What Dojo Alumni Are Saying about their experiences.
“Receiving my black belt has been one of my life’s most important achievements. Karate has taught me the power of hard work, patience, and discipline. It also helped me to gain confidence and to move outside of my comfort zone. Additionally, Kobayashi Dojo has such a strong community. My siblings and I have been so lucky to have practiced karate together, and the dojo community has always felt like family”
—Melissa M. Canterbury School class of 2011
George Washington Univ / Mater Degree - George Town Univ
“I have been doing karate for a little over 10 years now, and while the path to black belt is a difficult one it’s well worth it, I learned some very valuable lessons doing karate, my 10 years at the dojo helped me to grow as a person and to be more confident in myself. I would not be where I am today if not for Shihan and Sensei”
— Hunter L. Oasis HS class of 2018
Univ of Central Florida
“I have been doing karate for almost 10 years now and it has taught me discipline, respect, and much more. Without it and the support from my parents and superiors, I do not think I would be where I am today. My advice is to find something that you like doing and stick to it. Commitment and perseverance will yield favorable results. I wish for all of you to have a bright future and I know that is possible if you put your mind to it”
— Jordan E. Cape Coral HS class of 2020
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
“I have done karate for 10 years and I have learned a lot over those 10 years. The biggest thing that karate has taught was to be your own person. When I first joined Kobayashi Dojo, I was very shy, had zero confidence and didn't know who I was as a person. Because of Kobayashi Dojo, they taught me how to be confident with myself and they taught me how to be my own person. Everyone at Kobayashi Dojo especially Sensei and Shihan are my second family, I wouldn't be where I am now if it wasn't for them”
— Alex F. Oasis HS class of 2019
Florida Gulf Coast Univ
“My time at Kobayashi Dojo set the foundation for my mental and physical health from childhood through my adulthood. I still use the breathing, stretching, and training techniques I learned in my teens, and definitely still tap into the focus/emotional regulation I learned here. Although it sometimes hurt to fail, the dojo was a safe place to learn that you can always get back up and try again. Through this, I developed the confidence and interpersonal skills to become a life-long leader. The community aspect is really important here. The dojo was the first place I learned what it's like to feel a sense of unity with my community which instilled a deep sense of civic duty, leading me towards many community service projects long after I left the dojo. Karate also helped me develop a skills-based approach to my education (with an emphasis on retaining information long-term) which has propelled me through rigorous academic studies. I remind myself often that hard work doesn't always feel good, but after a while, the results sure do. I think the kind of ownership over your own progress that Kobayashi Dojo promotes is one of the most valuable things I absorbed from my time here..”
-Kristen B. Ida Baker HS class of 2012
University of Florida / Purdue Univ. PhD Biomedical Engineering Program
“Thank you to Shihan and Sensei for never once failing to make me feel like the strongest person in the world. Kobayashi Dojo has been a regular part of the last 6+ years of my life and has been the stronghold of my never-ending daily life. Beyond the fierceness of what karate presents on its outward show, the heartwarming tranquility of the supporting environment Shihan and Sensei supplied me with is what makes their teachings so special. Up till now, my dojo nickname “Mad Chang” seemed distant and austere; I now realize I wouldn’t have preferred it any other way. In a sense, the sincere passion and determination that was instilled into me from the very start has helped me tap into some much needed courage to face the world head-on. With Pride and Respect.”-Mad Chang
—Nicole C. Cape Coral HS class of 2021
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
"If I’ve learned anything from karate after all these years, it is that everything happens for a reason. Everyone will face their bad things and have to suffer through hard times. Everything bad that happens to us will make us stronger, if only we allow it to. I said it before my sho dan ho test and I will say it again: karate has taught me to never give up on the goals and ideas that you are fighting for. I’m starting college with a clean slate and no one to drag me down. Because now, I’m not letting anyone or anything stand between what I want to do and where I want to go. Thank you Shihan and Sensei for showing me how and when to shine. It’s my time to learn from the world and shine even brighter."
— Gabriel S. Cape Coral HS class of 2021
University of Maine
"If I have taken anything from my ten years at
Kobayashi Dojo, it’s that hard work and perseverance pays off. I can still remember when I kept to myself and didn’t talk to anyone. However, through the support of my instructors, family, and peers, I overcame my quiet nature and found the confidence within me, becoming closer to my greatest potential. Every day, I continue to test my limits to find what I am capable of. To the future karate students, I encourage you to push yourself beyond any boundaries you set for yourself. You will be amazed at what you will accomplish and who you become as a result. The love and passion Shihan and Sensei have for karate and their students is evident in the way they teach and inspire others to achieve success at both the dojo and in life."
— Noah L. Cape Coral HS class of 2021
University of South Florida
“In the little under 10 years that I have attended Kobayashi Dojo, I’ve acquired many useful life skills. Skills that will assist me to have a bright future and push me towards success. For example, a few examples of what I’ve learned through Karate is discipline, patience, respect, confidence, and most importantly: goal setting. I’ve always set my goal on getting my black belt and pushing the work and effort to reach my target. Just as planned, I’ve outreached to a second degree black belt just before I leave for college. In relation to my future, I’ve learned that it’s important to set your goals and to know what to do in your next step towards success. In whatever you desire, you must have the ambition to work for it. Things never just come to you unless you put the effort in. I would like to thank Sensei and Shihan for the eye opening experience through Karate, as I know myself more as a person now. They are the most perfect instructors, as they care for you even outside of Karate. Moreover, there is much more than appreciation that I have towards Karate and I hope that each student will reach their goals and what they want to achieve
— Noah J. Oasis HS class of 2021
Univ of Central Florida
“I have had the greatest honor of attending Kobayashi Dojo for 12 years of my life. In those years I have grown stronger both physically and mentally while at the same time developing close bonds with my peers. To the future karateka, I hope that you strive to be the best person that you can be. Through hard work and dedication, push your limits and think big, and then one day you will be able to reap the benefits. Remember that your dojo family will always be there right beside you and that the lessons, and memories, that you have learned and formed, will truly last a lifetime”.
-Matteo M. Cape Coral HS class of 2017
University of Florida
“Being at the dojo for the past 12 years has taught me so many things. I have learned discipline and respect along with how to work as apart of a team and how to be a good contributing member of our community. I am so happy to have my family, Sensei, Shihan, and all of my dojo family for supporting me and pushing me to be the person I am today. To all the younger students at the dojo, working your way up to black belt and beyond is going to be one of the hardest things you do but, it will also be the most rewarding experience you will take with your for the rest of your life”
— Kylie D. Ida Baker HS class of 2020
Florida SouthWestern State College
“I have done karate for 12 years, and during those 12 years I learned a lot. Doing karate helped me grow as a person. I went from a very shy person to a much more out going person. It also taught me a lot of discipline and taught me what it’s like to be committed to something. Although it can be very tough at times, the results make it all worth it. I consider Kobayashi dojo as my second family and truly cherish my 12 years at the dojo”
— Nanami M. Oasis HS class of 2018
Florida Atlantic Univ.
“If there is anything I have taken away from 13 years of school and 13 years of karate is the importance of patience. Not everything will come to you quickly as you want it, but with enough time you can reach any goal, and once you have reached that goal, the time spent does not feel as long as you thought. ”
— Ruka M. Oasis HS class of 2020
Univ of Central Florida
“The dojo has taught me so much over the past 10 or so years. I've made so many friends and have learned valuable lessons that I couldn't get anywhere else.”
— Julie S. FSW Collegiate High Class of 2020
Univ of North Florida
