Reviews of Johanis's Karate School Inc

I've waited until now to write a review. My son started Karate last year. He recently obtained his Orange belt. We were experiencing some discipline issues. I have to give credit to Sigu Elyse, Kioshi and the other teachers. Great job!

I earned my Blackbelt a year ago. I have enjoyed many years at this school. I recently attended a weekend tournament. I enjoyed both Elyse and John, and some very nice students. Keep up the good work everyone!

I have been a student for many years. The school teaches discipline and many positive traits. The owners are very kind and the staff are great!

I would not recommend this school.

Owners lack manners

Owners lack discipline

School is dirty

Owners charge extra month of tuition when student quits

Students are not properly prepared for tournaments

Simply a daycare facility

Students are rushed through the course

Inappropriate training

Students bully other students and it goes missed

Poor supervision

Being a member of the JKS team for over 6 years, it took me a bit of time to realize that this school was not worth the money or the stress. Me speaking as a student as well as a teacher, I have seen it all. Seeing as johanis is a bully free zone, the owner is one of the biggest ones in there. From experience I would not recommend this school to anyone, it is over priced, the students aren't getting what they need, it's a waste of money. I disagree with a lot they do there. Elyse has a huge ego and she is extremely rude especially to her staff and the parents but behind close doors aka, staff meeting she talks a lot of crap about the kids. My mom was in there one day watching me train for the tournament, and elyse went up to her and told her to get out, for some reason no body knows! She takes away people's freedom and gets into everyone's business. Another huge issue is that she was not paying her staff for every hour they worked, they made then volunteer while they hired them as a paid position witch I believe that is morally wrong.

Therefore, I believe Johanis karate school is not worth anyone's time nor money!

My son went to Johanis karate for over a year. I watched as there is continual lack of discipline with children. The children are constantly acting up. While they wait in turn for a drill they push each other, play, argue, joke around, laugh, etc. For a school that says they teach Self Discipline, there is zero discipline. Second, there are no qualification to move up levels. All they have to do is attend. The child can basically know none of the moves and still graduate to a higher belt. This is displayed right up to black belts, as the higher belts are totally sloppy and lazy with their moves. For the younger children the school is only a day care for kids to 'play'. Feel free to go watch a class and see kids act up, and not receive any correction or discipline. To top it off the 'entry' to the club is a 4 foot by 4 foot square mat that is soaking wet in winter. Boots are scattered everywhere and people battle for space to enter and leave the congested entry. This club is only for you if you simply want a place for your child to play, not learn much, especially not learn discipline, and still move up levels.

I just read a posting from May 2014 and I felt the need to defend Johanis Karate School. I think the school is a wonderful place!!! The student:coach ratio is really low which gives all the students some one on one attention. I think it is important for both coach and student to see, and be coached by, an individual holding a higher belt than the student. . . . . age doesn't matter! There is always a Senei level, or higher, in the dojo as the head instructor. I really enjoy the teaching atmosphere. The coaches create a fun, non-intimating, yet respectful atmosphere in which my two boys have thrived! I have never been witness to any laughing-at towards students. Sifu Elyse holds her Masters in Pshycology specializing in child psychology which has been extremely helpful for one of my boys who struggles with anxiety. Kyoshi John and Senei Trenton are fabulous with the students!!!!!! The school has been wonderful for my boys and I've enjoyed watching them grow in confidence and athletism.

After leaving this school for many reasons, but some of them being

1) Kid black belts teaching kids

2) Teen Black belts teaching adults

3) Standing on knee wall for days on end as the chosen few prepare for their competition.

4) Elise-

5) The bashing of students in the staff meetings

6) When John decides to attend class, he can talk on for 10 minutes about drivel.

7) Kids, laughing and mocking the students in class.

8) The kid’s classes are a joke, as most kids spin and goof around.

9) They fired their best teacher because he wanted some time off.

10) Being told in class the competitions were for everyone, and then being told not to come as we were not good enough- yet they told one guy to wear his last belt as that is only fair. We met some nice people there, and they are still our friends. But after joining a different school we now realize how badly we were shown how to do karate.

I am a huge fan of the Johanis Karate system. My kids and I train in our own classes four to five times a week, five plus years and going strong! The ciriculum is extremely well planned, the level of instruction is excellent and the atmosphere is upbeat and positive. This club is an amazing community and I'm proud and blessed to be a part of it!

My cousin and her son have been training at this school for several years..... I can see there has been personal growth, strength and determination that has evolved with both of them. Challenging oneself on a physical ,spiritual and mental level is truly empowering .

My friend and her son have been attending for approximately 5 years, and it's great to see how they have grown confident, and strong mentally, physically and spiritually. It's great to see that Johanis's Karate School does more than just teach you how to do kata's.

