★ 5

Amazing senseis, Dave and Ellen. This dojo is fantastic for both kids and adults, and the best part is that kids and adults can train together. From white belt to black belt, the training is demanding, authentic, and deeply rewarding. There’s a true community feel here; everyone is welcoming and supportive.
This is the real deal; you will learn real Karate, not a “McKarate” version with high-pressure sales tactics or fake/bought reviews. Couldn’t recommend it more!

Source: Google

★ 5

I have been training with this club for over 3 years and I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in martial arts. Sensei Dave and Sensei Ellen made me feel incredibly welcome, and have fostered a great environment in which to train and learn this art. Their knowledge, as well as their passion and decades of experience, can be seen throughout all levels of the class.

The class is open to all ages, from young kids to working adults, to retired folks, and each person brings helps to foster a community where we all learn and help one another, while training our minds and bodies.

Source: Google

★ 5

Charlottesville Shotokan Karate Club is a wonderful place! Our grandson started when he was 8 ½ years old and is now 9. He has thoroughly loved each and every class these past 6 months. The Senseis, Ellen and Dave Stackpole, are truly amazing. They have trained for 35 years and are proficient in their knowledge of Shotokan Karate. They are able to share their love and knowledge to all the students.

The class has a variety of students of all ages and experience. The class starts with a warm-up with all of the students and afterwards they are put into two groups – the beginners and the more advanced. All of the students in the Club are willing to help others and they do it with a smile. They make everyone feel included. Sensei Ellen and Sensei Dave lead the classes with firmness and kindness combined.

We are so grateful to have found the Charlottesville Shotokan Karate Club. It has given our grandson an outlet for his boundless energy and has built his level of confidence tremendously. Thank you, Senseis.

Source: Google

★ 5

Highly recommended karate classes:
I've trained with the Charlottesville Shotokan Karate club for a year and am amazed to have found such a warm supportive environment and people. I got introduced to karate here and am now eager to continue pursuing karate even after moving out of Charlottesville.
The club is highly affordable and extremely welcoming of students with any kind of experience and strives to make sure each student receives a lot of value through it's classes.
What makes the club extra special is how Sensei Ellen and Dave are so invested in seeing each and every student develop (and excel in) their karate and provide personalized feedback for improvement. They also provide additional accommodations to any student in need of it. Additionally, the club members are all very nice and inclusive, all of which makes for a satisfying and wholesome experience.
I would sincerely recommend anyone in Charlottesville interested in karate to join the Charlottesville Shotokan Karate Club :))

Source: Google

★ 5

I've trained with Sensei Dave and Sensei Ellen for 8 years, and it was definitely one of the greatest things I did during my time at UVA. What I like here the most is the friendly atmosphere and the individual feedback I got, so I can work on my weaknesses and continue to grow. Sensei Dave and Sensei Ellen organized classes so that beginners and black belts always regardless the level had things to work on. Each class Sensei Dave and Sensei Ellen brought something new to make it interesting an exciting. In addition to the karate classes, the club also organizes social events, like celebration of belt exam results, hikes, or in “before COVID time” we even sometimes gathered after a class in a cafe to chat. I’m really glad that I joined this club.

Source: Google

★ 5

The senseis are great at working with students of all different ages and abilities. I've been mostly remote for covid, but they always make the Zoom classes worthwhile: great workout plus individual feedback. Even in the Zoom classes the senseis will watch me (and the other students) in the camera and correct form, or tell me to kick higher. I'm always sweating by the end of the hour in my tiny living room space. It definitely keeps me sane in my apartment.
I started as an adult and they taught me basics and self defense first and then moved on to more advanced skills. My favorite part of this dojo is how everyone wants everyone else to learn and have fun, and plus they adapted the classes for covid and small spaces. There are in-person classes twice a week as well, but I can't make those under quarantine.

Source: Google

★ 5

We love Sensei Dave, Sensei Ellen, and this club. We tried two other martial arts clubs/businesses before finding this gem for our 7-year-old. My son is highly sensitive and benefits so much from their instruction and the friendly, supportive, hard-working atmosphere.

Source: Google

★ 5

Amazing dojo and amazing people. Training with Sensei Dave and Sensei Ellen to improve my skills and katas is one of the best decisions I've made during my time here in Charlottesville.

Source: Google

★ 5

I have trained with Senseis Ellen and Dave through my 4 years at UVA, and it has been a fantastic journey - they are amazing instructors, and work individually with each student on form, speed, and technique. I’m extremely grateful to have been a part of this community, and would recommend it to anyone interested in martial arts or self-defense!

Source: Google

★ 5

I love this club! I have learned so much and met such great people in the past four years. The instructors are fantastic.

Source: Google

★ 5

Sensei Ellen and Sensei Dave run a great karate dojo! They are awesome at working individually with students to help them with what they need most. Because of the pandemic, they've been doing virtual classes, which have been a big help to me since I'm currently out of the state. Incredibly fun and educative experience, and I would definitely recommend if you're looking for a martial arts program!

Source: Google

★ 5

I've been training at this club for almost 10 years. The senseis are amazing. Their helpful and patient to all children and adult learners. I love the traditional Japanese style in which they teach.

Source: Google

★ 5

Great, accessible classes!

Source: Google

★ 5

This is a great place to learn a martial art. Ellen and Dave do an excellent job balancing fun, fitness, camaraderie, self-defense, discipline, and the many other aspects of martial arts. It is a welcoming environment for those new to karate while remaining challenging and engaging for experienced practitioners. It is a great value and family friendly environment. Hope you'll join us!

Source: Google

★ 5

I have trained with the Charlottesville Shotokan Karate Club for almost ten years highly recommend this club. Anyone from young children to senior adults can train at this traditional karate club. Dave & Ellen, the instructors, split the class between children and adults to better accommodate for different skill and maturity levels. Dave & Ellen make each class different, are attentive to all students and push us all become better in so many ways.

I have come to know some of my best friends in this club and I am looking forward to training with them for years to come.

Source: Google

★ 5

Ellen and Dave are you excellent teachers! My daughter has been doing karate with them for a while now and learned a lot at her own pace. She enjoys the challenge, the mixed ages and mixed levels of the group.

Source: Google

★ 5

This is a terrific karate club that welcomes participants of all ages. Dave and Ellen are both excellent, highly skilled instructors who each have decades of training and experience. They have created, and continue to foster, a friendly yet focused environment in which participants receive a great workout while developing many helpful physical and mental skills, such as strength, flexibility, self defense, concentration and confidence.

Members of the club include students of all ages and grade levels, as well as parents and working professionals in many fields. This club is a wonderful learning environment for everyone, and is highly recommended!

Source: Google

★ 5

My son started his karate training while in elementary school and last year earned his black belt. He has always had a very good time with the training and the other students and the teachers.

If you or your child is interested in karate you will see there are multiple karate schools in Charlottesville. Before signing up we visited with 4 schools, all of which were commercial, and were disappointed with each although for different reasons.

Why did we pick the Charlottesville Shotokan Karate Club? The difference is in the last word in the name--Club. It just doesn't have the feel of a commercial school because it isn't one. But don't let that fool you; the instructors are fully qualified having years of experience in karate and in teaching karate to students of all ages.

I can recommend this karate club without any reservations.

Source: Google

★ 5

We have been part of this karate club for over five years now and it's wonderful! The instructors are amazing - they teach with such passion and expertise but make it fun for everyone, too, adults and kids alike. Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning karate.

Source: Google