Our young kids have been going to Life Ki-do for almost 6 years. We have two kids that started at age three and we will be starting our youngest at age three next month. Our kids learn self-control, self-awareness and how to be physical in a controlled way. Thanks to their practice with Life Ki-do our family has regular and fun wrestling matches almost every day. The Sensais have knowledge and experience that help foster our kids calmness during emotionally charged and physically heightened times. Managing ones own flow of calmness or “river” is the foundation of their teaching. One of the owners has even taught parenting classes and published books on the topic. We highly recommend Life Ki-do for learning martial arts with an understanding and focus on controlling emotions and inner strength.

Our family has been going to Life Ki-do for 10 years. Early on, when my girls were very young, it was daddy-daughter Saturday mornings. That bonding time in such a positive and nurturing environment was an amazing way to start the weekend and develop deep connections. The physical activity combined with compassionate life lessons add so much to our lives. Both my girls (now 8 and 14) continue in the Life Ki-do training programs and are now in their leadership program where they are learning how to support other kids in their practice. The staff at Life Ki-do have become very dear to us and the entire community is incredible. As a parent, I have also attended several parenting programs which have been very insightful. There are several teens at the dojo who I have watched grow up over the years and develop into incredible young adults who also teach at Life Ki-do. Those are the types of role models I want for my kids. I give Life Ki-do my highest recommendation.

Life Ki-do has been such a wonderful experience for my kiddo during this pandemic. She had been taking martial arts for several years through YMCA before it was abruptly put on hold, along with so many other aspects and activities of daily life due to Covid, and it has filled to void both physically and mentally in several key ways that even went above and beyond what she had received in the more traditional martial arts style she had been practicing. The philosophical goals and values of the Life Ki-do program are not only unique and inclusive, but also something that literally anyone, at any time, could benefit from. It has proved to be exactly right as way to help her stay connected with her mind and body in a calming, grounding way, as well as getting to feel a sense of community and support that is rooted in self care, self awareness, growth, and responsibility. Sensei Jonathan has done an excellent job of bringing more than would be expected to these virtual classes, and we couldnt recommend it highly enough.

Our instructor, Jonathan, engaged a wide range of ages (3-13) in a fun and also educational way. The kids learned everything from how to breathe to how to think through their motions. He was so great with the kids and they are still talking about how much fun they had! I was impressed with his ability to navigate so many ages in one virtual session!

I attended Life K-do Finding Your Flow, Personal Development Workshop. The best two hours I spent on myself in the past ten years, probably. I walked out rejuvenated both mentally and physically. Sensei Jonathan helped me, a 40-year-old self-confident adult, to accept, understand, and tackle the core everyday-bothering-issues in few minutes. I started thinking how to live and enjoy my life in the present moment. Breathing, meditation, self-awareness exercises, and group interaction are all very fun and easy to understand and follow. All the exercises are very enjoyable and have a lot of sense. Sense Jonathan made me glance behind the scene; is it the crumb or the bed itself that doesn’t let me sleep well? Jonathan has a great gift of teaching in a very logical and sequential way; this is very rare. Very positive experience, so glad that I dedicated time to it - 10/10!

My son has been attending Life Ki-do for five years, since he was five years old. I simply cannot say enough good things about this program! I liken it to yoga for kids because they provide such a well-rounded education, exposing my son to what he cannot yet name as his mind-body connection. My son is a rough and tumble, competitive boy, and this program challenges him physically as well as teaches him impulse control, self awareness and perseverance. It boosts his confidence and teaches him how to respect those around him (both teachers and peers). The instructors are incredible and teach real life skills. What started as a preschool activity for him has blossomed into a passion for martial arts. Hes at his green belt and I hope to see him earn his black belt as a teenager!

Our family has gained so much from our Life Ki-do experience. I say family because it has now become a family affair. Our son started the program 3+ years ago. It has made such a positive impact on his life, both physically and mentally. Life Ki-do helped develop him into a kind, confident, responsible leader, both in training and away from the dojo. As a parent, you will learn as much from the classes as your child who is training.After seeing the impact on our son, I am also now training as an adult at Life Ki-do. What a difference it has made in my life professionally. Life Ki-do teaches you simple things to apply in your parenting and professional life. Skills that will help everyone become a better parent, employee, business owner, or person. I cannot recommend Life Ki-do enough for people of any age.Thank you Life Ki-do for making such a positive impact on our familys life!

