Budo Shingikan

I signed up about a month ago after going through the trial (3 classes plus uniform — only 20 $, awesome) and was extremely impressed with the classes and instruction. I was looking for a dojo to train in again (I have been out of martial arts for 10 after training for 15 years) and I looked at tons of schools around Phoenix but none of them had the type of quality, traditional instruction I wanted. Most martial arts school in Phoenix are black belt mills, you basically pay for your belt and you can be a black belt in a year or less. This does way more harm than good. I wanted a school where you must earn everything and more importantly, you learn something in every class. This is not your basic school, this is a place for comprehensive learning that will elevate your mind and body.
Budo Shingikan is the type of school I was looking for and I am so happy that I signed up. Everything was explained in detail about the cost (its extremely affordable!!) and I love that I am allowed to come to as many classes as I want and private training is also available.
Everyone is always willing to help, if you have a question — it doesn’t just get answered, it gets demonstrated.
More than all of this, Budo Shingikan is a place I can now call home. I am honored to have joined this incredible family.
ありがとうございます!

I rarely write reviews and felt I needed to this time. Very unhappy with our experience with the business practices. My husband unknowingly signed a contract with them (he feels they glossed over the fact that this was a year long contract) and I also was totally unaware. When my son stopped attending because he did not enjoy it any longer I notified them that he would no longer attend. I was told at that time that we have a contract and need to give at least 60 days notice and will be charged over $ 200 for those 60 days that my son would not be attending. I tried to convince my son to go back for the two months and he was adamant that he did no want to. I again emailed and stated that we would not be returning and was told I needed to come in (20 mins out of my way) to fill out the paperwork. I asked that the paperwork be faxed or emailed and still have been told I have to go in. It became evident very quickly that this place is more concerned about their bottom line profit than the program or customer relationships. Also, be aware they charge additional for all tip and belt testing, totally separate from the already high tuition costs.

My son had been going to this dojo for 6 months now and we just signed up for another 12 months! He is already on his blue belt and he has learned so much more than martial arts there. I love that Sensei also teaches discipline and morality.
I mentioned that I started taking my son here because he was having some behavioral issues… well he is doing so much better than when he started. And Shannon Sensei is not only a teacher, she has been a partner and a support system for us through the difficult year we have had. I really don’t know where we would be without her!
We are very proud to be part of the Budo Shingikan family!

I had been involved in Martial Arts years ago and always wanted to get back into it. I recently searched and found The Budo Shingikan School of Japanese Martial Arts and could not be happier. Easy to join, plenty of classes on different days and a caring staff /​instructors make this the perfect place to train and learn.
From my first visit until last night; I am always learning something. Being open to learning is the key. Whether it be a Dojo protocol, a new technique or cleaning the Dojo, there is always something to learn.
Every instructor (Sensei, Senpai, lower ranks etc.) that I have worked with have been available, friendly and always willing to teach you AT YOUR SPEED. Make no mistake, you will be challenged here, but not in an uncomfortable way. Steady, thorough teaching from very knowledgeable instructors is very important and they do it very well.
In addition to learning Martial Arts you will learn the entire philosophy and how it relates to daily life. Learning Martial Arts holistically if you will, is really the correct way to learn and your life will be enriched by all of it.
If you are interested in Martial Arts at all and want to try out a great Dojo, please consider a trial visit here. You will not be pressured and you will be in class with all the other students. By doing it this way you get a real feel for the value of what you are getting for your money.

1. When I signed up, I was told each class had about 7 to 10 students. In reality, it was more like 15 – 25 students in the classes.
2. The classes are WAY too big for just one instructor to handle, and my child definitely got lost in the shuffle and forgotten about. Every other Dojo I toured has AT LEAST 3 instructors on the mat.
3. Instructors spent more time trying to get the children to form lines than actually training them in Martial Arts or self-​dicipline, or building self-​confidence.
3. Owner kept changing their policies :
A– They MOVED THE ENTIRE DOJO two weeks after signed a new membership and paid for 6 weeks worth of classes. Nobody ever bothered to tell me in advance they were moving, so I was just forced to drive my child nearly 20 miles round trip to the new dojo for class.
B– Dates that tuition was charged were changed
C-​Got rid of sign in sheets– owner’s girlfriend was supposedly going to take attendance at the beginning of each class. Problem with that was she and the owner were almost never there, and I never saw anyone taking attendance.
D– Owners changed over to a belt stripe system, which forced my child to start completely over from scratch.
Every time we brought our concerns about my child getting lost in the crowd, their response was always «Buy my book and it will teach you everything». Really?!? They were trying to shove this $ 40 book at us every chance they got. Silly me, I thought I was paying for the classes with the hopes THEY would actually teach my child something.
I tried to give this place the benefit of the doubt, as they are a brand new Dojo. However, as time dragged on, things got worse, not better. My email box started being filled ALMOST DAILY with their insistence for us to «donate for this» «donate for that», it got ridiculous. My older son was in martial arts for many years at another Dojo in Mesa, and they never any of the crazy problems this place has.
Don’t bother with this place-​there are plenty of better Dojo’s in Mesa.