PRE (4-7 Years) Through a variety of fun and creative activities, young children will develop coordination, strength and personal safety skills in a well supervised setting. YOUTH (8-14 Years) Karate puts children in touch with their bodies and helps build coordination, agility, strength and poise as well as personal safety skills all in a well supervised setting.
ADULT (15 Years & Older) This program offers a variety of benefits for the student. Karate movements develop poise and agility while improving overall muscle tone. For the working adult, this program is ideal for releasing tension, developing cardiovascular fitness, agility, and overall muscle tone.
ADULT (15 Years & Older) This program offers a variety of benefits for the student. Karate movements develop poise and agility while improving overall muscle tone. For the working adult, this program is ideal for releasing tension, developing cardiovascular fitness, agility, and overall muscle tone.
Services
Looking at Illinois Shotokan Karate Clubs, you'd never know that this thriving dojo of 7,000 students, all began in the small space of a young man's basement. Unlike most adolescent boys who turn to football, baseball or other traditional American sports to fill their free time, John DiPasquale developed a love for martial arts.
Who we are: We're the Illinois Shotokan Booster Club, a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1983. We are simply a group of interested parents and students who want to actively support our children's and/or our own interest in karate. To share in and support our children's and/or our own interest and training in Shotokan Karate.
Morbi leo risus, porta ac consectetur ac, vestibulum at eros. Integer posuere erat a ante venenatis dapibus posuere velit aliquet. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Sed posuere consectetur est at lobortis. Shotokan is a Japanese form of karate derived from Okinawan Arts by its founder Gichen Funakoshi.
All classes are taught by instructors of the Illinois Shotokan Karate Club under the direction of John Di Pasquale, four-time National Champion, United States Karate National Team Coach, and national Faculty Member of ACEP (American Coaching Effectiveness Program). This program provides an excellent opportunity to share quality time with your child while developing muscle tone, coordination, cardiovascular fitness and karate skills.
After signing up at your local park district, classes will begin within a few weeks and here is what you can expect:. The class will line up in a single file line to bow in prior to class beginning. Bowing is a gesture of respect and humility, as the instructor will be bowing back to the students. The students will begin by learning basic introductory Shotokan karate techniques such as front stance, horse stance, front punch, and rising block.
Reviews (20)
W. V.
Aug 25, 2021
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This a review for the Morton Grove location.
Our 4 year old son had an absolute fantastic time with sensei Patel in the 4-7 year old beginner class. He looked forward to each class, and was always eager to tell us what he did in class. Sensei Patel did a fantastic job of balancing the class for all ages, not sidelining anyone, and instilling an eagerness in the students to learn more. Occasionally sensei Patel had to reign in, and redirect the energy a bit, however in a class geared towards rambunctious younger learners that is to be expected.
For the following session we had him progress to
Our 4 year old son had an absolute fantastic time with sensei Patel in the 4-7 year old beginner class. He looked forward to each class, and was always eager to tell us what he did in class. Sensei Patel did a fantastic job of balancing the class for all ages, not sidelining anyone, and instilling an eagerness in the students to learn more. Occasionally sensei Patel had to reign in, and redirect the energy a bit, however in a class geared towards rambunctious younger learners that is to be expected.
For the following session we had him progress to
Chandler Ury
Jan 19, 2021
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I have been apart of ISKC for over 16 years. Both my parents have been active volunteers and both of my siblings train as well. It is an amazing atmosphere full of great Sensei’s and students who all enjoy what they do. They want to see you succeed and grow throughout your karate journey and will do everything they can to support you. It is like being apart of a second family.
Prayag Patel
Nov 15, 2020
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Full disclosure: I do teach for this organization. However I began training with ISKC 25 years ago. It takes a special club to take a child through the ranks and be the place he wants to stay for as long as he can. First class organization in every way: from day to day classes, to competition, to the charity they do for the community.
John LaTona
Oct 17, 2020
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Shirley Morikuni
Jul 29, 2020
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Tina Stanczak
Jul 08, 2020
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Last night I did my first in-person karate class since March.It was great to be back in the dojo!! I expected the worst because I get exercise induced asthma. Those of you who train with me have heard my barking like a seal during intense training. I was really worried about being able to breath before class. In the end, it was great. We all had… enough room. I felt safe and the mask was breathable. SO happy that I gave it a try.
Also happy the ISKC is giving everyone the choice to train the way they feel safe training. I will be doing a mix of in-person and zoom classes every week with
Also happy the ISKC is giving everyone the choice to train the way they feel safe training. I will be doing a mix of in-person and zoom classes every week with
Julia Parma
Apr 25, 2020
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Jennifer Johnson Koch
Mar 18, 2020
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John G.
