I saw the 3-star rating and felt the need to respond. With respect, I would ask “why are you enrolling your child in karate?” California Karate Academy teaches traditional Japanese Karate exactly as done in Japan.In Junior High I was being bullied so I asked my parents if I could take karate and they did! This was in 1973 or 1974 and the bullying slowed then stopped. Hanshi Mather first taught me that the oldest defense is running (and I did that many times). In the dojo, he taught all of us how to defend ourselves when we couldn’t run away.I think the most important lesson I learned from him was “situational awareness”. That has kept me, and help me keep others, from harm by seeing, and avoiding, situations where there is a high risk of physical violence.I will confess that the dojo’s office and accounting is perhaps a little behind Silicon Valley standards. But if your child is going to spend all that time training, there is no better instructor or dojo that I know of, than Hanshi Mather & California Karate Academy. You will likely never get a progress text or email, but you can ask Hanshi or any of the instructors about your childs progress.I started my son there when he was 6 and he is still going strong and is an exceptional student!Respectfully,Bob Merrill

California Karate Academy provides world class excellence in instruction for children, young adults, and for those of us who aren’t so young anymore. The classes provide fun, interesting learning, discipline. Most important is that Grandmaster Mather and his instructors teach how to have indomitable spirit to weather fights on the street, if necessary, and to survive and thrive through challenges encountered in our lives.Grandmaster Mather preaches that martial arts are like a toolbox. Sometimes you need a hammer, other times a screwdriver. The teaching is well rounded to teach students how to adapt and excel.

I studied under Sensei Mather in the 80s. He awarded my Black belt in 1987. Excellent man to learn from. Congratulations to you Hanshi Mather.

In 1988 two of my children and I had seen one of the movies of the day - Karate Kid or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - and the kids said “Let’s do karate Daddy!” Knowing nothing about the martial arts or how to choose a school and a teacher we wandered into California Karate Academy one day. I was completely captivated, as were my children.Fairly quickly it became clear that Jim Mather was committed. Committed to his students, their families, and the Art. His ability to be both strong instructor and patient mentor remains to this day.After studying for a couple of years and starting to compete my oldest child took home a gold medal as a national champion for his age group. He did it a couple more times. I competed too. I probably have a few medals as well. More important, though, is that I became a teacher.Jim Mather and CKA changed my life. I learned patience and dedication and commitment and a very different view of life. I became more balanced and understanding. I found that being able to see what someone was struggling with in the physical world translated to a similar understanding in the invisible world of feelings and understanding.The physical lessons never left me. While I’ve stopped practicing and training the basics remain. And the change in mindset and understanding has enabled me to accomplish much in my life.I remain in contact with Jim Mather. I remain grateful for him and what he gave me. I remain in touch with a number of my students, some of whom began as children and some who began as adults. You’ll see if you read other reviews that Chuck Phillips has been with Mr. Mather for a long time. He was one of my students and has far surpassed me. That’s the goal for a teacher - to have one’s students surpass one.I cannot recommend CKA and Jim Mather highly enough. There’s a reason that he has been doing this for decades and has the loyalty and devotion of so many.

I have been learning and practicing with the CKA for 20 years and appreciate both Hanshi Jim Mathers depth of knowledge and the methods by which he transmits it.

Good place for kids to learn and grow. Front office is hard to reach. The sign-up, payment and contract is archaic and a hassle for parents. There is no written feedback to parents on student performance. Considering these, I rate it at 3 stars.

I was raised with Karate in our family. My father was one of the highest rank sensies in my country, my brother was a kata champion. I grow up in dojo. I know what original karate is all about, mind and body strength, control and discipline. I practiced karate as a kid but stopped after a few years. Many years later, when my son was old enough, I decided to introduce Karate to him. I looked around, read many reviews and went to multiple classes. I was looking for that essence of old fashion karate and I found it in CKA. Hanshi Mather knows original karate and essence of it the best. After a few weeks despite of my busy schedule, I joined the classes too. It’s almost 5 years and going to dojo and training with Hanshi has been one of the best things I have done for myself. It’s nothing but honor to be able to be part of Hanshi Mather’s trainees.