My son has been taking Life Ki-do for years, and it has benefited his life so much (and our whole family!). Not only is it a great physical outlet, but he uses the Life Ki-do life skills he learns in other parts of his life as well. The instructors are all so grounded and kind, and I love the way they set clear and high expectations for the students to meet. Ive seen my son grow so much in his confidence and communication, and in his ability to center himself. We love this place!

This was one of the most interesting schools Ive ever visited, a very welcoming environment and fresh dojo. The instructors were very warming and instructive, everybody was nice and polite. As far as the style goes it was very interesting and unique, if I lived here I would sign up for this school asap! Recommended for anybody looking for a real, unique martial arts class, this is the place. Definitely will come back! Thank you for having me! -Matt G, East Texas

As a mom (and also a pediatrician), I highly recommend this phenomenal program. There is really nothing like it. The teachers are outstanding and do a remarkable job of blending the physical skills of martial arts with the social/emotional values of self-awareness, self-control and empathy. The experience is joyful, physically challenging, and enlightening. My son and his friends look forward to their classes each week, and wish only that they could attend each and every day.

Life Ki-do has been such a positive experience for my son, who has been a student there for 7 years. The senseis have such an amazing outlook and understanding of balance and well-being which they communicate to the students each lesson. Not only has my son gained strength and more peace of mind about real life issues but, as a parent, so have I from listening to their teachings. He started at the age of 2 and I have seen him use these amazing life lessons each and every day. I highly recommend Life Ki-do and feel very appreciative to them for an incredible experience.

This dojo is one of a kind. I could go to one much closer to where we live, but I choose to drive here for the quality, knowledge, compassion, and emotional support that is offered at Life Ki-Do. Its not just about learning martial art forms here. It is much, much more. The staff have a keen awareness of the development of children, and incorporate that into the classes.My 4/5 year old son is currently a student here. Each class is different, and tailored to the specific age group. For example, this class involves some discussion with the kids about tuning in to their inner world to discover what actually feels good, such as being kind to a friend, working hard, believing in yourself, calming yourself with the breath...etc. The instructor, Doug, encourages the kids to keep trying and not give up. He is always pointing out their strengths and individually encouraging them- even with the seemingly small things...hey Milo, I noticed you just made space in the circle for Noah....What a good friend!The focus is on internal satisfaction and accomplishment, as opposed to just getting belts, even though the kids do get belts. They really work hard on instilling that into the kids. Another aspect I like is the knowledge that is brought regarding brain regulation. Doug has lots of tips about how to calm the kids when they are wired. He and Jonathan both have a very caring way with the kids, and at the same time being boundaried.This place is filled with integrity and compassion. It is also really fun for the kids. They are actually learning martial arts, but in a super fun way, which is what is needed to keep their attention at this age. My son feels challenged and has fun at the same time, while being emotionally supported. What an amazing combination!!!

Our family loves life kido. It is the only extracurricular activity we are choosing to do. The instructors are amazingly patient and respectful. There are so many life lessons they are learning that we incorporate into our daily lives. We definitely want our son to stay there until he is a black belt!

Life Ki-do has been such a positive influence on my whole family. My son has been going for about a year and a half, and has evolved in so many ways. My husband and I were VERY reluctant to enter the world of martial arts. We thought it was too aggressive, too competitive, and well, that was exactly what we didnt want for our son. He was already an anxious and impulsive boy with low self esteem...at the age of 6. We decided to try Life Ki-do in hopes that he might gain some focus, respect for others, and self discipline. What we got was SO much more. Life Ki-do teaches children (and parents) how to just be the best person THEY can possibly be, in a violent free space. The competition is within themselves. As a parent, Ive watched him grow into a strong, confident, focused boy who can communicate (better than me at times) with his words. Not only that, but he has gained so much pride and just genuinely enjoys the workout. Last week he said, when I went into Life Ki-do I felt angry and sad. When I left, I felt good and happy. Thats what its all about, right?In addition, it was always very important to me that my son be around positive male role models. I am so comforted in the fact that he has so many amazing mentors at Life Ki-do. Watching them model behavior has been enlightening to see. I find myself using their words and using their methodology, and it has paid off immensely in my own home. Im not gonna lie, there was a time when I somewhat feared how my son was gonna turn out in life. I am now CERTAIN that with Life Ki-do in his pocket, he will always make thoughtful and meaningful choices in life, love, and friendships. I look forward to seeing my son grow and mature with Life Ki-do, and to watch him become the man I always knew he could be.

