AMAZING! I moved here from out of town wanting to continue my Shotokan training. I went to this dojo based on recommendation and it did not disappoint. If you are looking for great instruction, this is the place!

Perfect location to learn the art of karate!

Las Vegas Shotokan has the highest level of karate I have experienced in my 22 years of training in karate. The instructors are all incredible in both technique and the way they live their lives. If you are looking to experience a martial art that teaches you how to defend yourself, get in shape, and develop character in a safe and fun environment, Las Vegas Shotokan has everything you need and more!

I started training here about 6 months ago and I love it. I feel like part of a family. The training is structured and the instructors are all excellent. I fully recommend any age and any skill level to join our Dojo family.

Great school, great instructors. This school has good roots founded by Shihan Ozawa it thrives on tradition and good hard training. It has a great family atmosphere as well, good for the young or just young at heart. I personally have trained there many years and enjoy the level and understanding of the Shotokan practitioners that call Las Vegas Shotokan their home.

The high quality of teaching, depth of lineage, tradition, and meaningful history offered here is amazing! To train on the same floor with legendary Sensei James, and highly respected Senseis leaves you with a wealth of knowledge. The teachings from beginning to end are well organized. The people attending are great to train with.

I love this dojo. Everyone is wonderful. My daughter has learned discipline, self defense, and other major life skills. She is more confident since she began her lessons. She has even improved in her academics. This is definitely the best karate dojo in town!

I have been going here for about 3 years now and i absolutely love it! The instructors are fantastic and the atmosphere is comfortable. This group is my second family. Ive learned a lot in my few years going here and continue to learn. Sensei James is truly an amazing instructor and i highly recommend this Dojo if your looking for the best traditional karate in town.

I do not live in Las Vegas but have met and trained with the Las Vegas Shotokan many times when I have visited. When a good friend told me he wanted to do Karate in Vegas this is where I sent him. The people here are great and Tawada Sensei is extremely knowledgable. I cannot say enough good things about this school.

Self defense is always a blessing in Las Vegas. Will visit soon

My wife began practicing Karate here at Las Vegas Shotokan Karate. We moved a year ago and although she found a new dojo, she greatly misses Sensai James and everyone at Las Vegas Shotokan. My wife is a stronger person, both physically and spiritually by what she learned from Las Vegas Shotokan. It is among the few things we truly miss from Las Vegas.

I had done moai thai for 2 years and enjoyed it I want to thank Sensei James for showing me form and i really appreciate the art at Las Vegas Shotokan Karatei really like it and i see myself receiving my blue belt soon again thank youCicero Gates

My husband has been training for 15 years, and I started training almost three years ago. Sensei James is an amazing instructor, both for adults and for children, as are all of the senseis. This dojo truly focuses on the basics of karate. It is traditional, rigorous, and disciplined. There is a sense of family amongst its instructors and students. Many martial arts studios simply work on belt advancement and monetary gain, that is not so here. Students learn both how to physically and mentally better themselves. The environment is encouraging and one of togetherness. Karate students never stop learning and that is evidenced with each and every class you take. My 7 year old son is now training as well. LV Shotokan has changed our lives!

After spending years with my 6 year old at Karate for Kids I realized after coming here that not only was I paying a fortune every month, she was not learning karate in its true form and that is also why she became bored. This dojo is amazing. Focusing on the principles and discipline and challenging to people and children of all ages. Sensei Tawatao is a kind man and one of the few experts in his field. I am grateful I found this dojo and highly recommend it to all. What a wonderful learning opportunity. There is no other dojo in town that matches in my opinion.

I joined Las Vegas Shotokan ten years ago, relieved to find the rare traditional shotokan dojo so close to me. Little did I realize that I had found a world class instructor in Sensei Tawatao and all the instructors at the school. In all my travels since, I have only found equal instruction from the very best in karate - and I miss the family atmosphere of LVSK every training I am away. There is no better school to attend in my opinion.