I have been a student of CKA for over 30 years. I started with my twin sons when they were 8 years old. They both received adult black belt status and I am now one of his longest lasting students. That alone should tell you how I feel about CKA.I was so impressed with the work that the school did with my boys that I became totally immersed with the program, became a director for his dojo and went on to open my own dojo.My students parents talk about how much karate has changed their lives, how improved their grades are, how they are better listeners, better with self-discipline and focus, better at sports.I tell them thank you, of course. But the real credit goes to Hanshi Jim Mather and the training he instilled in me to be a good Sensei.

California Karate Academy is an integral part of my success. I started my training under Renshi Craig Johnson, a man of humble character, a true man of budo, in 2007. Ive also had the opportunity to train under Hanshi Mather, who is Renshi Craig Johnsons instructor.Karate has been so much more than just learning how to punch and kick. CKA is one of the few schools in existence that Ive found that teaches their students in a traditional, Japanese/Okinawan way.The biggest aspects of karate: its training and philosophy, the relationships gained, and the true spirit of budo are the biggest things I have personally learned and acquired from this awesome school.I cant recommend CKA and its instructors enough! Theyre the real deal in a world where fake is quickly becoming the accepted norm.If youre looking for a place to learn the essence of karate, this is the place to do it!

I first joined the California Karate Academy as a high school freshman. Twice a week my Grandmother would drop me off so that I could practice and study Shotokan Karate. I did not know it at the time but what I learned from (then) Shihan Mather would serve me my entire life. I credit the CKA dojo with my success in getting accepted to West Point, and in my service as an Airborne Ranger. Beyond the physical, the discipline, and the spirit I learned from my senseis, the fundamental practice of kihon (the basics) allowed me to focus my mind to achieve much more than I ever could have hoped for on my own. Later in my studies at UC Berkeley in graduate school, I found I had great advantage over many of my classmates. I am deeply grateful for the lessons I have learned at the CKA. I advise anyone, in whatever condition, and with whatever limitations they may have, to visit the dojo and to meet with the instructors.Go to three classes. Whether you decide to continue or not, you will be better for the experience. I am honored to call myself a student of Shotokan, the CKA and Hanshi Mather.

Ill keep this short. The review that says it was written by Austin PPA is mine. Somehow my identity got crossed with my local Austin Professional Photographers Association.

I grew up going to CKA and honestly, I cant say enough good things about the dojo.Jim Mather is an incredibly skilled and dedicated martial artist. I havent trained with him for close to 20 years, but we still keep in touch and his friendship means the world to me.As a rambunctious youth, the staff there taught me discipline and respect. Through CKA, I was given an opportunity to compete throughout the country and build lifelong relationships with my peers. My time there was invaluable and I wish I still lived in the area so I could train with Hanshi Mather again.

What began as a way for a father to share an activity with his rambunctious 5 year old son matured into a life long love of the martial arts, the principles they teach, and the dojo that embodies them. I learned self discipline in pursuit of my black belt, and leadership skills through leading class exercises. California Karate Academy has had a profound effect on my life and much of the successful things in it. The dojo gave me my first job in high school; teaching several kids classes a week. When I needed a summer internship in college, the dojo came through again. One of the members gave me an invaluable opportunity with a summer internship at a local biotechnology company. Altogether 25 years have past since that energetic 5 year old put on his first karate uniform and Im currently about to graduate from medical school and begin a residency program in anesthesiology; none of which would be possible had it not been for the cultivation and support of my parents and my dojo family.Because of the exceptional character of the other students and the wonderful family environment cultivated by Jim and Diane Mather, I would recommend CKA to anyone seeking to learn martial arts. I plan to someday enroll my future kids there.