Physical fitness is a goal of training, not a requirement. You will be encouraged to further your potential by working to your capacity. At the beginning you will work privately with an instructor or in small groups with other novices. Progress will be faster than you might imagine. Look around you at the fitness and proficiency of the advanced belts. They were once beginners too.

Training at our school is active, challenging and thoughtful; it is not violent. In sparring we strive to overcome ourselves, not others. For this reason sparring at the Toronto Academy of Karate is rigorous but strictly non-contact. Standards of student behavior are rigidly adhered to. Non-violence is a value we all share.

The atmosphere in the dojo is intense and happy, warm and supportive, strongly emphasizing self-discipline in an environment of self-development. You will quickly realize that grace, coordination and presence are goals of training rather than prerequisites.

Every colour belt at the Toronto Academy of Karate is important and worn with pride. White is the first level belt, followed by yellow, green, blue, purple, brown and black. Advancement comes quickly to students who train diligently and frequently. These factors, not calendar times, are the basis of promotion. Tests for all belts are conducted personally by Sensei.

The white belt holds a special place in our dojo. To the beginner, everything is fresh, new and difficult, and the white belt reminds us what it was like when we first started our training. Earning a black belt is therefore not the aim of training. Worn over time a black belt frays and fades, becoming white again. To maintain a fresh beginner's mind is one of the basic expressions of the challenge of karate-do.

The most important victory is not over others, but over oneself. The true warrior is not one who has conquered one thousand men, but rather she who has conquered herself. Through our training, we conquer our fears, insecurities, worries, doubts - all the things that keep us from being whom we wish to be. This is not accomplished by dreaming, studying philosophy or hoping (although these may help). Nor is it accomplished solely by physical exercize. It is accomplished by diligent mental and physical training that develops within oneself the characteristics of physical strength, self-defense technique, mental discipline, confidence and self-control. Just as we develop muscle in our arms and legs, we develop discipline and confidence in our minds and spirits. We create an image of ourselves, and then we make it real.

A truly strong person can be supremely gentle, empathetic, and caring of others. This is the mission of our school and the environment of our daily training.