The Martial Arts program at Life ki-do is truly exceptional. The style of instruction is distinctly collaborative and non-militaristic, setting it apart from many of the other martial arts programs I’ve observed. I’ve been going to life ki-do for several years now, and I continue to be amazed at the way the Instructors are able to connect and communicate with all the children.In addition to teaching several different marital arts styles, their classes also focus on personal development; self-motivation, resilience, and teamwork are stressed at all levels. The Family Tigers class is simply brilliant. It’s a parent-child class that provides an excellent bonding experience and gives the parent and child a common language for communicating feelings and issues. At the end of class there is nothing but smiles on all participants (children and Adults!)

I am a student, a parent of a student, and now a Leader in the Life Ki-do Leadership program. My past experience with other martial arts (including self-defense) studios, was highly competitive, militaristic, and tension filled. The Life Ki-do community comes from a completely different place, and is made up of the most passionate and supportive people I’ve ever met. The finely distilled curriculum (Systema, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Tai Chi, Qigong and Self-defense) is taught through kindness, love and inclusion. Life Ki-do teaches us to show up, wherever we are, and to practice being our best selves, for ourselves and the community. I am constantly moved by the growth, confidence and progress I see happening within myself and the other students. We work hard, and yet at the same time, our hearts and friendships emerge stronger at the end of the day, too. This is one of the healthiest things you can do for your child--and yourself!!

We love Life Ki-do! It’s so much more than martial arts. It’s taught our kids how to navigate life and deal with stress. Highly recommend.

A truly nurturing, calm, loving environment. Children are treated with the utmost respect and in turn they learn a respect for themselves, their world and others. Elements of mindfulness, meditation, martial arts and relational skills all combined in a manner that even the younger (or most hyperactive) children can understand. Many times sitting in the Dojo watching a lesson I find myself struck by the sheer common sense and utter brilliance of the concepts covered. For example during the obstacle course races the children learn awareness of themselves and their surroundings while gaining agility and fitness. Brilliant, effective and such fun.The program builds confidence, provides coping mechanisms for anxiety and focus all bundled together with lots of physical exercise. Older students are given leadership roles and model behavior the younger children want to emulate. We use some of the focus and coping mechanisms on a daily basis to help ease sensory overload. It’s basically fitness for the mind and body.We held a birthday party at the dojo and it was such a huge hit, the children had a brilliant time and it was deemed a success all round. I am really grateful that we found this program for my child. It has made an immense difference.

Being a student as an adult in Life Ki-do classes reminds me what life is all about. Real-time challenges, using your body and mind, seeking presence, making the choice and taking action when you are greeted with lifes un-expectancies. And always remembering to breathe! Time at the Dojo means I get to be with incredible people ranging in age from teen to adult so it pulls me out of my day-to-day interactions that often limit my view of those around me. It reminds me that we are all students here, regardless of our age, and Life Ki-do has created a safe, supportive and fun environment to expand both the mind and the heart. I practice at Life Ki-do for my family, my relationships, and for me.

Life Kido is the most loving, accepting, peaceful, beautiful extra-curricular activity that my children have ever been involved in. I cannot recommend the school highly enough. Great workouts! Great personal growth! Great friendships!

I feel so lucky to be a member of this community. Everyone at Life Kido truly cares so much for children and their whole brain development. You have all my gratitude. I could not ask for more.

Lifekido is something our whole family looks forward to each week. Our children love it because its fun, they develop friendships and they get to feel strong and powerful in their bodies. We (the parents) love it because the fun it provides is deeply founded in a nurturing, supportive and connected experience of how to develop strength in mind, body and spirit. I always feel like we are in this beautiful silent /not so silent partnership in our parenting journey because of the way each training session offers so much more than technique. Lifekido is the total package one could ever hope for in a martial arts program.

