo train in the children’s class. I gotta say, this is one of my favorite places to be! Not only have my kid and I found something we both enjoy doing and can both bond over outside of training hours, we’ve found our tribe and a place where we belong. The instructors and students are extraordinary individuals, and I truly wished I possessed the ability to fully describe how amazing they all are.
Kyoshi Baker is beyond words; his patience, desire to teach, and the care he shows each of his students is remarkable. He’s formed a family that extends past the walls of the dojo, and has completely changed so many lives for the better. To see how much my kid has grown in both confidence and as as a person since she joined the dojo is indescribable, and I can’t wait to see how far she’ll go as she continues her tutelage under Kyoshi Baker and the magnificent instructors at this dojo.
As for the technical, non-mushy side of the review: the kids’ class is fantastic, but the adult class is AMAZING!! In addition to Shuri Ryu Karate, we get to train Ju-Jutsu, techniques from various types of martial arts and weapons! It’s so much fun and pushes you out of your comfort zone in the best possible way. Plus, the fitness side of it all is a major bonus!
Love this place, the Martial Arts Fitness Class is AMAZING… it is hard in the beginning, but after some classes I started to feel more energized thru the day… I have lost 10 lb already and I’ve never felt more in control of my body… People is really nice, Mark is awesome and we always have a great time!
Great school, nice attitude, great teachers, my son loves this place. Thanks Mark to teach my son.
Absolutely the BEST! Awesome, clean facility, caring staff, and highly skilled instructors!
Another amazing class at “Meeting of the Masters” this year. Thank you for the instruction!
The owner Mark is an excellent teacher, very skilled and cares about his students. His school is clean, well organized and a safe place for anyone including kids.
Phenomenal martial arts school! Great instruction with valuable, practical, and safe lessons! A very clean facility with great community! Highly recommended!
Have trained with Kyoshi for almost 30years. Has been the best experience of my life. Life long friends great teacher and awesome training. I love it there. I hope all will give it a try
In this martial arts dojo, head sensei, Mark Baker, is not only a professional martial artist but insightful in his technique and way of training. This dojo teaches shuhari style karate and jujitsu. With defensive training against knives and guns, disarmament and also coordination training. Various instructors, friendly students, a good workout and this improves other parts of your life. I am a personal trainer and bodybuilder. My max increased almost 80 lbs with a few classes. Currently, it is an excellent addition to learn focus, concentration, discipline and gain knowledge in the martial arts. Available 3 times a week for various training. It is a must do for people of all ages to learn karate. I strongly recommend.
I started with Mr. Baker when I was just 6 years old. I am now 31 and as one of his black-belts, I still attend classes with him. Mr. Baker has been much more than an instructor to me. He has been a mentor, a friend and someone I look up to. I still remember lessons he taught me (both physically and mentally) from when I was a child. He truly shaped me into the person I am today. I feel I owe my physical strength, mental toughness, and confidence to Mr. Baker. I will always remember one session when I was a young kid. Mr. Baker had us do jump ropes that day. My twin sister and I were the only two kids in the class who did not know how to jump rope. Every kid in the class laughed at us. Mr. Baker calmly and confidently showed my sister and I how to jump rope. To this day he is the only reason I know how to jump rope. He taught me not to be braggadocious about training. To instead be humble, and that you should hope to never have to use your skills, even though you have them. When I went into Coast Guard Bootcamp, I could do more “guy” push-ups in a shorter amount of time than any other female or male in my company. I attribute that to the time and attention he took to help me both physically and mentally. I have trained several martial arts in my life. And while I enjoy each of them for different reasons, I can promise you, you will never find another instructor as passionate and knowledgeable as Mark Baker. His love and commitment to his art is unparalleled. I will forever be grateful for his commitment to me. He has made me who I am today. Thank you, Sensei Baker.
If you’re looking for a dojo run with integrity and dedication, this is the place. My kids trained here and Mark is there for every class leading with patience and persistence. You won’t find a Sensei with more knowledge, experience, and passion for martial arts.
This dojo and instructors are absolutely Amazing. My family and I highly recommended. If I could I would give them 6 stars. They make you feel like family and all around Great people. 👍 …
I have trained in many places around the world and this dojo is the best for me and my family. Its mixture of traditional martial arts and modern combative concepts really set it apart from the rest. The mentorship of Kyoshi Baker and the guidance of his trainers are second to none.
The fact that this place is not the typical cookie cutter Martial Arts school, that saturates many cities today, really gives credibility to the Shuhari style. You have to work hard and earn your promotion. The patience, the structure and knowledge that this place provides its’ students, helps to build a strong foundation that goes beyond the walls of this dojo.
The skills and attributes attained from this school will greatly benefit all students who are lucky enough to train here. It is a valuable experience that everyone should have access to. This is why I chose to train here. This is why my entire family trains here. This is also why, you should join our family!
This is a great martial arts school with an exceptional chief instructor. He works with each student patiently regardless of his/her physical skill level, and provides a safe & positive environment every class. All students get to learn both traditional martial arts and practical self-defense skills. I recommend this school to anyone – stop by & check it out!
Many members of our congregation have trained or are training at Shuhari Martial Arts. Mark is an excellent mentor and teacher for anyone, regardless of age. His character combined with his experience and expertise make him an easy recommendation for us!
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