Reviews of Mike's Ryukyu Kempo Karate & Kobudo

Great school, great people, great prices. **************************************

I have attended these seminars almost every year and can’t tell you enough about how much I have enjoyed it. The instructor is very knowledgeable, understanding, and patient. I am not a student but I wish I was as my work schedule doesn’t allow it. These annual self-defense seminars are a great alternative. The class atmosphere is fun and there’s no pressure. Even the experienced students are learning the same thing, at the same time as I am. The instructor pairs everyone up and one step at a time shows a technique. He then walks to each participate, encourage discussions, adjust your technique, and just make you feel welcome in his dojo all throughout the day. It is a long seminar, around 4 hours but we do have breaks. I would highly recommend their seminars to anyone interested in or to anyone who might want to try out karate.

A great karate school! The training here allowed me to feel better about myself and what I can accomplish.

When I began to learn how to kick, I was nervous after watching everyone in class kick. I said “I can’t kick someone in the face”. Mr. Tinsley said “Me either”! We laughed afterwards. A few classes later, not being able to kick high didn’t seem to stop Mr. Tinsley when he took the tallest student in class and threw him to the floor with that student expressing great deal of pain. Mr. Tinsley said the karate that he learned worked with anyone regardless of the students’ physical shape or flexibility. He made me feel better about myself. By the way, he can kick you in the face…ouch!

The 1st time I visited Mike’s Ryukyu Kempo Karate I noticed how nice of a setup (equipped) the school was compared to others I saw or was told about. The one thing I didn’t see that I saw in other karate schools was trophies. I asked the head instructor “Where are all of your trophies”? He smiled and said “they line up to start class every Monday and Thursday night”. Just like that, his students started coming in and within a few minutes, they all stood in attention and was “lined up to start class”. I smiled back telling the instructor that I understood.

5 stars isn't enough. Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. My kids can't wait to go back for another class.

From my house, it’s a pretty long drive to the school but well worth it. Mike Tinsley offered me the opportunity to regularly stay for two back to back classes once a week because I live so far away. He said “for me to be able to learn the art that he was taught, only once a week, was my reward for traveling. For me to show him what I thought I could never do was my reward to him”. Now, I was in pretty good shape and could hold my own before I visited Mike’s Ryukyu Kempo Karate, but Mike unlocked something that I never thought of control. You see, I started to respect what was taught to me the first time I was on the receiving end of one of his self-defense moves because I now understand how easily he controlled my attack. Later, I was excited because I started to control my partner’s attack with the same ease and with a more devastating counterattack than any punch.

“I was a formal martial artist who just moved in the area. I always had an interest in getting back in a traditional karate art but I kept putting it off. Finally I started to look around the area but I really didn’t see anything I liked. Everything was about using karate as a sport, which is great if you are young but I was looking for something else. I wanted to find a style that spoke about the history of “old martial arts” and I was looking for something that got me back into shape. I also wanted to find a style that taught me real karate self-defense techniques so I could protect my family. I found all of that during the first lesson at Mike’s Ryukyu Kempo Karate and Kobudo. It was a true honor to meet Mr. Tinsley. He really cares about his students and believes in his art. There was no “horse playing” and everyone was eager to learn more. The best thing Mr. Tinsley and the people at Mike’s Ryukyu Kempo Karate & Kobudo taught me was to believe in myself because this style believes in me. Thank you Mr. Tinsley”.