My husband, my son and I all have the privilege of training at this joyful, life-altering dojo. Terrific martial arts training, but even more importantly, we’re learning life skills: how to be present, how to stay calm in the face of adversity, and how to carry empathy and kindness into the world. I cannot recommend Life Ki-do highly enough.

I cant say enough great things about Life Ki-do. Our son has been at the Lakeway location, with Sensei Jonathan & Sempai Ed, for about 6 months, and he loves it. We all love it. The teachers lead with compassion and respect for the students and make each lesson relevant to everyday life. At home we frequently use the philosophies taught in class, which has made us better parents. Life Ki-do has been so great for our entire family. (Were so happy that my husband will be starting in the adult classes soon!)

My kids have enjoyed Life Ki-do for many years now. The instructors are amazingly positive, encouraging and inspiring. It is a quality program that does not disappoint.

Our family has been a part of the Life Ki-do community for 3 years. We joined when our oldest son was 3 years-old. Today, our boys are 6.5 and 4.5, and we couldnt imagine family life without the impact of this community. Our children benefit from the physical training each week - even more importantly, our entire family benefits from the life principles taught during training.We use the breathing and mindfulness practices throughout our day, bringing calm and awareness when ANY ONE OF US gets overstimulated (Mommy, you need to use your breathing). I observed my 6 year-old using breathing deeply and intentionally during a haircut to keep himself calm. Concepts of friendship learned at the dojo strengthen the boys sibling bond daily.My favorite part of the approach is the invitation to tune into themselves, noticing how the activity or interaction is impacting their emotions and sense of themselves, training their attention to their own inner guidance vs. outside approval from others.Our family would highly recommend Life Ki-do to anyone... and we do! Any chance we get.

This is one of Emmy favorite places to be. I go here twice a week and some kids can be slightly irritating but is open to almost all ages

My son has gone here for about 9 years and my daughter for 7. Despite busier and busier schedules and not living close by, we have never thought about leaving this school. No matter how tired, grumpy, or moody my teenagers are on the way there, they ALWAYS leave with a smile, saying theyre glad they went. Every time I am there, I am impressed more with the instructors. They are genuinely caring and attentive, and they use every interaction to teach and to demonstate the philosophy they embrace. They know their students well enough to gauge when to step in, when to let them resolve issues themselves, when to help, and when to simply acknowledge difficulty and/or discomfort and encourage them to work through it rather than give up. I have watched not only my own children, but many others grow and change in ways that clearly have much farther-reaching impact than simply learning a martial art (although that part is amazing as well and they do not just pay lip service to belt progression, etc.). I have taken some adult seminars as well and will continue to recommend this school to everyone, child or adult.

You cant beat the message, tools and role modelling that is shared by Life Ki-do instructors. In a world that seems to be going faster and faster with distorted morals, ethics and me-isms the way of life, this is path to righting the course. Not to mention starting with the basics in bjj and the martial-way and building up to self defense techniques and concepts...you cant go wrong here.

My 9-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter are enrolled at the Life Ki-do dojo. Their transformation since starting classes there has been nothing short of remarkable. At the beginning, both were shy, they lacked confidence, they had considerable difficulty modulating and regulating their emotions, and they were not particularly nimble, strong, or flexible. My son has been taking classes there for approximately 4 years, and my daughter, about 18 months. My son has become a confident, strong, extremely nimble and graceful kid.One of the best things about Life Ki-do is the emphasis on the development of anti-bullying skills. A parents worst nightmare is to discover that his or her kid is being bullied. Well, my son was the victim of not one, but two bullies. Both were two years older than him and much larger. Given the size mismatch betweeen them and their victims, you would think that they would have no problem bullying younger kids without the assistance of each other. However, and perhaps this is the nature of bullying, they always ganged up on their selected victim. I cant imagine how scary and awful it must have been for my son, nor can I imagine the courage it must take to deal with a situation like this. Long story short, my kiddo faced off against both of them -- simultaneously -- one day during recess. They immediately backed off, and he hasnt been bullied since. I asked him what he did and how he did it. He gave me a blow-by-blow account, and it became apparent that he had employed the skills he acquired at Life Ki-do. I told him -- with utter sincerity -- that he was the bravest kid Id ever met.Update -- both kids are continuing to grow stronger, bolder, and more confident with each passing week. Of course, some of this must be the inevitable result of the developmental process. But when I compare my kids to their friends and peers, it becomes pretty obvious that their normal developmental trajectory is being influenced significantly by what they are learning at Life Ki-do under the tutelage of the Sensais and assistant instructors. I recommend Life Ki-do unconditionally to all parents and their kids.