Around 1984 while training under Master Fumio Demura in Southern California, I had the pleasure to eat with and meet Master Ozawa. My Sempai explained while we ate and the Masters talked what a great man Master Ozawa was. During this period as an active competitor I remember well watching James compete in the black belt division when I was competing in the brown belt division. Then and now I am awe struck with the personification of Budo and Bushido with Sensei James. This clearly passed down Master to student. I am honored and privileged to call James, Sensei. Having trained under such greats in the Traditional Karate world as Master Demura, Master Ozawa and now Master James Tawatao, with much experience and qualification I highly recommend Las Vegas Shotokan.

I was privileged to study Shotokan Karate with Sensie James Tawatao at the Las Vegas Shotokan Karate dojo. I developed many lasting friendships there and I always looked forward to my next lesson. The quality of instruction provided there was fantastic. If you are considering studying karate, I definitely would start and end with Sensie Tawatao!

I was first introduced to the dojo while looking for a place for my daughter to train. Luckily, I found Las Vegas Shotokan Karate. This was in the early 90s. Shortly after watching my daughter train and observing the adult classes, I too joined in on the training. This dojo has roots going all the way back to Gichen Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan Karate. Shihan Ozawa, who moved here from Japan and opened the dojo studied under Funakoshi. Sensei James Tawatao studied under Shihan Ozawa.This dojo teaches traditional karate only two generations from the founder. I personally have never been associated, personally or professionally, with an organization that treats you with more love, understanding and caring than this dojo. Here you are family in every sense of the meaning. Every year, Sensei James organizes one of the worlds most prestigious tournaments here in Las Vegas with competitors of all ages from all over the World. My daughter, son and I have all competed. If you are looking to train for fun, for health, for focus and discipline or all the above, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Las Vegas School of Shotokan Karate!

We have lived in different parts of the country and not really from Las Vegas and we don’t know which one is the best school with regards to Karate. We sent our son to this mixed martial arts school here in Las Vegas, but he didn’t like it. When we enrolled him in Las Vegas Shotokan Karate under Sensei James Tawatao, he found his sport. Sensei James is very dedicated and passionate in teaching his students. Members of our family are into different discipline of martial arts and have over two decades of experience as a spectator. Therefore, we believe we’re in a position to say that Sensei James Tawatao’s school of Shotokan Karate provides a solid strong foundation in traditional Japanese karate. This is one of the best, if not the best karate school that you should enroll your child in. Our son displays more self-confidence, emotional stability, physical endurance and in the top 1% academically as evidenced by his CRT (State Exam Grade Level). Sensei James Tawatao’s teachings certainly and undeniably contribute to our son’s accomplishments.

I WAS IN THE VERY FIRST CLASS THIS DOJO HAD BACK IN 1980,IM STILL A STUDENT.I HAVE BEEN TRAINING SINCE 1967 IN MANY FINE DOJOS AROUND THE COUNTRY,AND BELIEVE ME THIS ONE OF THE BEST ALL AROUND.OUR CHIEF SENSEI,JAMES TAWATO IS A WONDERFUL TEACHER AND CARING PERSON,THE TEACHERS UNDER HIM WERE TRAINED BY HIM AND OUR FOUNDER SHIHAN OZAWA,IF YOU WANT TO START OR CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY IN KARATE THIS IS YOUR LUCKY DAY.OSU

Las vegas shotokan is the best around! i have been going to this dojo for many years, and i would not go anywhere else. if you are looking to learn traditional Japanese karate this dojo has no peers! (at least in Nevada) the instructors are all very knowledgeable, and helpful. even the other students are helpful. it really is like a family! i cant say enough for the senseis here. they all make las vegas shotokan something very special. do your self a favor and check this dojo out, you will not be disappointed.

Sensei James is the real deal. I have worked at the epicenter of mixed martial arts at the UFC for over six years and know every dojo and player in the fight business. When it was time to enroll my own 9-year old son, Jalen, in a standup martial art, Las Vegas Shotokan and Sensei James were the one and only choice for me. Five stars all the way. We love you Sensei James!!