Training at Mountain Karate

Our instructors love to teach. They have taught karate to thousands of students, trained with outstanding teachers in Okinawa and the US, and bring real-world experience – a needed reality check for teaching personal defense, and for giving the best experience to every student at Mountain Karate.

Mountain Karate’s style is traditional Okinawan Shorin Ryu. Shorin Ryu is a practical and powerful martial art native to the island of Okinawa, in southern Japan. For centuries the Okinawan people traveled to China. They adapted the martial arts of the coastal cities of Fujian Province, to the arts they practiced at home, creating Shorin Ryu – the powerful, effective and unique art we teach.

People love our classes. Adults get a challenge. Kids have a great time. Everyone gets stronger and more skillful every time they train. The atmosphere is welcoming, positive, and professional, with personal attention for everyone in the class. Start any time. Everyone is welcome.

Surrounded
We generally train using a single-combat model. That is a challenge. Size matters. So do skill, speed, determination and defiance. To engage multiple opponents, to be outnumbered and surrounded, is much harder. We can’t just figure we will know what to do. It is possible to take an advantageous position, moving to stack the opponents, […]

Live Not OnLine
Geoffrey Hinton just resigned from Google, where he was a leader in the development of Artificial Intelligence. He resigned so he could speak freely. One of his concerns is that AI will flood the internet with fake videos, photos, and news, so that people will “not be able to know what is true anymore.” We are already […]

Karate as Life Skill
Our karate is for everyone who wants to do it. Not just for a few competitors, not just for unusual people who are dedicating their lives to the pursuit of a martial arts ideal. We do have some amazing athletes in our style. We have a few who are dedicated practitioners, aspiring at a very […]

Scrolls at Mountain Karate
Black Belt instructor Tarleton Brooks’ with her hand-painted karate scrolls. Prints of these scrolls have been seen at dojos around the world. Some of the originals are on display at Mountain Karate.

Self-Defense in Fading Light
People debate the right to self-defense. In some places people can be charged criminally if they use a gun in self-defense, even in their own home, against an armed home invader or robber. Business owners and employees have been charged with felony violations for using deadly force in self-defense, even after they have been attacked […]

Training In the Shadow of Science
Because of the advances in science and technology more people are able to be more ignorant about more things now than at any time in history. This is a stunning achievement. It is not because of science, which, like guns or butter, has no agency of its own. It is because of what people have […]
The Peak Experience
Our members have different goals and abilities. They all come for a challenge. Here is what they have to say:
Sensei Brooks provides an amazing place to train and learn the martial art that he has dedicated most of his life to studying. Mountain Karate has changed my life, and that is not an understatement. His training has significantly improved my physical and mental health, and has also come into play in several real-world situations due to my line of work. Sensei Brooks takes training very seriously and the results are shown through his students. This martial art is not just about learning self defense, it is also about discovering your inner warrior and working through any psychological barriers that you may have. I am beyond grateful for Sensei Brooks’ training.
“Our middle daughter was very interested in karate. We decided to enroll her to help teach her some valuable lessons and skills that she could use within her young life however, we’ve quickly become a karate family with all five of us now attending! The lessons that we learn together as a family at the dojo make our family bond imperishable. Not only are we healthier, we are much happier and a lot stronger! We are forever grateful to Sensei Brooks for his skillful teachings!”
Holly O.Morality or our Core beliefs are guarded by training the mind, body, & spirit. I have practiced martial arts since I was a young man and I recommend my home Dojo and teacher Sensei Jeff Brooks at Mountain Karate for this Journey to everyone.
Troy R.The energy and inspiration from Sensei Brooks teaching is invaluable. I’ve been to 2 summer seminars hosted by Sensei Brooks, and both have been packed with learning, experiences and unforgettable memories for me and my family. We look forward to more training opportunities!
Srinivas J.Karate saved my life when I was confronted – and it has made an incredible difference in every part of life – in ways I could never have imagined when I started training almost 30 years ago.
TarletonMountain karate is an exceptional martial arts training environment with clear and effective instruction backed by years of personal, professional and practical experience. I recommend it highly.
Michael L.After a long search for a dojo I joined Mountain Karate and I’m glad I did. It has become a huge part of my life, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn from Sensei Brooks. The benefits I receive from karate are invaluable, and I would encourage anyone interested to try it.
Bruce B.