For more than two decades, Syosset Martial Arts Center has been a place for people to not only learn martial arts but to move toward healthy, balanced lifestyles. The black-belt instructors tutor students in shotokan karate, which focuses on building values and character as its students learn self-defense and sparring moves. Adult classes begin with a warm-up and review before they launch into sparring, bag work, or the day's theme—and the class is always a whole-body workout. In addition to karate, the instructors also teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a grappling-based martial art. These classes aim to help students gain confidence, lose weight, and learn how to defend themselves.
Kids' karate classes engage young ones with activities including obstacle courses and calisthenics and instill values such as self-confidence and discipline. They can celebrate turning a year older with a birthday party at the dojo, complete with pizza, karate-themed invitations, and protection from insane posses of clowns.