Feb 11, 2020
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My son is a student in Oak Lawn and I am very impressed with the level of instruction he is receiving. If you want photo ops of your kid looking cute while he or she plays Karate, this is not for you. If you want your child to learn focus, discipline, respect and the fundamentals of Karate from an instructor with experience, knowledge and skill; this is your place. Sensei Noia is strict and will expect your child (and you) to follow the rules and take this seriously. Your child will learn that you can work hard and still have fun. My 4 year old son is one of the youngest students and he told me
WeatherGodsTours
Jan 12, 2020
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My experience with ISKC has been fantastic. I actually trained for a year and half with ISKC in the 1980’s while at Harper Jr College. Fast forward to me being married and having two girls. When they were 5 and 6, I was teaching them to wrestle. I wrestled in high school. They liked it and I asked them if they wanted to do karate. Both yelled yes. So I looked up karate and amazingly ISKC was still around after almost 30 years. So I signed them up. 13 more years later both my daughters are on the US Karate Team and are ranked in the world. Both are World Champions for Shotokan Karate and have
Lena Pekaj
Oct 12, 2019
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I feel so privileged to be a part of this club! When my family and I moved from the city to the suburbs, my parents signed me and my brother up for karate. Fast forward 20 years and I still attend classes weekly! As I increased in rank, I had the opportunity to move between class locations and train under mutliple senseis (due to how the club is brilliantly set up). Avoid the pop-up karate shops that give your children a black belt in 1 year. This club is authentic and will teach them discipline and respect. I owe so much to ISKC. Thank you!
Jack York
Sep 20, 2019
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I have been a part of this club for over 20 years and it is hands down the best thing that has ever happened to me. The quality of the club is second to none. The instructors are fantastic and I am a better person for being a member of ISKC. I've met all of my best friends through this club and consider the club like a big extended family. This is a great place for all ages and levels of experience.
Amish Shah
Sep 10, 2019
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I've been a member of this club for 20 years. I met my best friends and my wife through training here. Amazing instructors, amazing students, amazing athletes and just all around amazing people.
It doesn't matter if you're 5 or 50, it's always a good time to start karate. This club has over 75 locations in the Chicago land area so there's probably one in your backyard!
It doesn't matter if you're 5 or 50, it's always a good time to start karate. This club has over 75 locations in the Chicago land area so there's probably one in your backyard!
Shirley Morikuni
Sep 25, 2018
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My daughter has been practicing karate through the ISKC since she was six years old. As she learned the fundamentals, the instructors made class structured, engaging, but most of all fun. As she advanced in karate over the years, my daughter has learned discipline and has developed a work ethic that has carried over to how she approaches school and life. At fifteen, she still loves to train every week, as well as the friends she's made through the ISKC.
Amish T.
Aug 08, 2018
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This is one of the best Karate club for any age. Very family friendly. Best value for my money. I always get more then what we pay for. We have been involved with this club for over 20 years and hope be part of it for rest my life. Thank you
If you do not believe me, try attending one of the classes and bring your family and specially the kids.
If you do not believe me, try attending one of the classes and bring your family and specially the kids.
Figure P.
Jul 25, 2018
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Becca E.
Jul 13, 2018
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Not your mom and pop strip-center dojo! This expansive club across the full Chicagoland area makes it easy to take martial arts and grow as a person. Whether you're looking for a good workout, a new sport, state and national competitions, etc, this organization is an amazing (and large!) family that will offer memories and community. Kids through senior citizens have such a blast in classes together.
The instructors and assistants really care about their students and the community. It's honestly an organization like no other, and it's really a treat for the Chicagoland area to have
The instructors and assistants really care about their students and the community. It's honestly an organization like no other, and it's really a treat for the Chicagoland area to have
Dave C.
Jun 28, 2017
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Top notch programs for both kids and adults. ISKC's main location is this one in Palatine (they have about 80ish overall). The owner and top Sensei teaches here. Every class has multiple instructors trained to work at all levels. The prices are reasonable. They truly teach classes to the level of the individual, moving you up when you show you are ready (at regular testing intervals). The instructors all do this because they have a passion for it. They quickly learn everyone's name; work with them as a group and as an individual. I've seen several youngsters grow and gain
Jaclyn D.
Aug 17, 2011
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The great thing about ISKC is the wide variety of locations (more than 75) and teaching styles they offer. Whether you want a male, female, serious or laid-back instructor, you can find what you are looking for. All instructors are very knowledgable about the sport of karate and genuinely want to help their students. Plus, most locations cost less than $10 per class and you don't have to deal with any messy contracts.
Tristin M.
May 28, 2009
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I don't know how other Karate Organizations work but the ISKC is on top of everything.
My kid takes classes with the ISKC through one of the park districts and I am very pleased to see how it has helped my lil one with discipline and confidence.
My kid's sensei is great. As I said, they're so on top of it all. For example, we get reminder calls and mail for registration which is always helpful when you've got bills to balance. I've even gotten a call from on of the volunteers who just wanted to follow up on what we thought of the program etc...
It's a great Karate
My kid takes classes with the ISKC through one of the park districts and I am very pleased to see how it has helped my lil one with discipline and confidence.
My kid's sensei is great. As I said, they're so on top of it all. For example, we get reminder calls and mail for registration which is always helpful when you've got bills to balance. I've even gotten a call from on of the volunteers who just wanted to follow up on what we thought of the program etc...
It's a great Karate
