Kobayashi Dojo Karate

The decision to exclude Karate from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games remains shrouded in mystery, as no official reasons were ever shared.

Karate: Paris 2024 Greatest Absence (Part 1) Karate: Paris 2024 Greatest Absence (Part 1)

Happy first day of school! We wish you a great school year!

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In July, Senpai Yazhini attended 2024 Summer Leaders Experience at the US Military Academy in West Point. Read more about her extraordinary week there:

"From studying Russian for three hours straight to hiking and training in the mountains for an entire day, it was an extraordinary—slightly exigent—experience. The most challenging part was not waking up at 04:00 or learning combat in the sweltering heat - it was actually running. As a Floridian, I didn't realize how hard it would be to run consistently in a high-elevation setting until I tried it out at 06:00 on day two. That was just the start; there was a lot of running, jogging, and climbing, but some of these are hobbies of mine.
On the other hand, waking up well before dawn is definitely not one of my hobbies or habits. I felt it at West Point. Even so, waking up early was worthwhile that week because of the sunrise viewing every morning—paired with the architecture and activities. Safe to say, my favorite activities were all related to guns: the shooting simulator and shooting trials (we used blanks, don't worry).

I thank USMA at West Point for accepting my application and my 15-person squad for the memories. Our squad's motto was, "Second in the name, [but] first in the game!"

The program is only open to high school students in their junior year. It commences in June—that summer before senior year—and costs $625. The price is because of the take-home attire, food, and lodging expenses. However, they offer "generous need-based scholarships" if a participant is unable to settle it, so no worries. I highly recommend this program: it's strict, but it's a great program to brush up on your discipline and experience an unforgettable adventure. Now, the application does look for more than just athleticism. Anyone planning to apply in the future should note that academics, volunteering, clubs/positions, and SAT scores are also weighed.

Best of luck to all of our future participants from Kobayashi Dojo!"

Check out the videos from the experience

https://youtu.be/V29yTjfx_Hs?si=PJMxTmjAWZPLLGdZ

https://youtu.be/V29yTjfx_Hs?si=3hFokPHVeql3YW0T

Throwback Thursday 🥋
Pine Island Rd campus grand opening in 2009

What our alumni say 🥋

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Over The Sky Akihasan Shrine, Shizuoka ⛩️💛

This week's karate camp session is all about the Olympics. 🥋

We are happy to announce that Jakob is heading to UCF to study mechanical engineering.

"I’ve been doing karate ever since I moved to Florida from Chicago, which was roughly six years ago. The dojo helped me with the transition from one state to another and allowed me to easily make new friends and family. The dojo has taught me thousands of things, but if I could pick one that helped me the most, it would be that you will always face a time of struggle but you must always push yourself forward. Shihan and Sensei have always had my back through the ups and downs of not only my karate career but also my personal endeavors. Now, I will be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Central Florida and I will forever be thankful for the life lessons and memories that I’ve gained from the dojo."

Good luck, Jakob! 👊

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We are happy to announce that Mackenzie will be attending FAU! She graduated Ida Baker HS, went through a medical academy and received CNA license.

"When I started karate in middle school, I was shy, unmotivated, and not very confident. As the years passed on, I not only became stronger physically, but also mentally. I was positively influenced by my peers and instructors to not be ordinary, but to be extraordinary. The best decision my parents ever made for me was to put me in karate, and I am forever grateful. Not only did I learn how to defend myself, I also learned about respect and discipline. I am eternally thankful to Shihan and Sensei, who act like my second parents. I would also like to thank all the friends that have seen me grow up through the dojo, and have seen me mature and become more confident. Next year, I am going FAU to study biology."

Good luck, Mackenzie! 🥋

We are happy to announce that Carter is heading to FGCU Honor College to study Marketing.

“I was enrolled in the Kobayashi Dojo at eight years old by my parents, and at that time, I was arrogant, obnoxious, a pain in the rear, you name it. There were many times where I wanted to give up. However, as time went on, the dojo and all the people in it were integral to the realization that that wasn’t the type of person could, should, or wanted to be. Shihan and Sensei’s karate lessons always included teachings of discipline, maturity, and understanding central to shaping the man I am today. Now, I’ve been able to gain merited confidence, a comical disposition, and I feel ready to take on the world headfirst. I’m extremely thankful for Shihan and Sensei, who have grown to become also like another set of parents for me and many others; the rest of the dojo family, from every single member on Team Kobayashi to the kids whom I’ve loved to teach some sick karate and dance moves; and my family at home for giving me the best opportunity of my life. All of the lessons I’ve learned here will be instrumental in succeeding in the FGCU Honors College, grad school, and in my future career, where I hope to continue making profoundly positive impacts in the lives of everyone around me, the country, and hopefully, the world.”

Congrats, Carter! 🥋

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Mt Fuji in Shizuoka 🤩🌋

Source: road to japan

First day of karate camp 🥋

Karate dads had fun Camouflage Belt class yesterday. 🥋

Happy Father's Day to all incredible dads out there!

We are happy to announce that Elle is heading to FGCU to study finance and accounting.

"When I first started going to the dojo, it was a place where I could talk, have fun, and get all of my excess energy out. To give an example of how much I was a chatterbox, my nickname for years was "mouth of the south," given to me by Shihan and Sensei. However, as I've matured, it's now because of a place of peace and tranquility. When I step onto the wooden floors, all of my outside problems fade away, I see all of these familiar faces, and my mind gets a break from any and all outside stress. All I have to do there is focus on my technique and grow my skills. Shihan and Sensei have helped me tremendously, to the point that they are like a second set of parents. They supported the growth of my karate and helped me through the hardships of learning essential information. Like addition and subtraction and how to hold a pencil during my weeks at summer camp. All the way to signing up for the ACT and applying to colleges in my highschool years. I cannot say that I would be where I am and who I am today without them; I will be forever grateful for all they have helped me with."

Good luck, Elle! 🥋

Congrats to all students who received a new belt Friday and Saturday. Way to go! 👊🥋

Happy last day of school! Let the summer adventures begin ☀️

As one of the longest standing dojos in Cape Coral, we have built a reputation over 35 years of making a positive difference in the lives of our students. Find out what our alumni say about their experience 🥋 https://www.kobayashidojo.com/dojo-alumni

Awesome photos from Culture Fest ❤