Karate West

Our family absolutely loves this dojo. We started several years ago when my older daughter (13 at the time) wanted to get involved with martial arts. Our younger daughter (6.5 at the time) was also eager to do whatever her older sister did. Having a background in martial arts from Canada, we spent a lot of time evaluating many different schools and styles knowing that a wrong school could negatively impact how they viewed themselves.



After lots of research and asking other parents and children, we decided to give Karate West a try. It has been absolutely, hands down, the best thing we have ever done for the kids. They made it all the way through to black belt with hard work and lots of encouragement. They have competed all over the State, won lots of medals and trophies and are proud of their accomplishments. We now have two self assured, confident and respectful children that other parents comment on all the time. Although we'd like to think that happened because we're their parents, in truth, a big chunk of it came from what Karate West teaches and demonstrates through it's staff.



Randy and Jan Holeman, along with Ken and Andrew continually demonstrate high standards of customer service, support and encouragement along with excellent life skills values. I have and will continue to recommend this facility to others and have never regretted doing so.

I've been training and teaching at Karate West in Sammamish for almost 13 years. The energy and passion for classical martial arts and the life skills that are taught alongside the karate are what keep me and hundreds of others coming back year after year. I don't honestly know where I'd be without the extended family I'm priviledged to be part of at Karate West. They are my brothers and sisters; my sons and daughters. The facility is first rate; it looks like a dojo that is cared for. Clean, neat, organized, well-run - everything one would want a business to be. I'm priviledged to be on staff - I wouldn't give it up for the world.



If you're looking for a place for your children to learn life skills like discipline, focus, and determination, then Karate West is for you. If you're looking for a place for you wife or sister or daughter to acquire real-world self-defense skills, then Karate West is for you. If you're an adult looking for a fun place to get in and stay in shape, both mentally and physically, then Karate West is for you.





Feel free to call me - Michael- if you have any questions - 425-281-0889.

I started training at Karate West 20 years ago and it remains one of my favorite places to be. It's more then just a school, it's a community of people with positive life outlook and a desire to learn and grow. Sensei Holeman and Sensei Ken have given so much to me. Other students tell me they feel the same way.

12 years ago when my son was in kindergarten, I enrolled him as a student at Karate West. For the first two or three months I sat with a number of other parents and watched the kids having a blast. After a while I looked in on one of the adult classes. They were having a blast! So I enrolled too, and we've both been having a blast ever since. Traditional Okinawan Karate, a wide variety of fun and innovative programs, and the Life Skills curriculum make for an outstanding experience for everyone, regardless of age. The instructors and staff all give 110%, and it shows in the success of the students as well as the school as a whole. It's the largest Dojo in the Northwest, and I can't imagine training anywhere else!

I have been a student at Karate West for over 12 years. I have been so impressed with the quality of the programs, the passion of the instructors, and the state of the art facility, that I enrolled my two children. As a parent, nothing has a higher priority in my life than providing opportunities for my children to learn how to become successful at life. The best thing about Karate West is that they don't just get us into better shape and teach us how to protect ourselves from a physical assault, but they teach us how to embrace each day and to enjoy a quality of life that that might otherwise be unattainable. I feel very fortunate to be a member of such a supportive community.

I can tell you without hesitation, that KW is one of the jewels of the martial arts world. You can tell the moment you walk in the front door. KW is welcoming, and supportive. I have been on “every side of the fence” in terms of experiences at KW, as student, parent, and employee. My son and I have been treated with great respect and encouragement. We have trained at KW for 8 years now and for the last 3 years I have had the pleasure of assisting as an instructor in various classes. My son and I have been a part of many KW camps, seminars, and kids events. Education is held in the highest regard, and each and every person’s health, happiness and success is supported. I would recommend KW to anyone, young and old, male and female, who wish to experience and learn great life skills both inside and outside the martial arts world. The instructors and students at KW have become family and are very important in our lives.

I find the comments by DojoGuru1 most interesting. My family and I have trained at KW for more than 13 years and have never once experienced what she has indicated. Since all of the members of my family are black belts, it goes without saying that we have spent a great deal of time within the walls of KW. My experience is exactly the opposite. I have witnessed the owners practicing what they preach. They back up in the dojo what we are teaching our children at home - honor, integrity, character, service, vision, altruism, action. I am honored to have trained with the owners of KW and feel I am a better man and have a better family as a result. Finally I will say that of the top 3 greatest and most important men in my life, my Sensei is counted among them next to my father and my pastor.

Karate West is owned by people who put money ahead of the life skills they claim to teach. I have witnessed the owner verbally abusing his staff on four occasions in the last year.