Isshin-ryu Karate-do

I have been going to Berkeley Isshinryu for over seven years now, so I figured I should finally write a review! Because you don’t do something for seven years if you don’t love it.
BIK is a small, laid-​back dojo made up of a diverse group of practitioners from many different Isshin-​ryu «strands» and in some cases completely different styles of karate or other martial arts altogether — everyone is welcome here, and over the years the dojo has benefited from getting lots of different perspectives on the style and martial arts in general. We work hard and take our training seriously, but everyone is primarily there to have fun while also learning martial arts & staying in shape. Many of us also hang out & socialize outside of class as well, and there are regularly post-​class pizza & beer trips for birthdays, promotions, etc.
Because of the small size of the class, everyone gets plenty of attention, both as part of the group and during individual work time. The instructors are positive and friendly, and provide helpful and constructive feedback in an encouraging way. Again, although we work hard, this is not a super-​aggressive, testosterone-​driven dojo, so beginners or people who are less excited about the combat aspect of martial arts don’t usually end up feeling intimidated or uncomfortable (and people who *are* looking for a super-​agro school don’t tend to stick around for long).
We usually start with 10 – 15 minutes of stretches & light calisthenics, then spend the rest of class on some combination of basic techniques, kata study, pad work, partner work, self-​defense, or sparring. (Students begin sparring only when the instructors think they are ready, and with plenty of supervision; also, no one is ever required to spar — or do anything else, really — if they don’t want to.) The intensity of the workout is more or less self-​selecting; if you want to be sweaty & panting by the end, there are usually opportunities to work hard enough to make that happen. If you want an easier, gentler workout, you can always dial it back to whatever you’re comfortable with & ready for.
Highly recommend! Again, I wouldn’t still be here after seven years if I didn’t think both the class and the people were awesome. :)

I started at this dojo three years ago with no previous martial art experience. I wasn’t sure if Isshinryu would be my style of choice, but have since come to love how direct, yet versatile, this style is. The instructors are all very patient, and each one provides a unique approach to learning karate. They work with students individually (especially beginners) to ensure everyone understands their own learning style and how to best utilize it. This dojo promotes karate as a way towards balance (both in and out of practice), works with/​around injuries (not through them), and facilitates teaching/​learning from all participants.
The workouts themselves range from practicing exercises for muscle-​memory, understanding real-​world applications, belt-​level appropriate sparring, to just full on cardio exhaustion. If you ever doubt that you’re getting a workout you really need, just ask an instructor about «Five Minutes of Fury». I highly recommend stopping in to check us out; we always appreciate a new face.

Here is my husband:
I’ve been practicing with this dojo for almost a year now and I can’t get enough, I love it. I started karate to get in better shape and this class has significantly improved my conditioning as well as redefined my sense of well-​being.
The first hour of class generally incorporates a range of stretching, challenging calisthenics, and empty hand techniques intermingled with a social atmosphere and chance to let the workday tensions unwind. The second hour of the class focuses on your forms (katas) as well as two person combination techniques, striking the pads, sparring, and numerous other applications.
The instructors have great experience and work well with students of all skill levels. I was an Isshinryu orphan from the east coast and the transition into this dojo was very welcoming.