Seeing my sister-in-law transform into a high-energy, confident, proud, and athletic woman was truly amazing. Based on what I have seen in her, I would recommend Johanis' Karate.

My stepson attends this Martial Arts school, and has been a truly wonderful experience for him. The instruction is wonderful and the support that is given to the students is superb. Highly recommend this Dojo.

My friend and her son have been a part of this dojo for several years. She frequently posts comments about the progress of both of them. She seems incredibly happy about belonging to such a wonderful dojo. I live too far away to be a part of this community, but I know that I would consider being a part of it, based on all of the positive comments I hear. My daughter is ASD and part of being part of something like this would encourage her to listen to her inner power as it has done for my friend and her son. The progress they have made is awesome and you only learn that from a good teacher !!

I have watched my wife train for a number of years at Johanis' Karate. In that time she has become more confident, physically stronger, and better able to meet challenges in life. She consistently comes home in good spirits and with stories about what she has learned. She talks about the vision that Kyoshi John and Sifu Elyse share, and how she is so happy to be a part of the JKS family. When people ask me about martial arts in the Orangeville area, I always tell them that Johanis' Karate is a very positive place, that the emphasis is on respect and self defence, and that I wouldn't hesitate to enrol my child in their school.

We did some research into martial arts for our son with a heart condition. Although we decided against it because of further surgeries in the long run - by far our discussion with others led us to believe if we had chosen to place him in - this would have been the place. Patience with students, one on one time, fun atmosphere & confidence building.

I recommend anyone interested do their own homework but would not be surprised at all if you came to the same conclusions we did.

It is a pleasure to train at Johanis' Karate School as a family. My husband and I followed our 2 children into Karate after observing them having fun while learning valuable life skills, character building and physical fitness. Our family have all learned the value of "personal best" at this school because the focus is not on competing with each other or with other schools, but with bettering ourselves! The owners go the extra mile: Kyoshi John and Sifu Elyse were a huge part of the solution when they worked alongside our family, our child's school and counselors, to help my spirited child with behaviour and coping strategies when we were having a very hard time. My only hope is that the dojo can grow! Even though the quarters are sometimes tight when classes are full, the excellent instructors keep everyone engaged and learning. The place is kept super clean and the staff are friendly and helpful to perfection.

I think that the overall experience makes it such a nice place to be, so even when I'm sad or tired on a day, I attend class and find myself recharged.

My child has been training at Johanis' for 4 years. He has become more confident and stronger, both mentally and physically. He has learned to take more initiative and to take greater responsibility in all areas of his life. He always looks forward to classes and always leaves with a smile on his face. I know there are things he would try now that he never would have before.

The staff are always friendly, courteous, and helpful. They greet you with a smile as soon as you walk in the dojo.

I like how the emphasis is not on self defence. We were not looking for a dojo that encouraged aggression or focussed on competition. We wanted our child to have strategies for staying safe.

Our family would highly recommend Johanis' Karate.

From a person who has many years of experience in martial arts and with children, Johanis' Karate School is incredible. From the teaching on the floor with Kyoshi John Johanis and the staff to the friendliness of the school director Sifu Elyse Johanis, one would be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable environment to learn and make friends.

Elyse and John run a smoothly oiled machine. We have been impressed with the level of instruction, the quality of program and the amount of attention the instructors provide to all students. I am often surprised at how much the chatter and noise from the parents overwhelm the classes. I wish that the parents would take their cue from the kids--be positive and respectful while others are trying to learn and watch.

For a school that claims to be a bully-free zone you only need to spend a little time with Elyse

Johanis to know this is not the case. Just because someone has a degree in CHILD PSYCOLOGY DOESN'T mean she knows how to deal with children (or parents). John would be much better off to ask himself how many students he has lost over the years due to his wife. He would also be well served to ask himself which is more important - his students experience or his juvenille ego.

Lately, there has been far too many games and less instruction on kaudas. Starting to feel like we are not getting our money's worth.

Johanis karate school was an opportunity for my daughter to try something new.When she first started she had a wonderful time the class sizes were small the instructors kind and encouraging and always there to correct the children when their movements were not done right.Then things started to change the class sizes got so large from 15 to 32 kids that I often lost sight of my daughter and found no one was paying attention to how she nor the other children were doing the movements and would often not do them right.This was disappointing to say the least.

We were also disappointed in how Mrs.Johanis spoke with some of the parents when there was a problem instead of going to the side and keeping voices low and respectful we often heard the whole complaint and reaction and were stunned.This is not a respectful way to solve a problem.

Overall we would not recommend this school,first impressions can be wrong and Johanis Karate is one example of this.

My son adores Johanis' Karate and all the staff there. He came in a shy and insecure kid, and has transformed into a confident leader over the years he's taken classes. Sensei John is a fantastic teacher, pushing students to be their best without pushing them over the edge.