Simply the best. Life skills..fitness..personal growth. Wonderful people here.. life changing.

If you are in search of transformation from the inside for yourself or your children Life Kido is path well worth considering. More than a year ago we introduced our twin 6-year-old sons to Life Kido and have over the course of the last 6-9 months recognized constant positive change both in class and in life. Having observed my children in class, over time I decided to get engaged my self and will say with absolute conviction that Life Kido has changed the way I live my life. Well beyond the forms and techniques taught. Life Kido offers a dynamic set of easy to use life tools that transcend the dojo and have allowed my family and I to deepen our experience of life in the moment and to approach each other with calm, strength, love and light.It’s my belief that Sensei Jonathan and his team have synthesized and deliver a truly unique and useable philosophy in a familial environment to their students of all ages and parents alike.

I truly cant rate Life Ki-do highly enough. Their program goes far beyond physical martial arts and incorporates mind, body, and personal achievement at every level.Focus, team effort, respect and self awareness (with a healthy dose of martial arts) are only some of the themes that the talented instructors are able to instill with kids at every age.Ive seen the growth and influence that Life-kido instruction has provided my son. Whether its a stressful situation at school, an important test, etc...what he has learned from participating in Life-kido has translated beyond the dojo and has helped in everyday situations. .Life-kido has been an invaluable resource...highly recommended.

I cannot say enough good things about Life Ki-do. Most importantly the Senseis are incredibly nurturing & engaging. Every interaction is used to coach, encourage & empower the kids. Both of my girls have benefitted tremendously from the teachings at Life Ki-do. My youngest, who is now in Life Ki-do’s leadership training program, is becoming very capable of self-managing her relationships, conflicts & emotions in large part due to the simple, effective, kid-friendly strategies taught at Life Ki-do. The transformation & growth I have seen in her: her resiliency, the responsibility she now takes for her homework & organization, etc. is tremendous. She now feels empowered to step into other leadership roles at school and on her sports teams, even stepping out and auditioning for some leading roles in the school musical. I attribute much of this to the confidence she is gaining through Life Ki-do. I too, get so much out of the kids’ classes just by being there during class-time, but I have also attended several of their parenting classes and have found them to be enormously helpful as well. There really isn’t a day that goes by that we are not applying Life Ki-do’s techniques – whether it’s Ninja Breathing to calm ourselves to deal with a conflict, or the girls’ checking in with their 3 B’s before a test, or reminding ourselves to give our River Effort to whatever task we have at hand. I whole-heartedly recommend Life Ki-do to friends & family every chance I get. I find their teachings to be so important & effective that I have had both of my daughters take their entire Girl Scout troops (plus moms!) to weekend workshops with Life Ki-do. We also brought Jonathan Hewitt to speak to the PTA at our elementary school to teach his methods for raising happy, confident kids to our parents, which are easy to understand & apply. Life Ki-do has also a done very effective workshop at my daughter’s middle school. For each of these different audiences, Life Ki-do was able to provide excellent, age-appropriate, engaging experiences. As I think of my family’s circle of influence as my girls grow into young adults, I am so grateful to have integrated Life Ki-do as an important component in that circle. Thank you Life Ki-do! Thank you Senseis!

I started practicing at Life Kido several months after both my kids started. It had been over 15 years since I had regularly practiced any martial arts and only two years since I had resolved a decade-long issue with chronic pain. Considering that I wasnt sure how it would work out. However, all the Senseis and instructors were welcoming and encouraging. I have lived all over the US and overseas and I have never found a more unique mix of focused instruction and techniques combined with appreciation for internal awareness and encouraged honest communication. What a dynamic blend! I enjoy practicing with the other students and always learn something new. There is an openness and enthusiasm the Senseis, instructors, and other students have and it is infectious. No matter how I feel when I walk into the dojo, I always leave feeling more grounded, strong, and energized. I am impressed with the sense of community, spirit and energy that is present at Life Kido. It is a rare treasure and I am grateful that both my kids and I can practice and participate in this community.

I love the class and the teachers.Teaches strength and courage.