If you are seeking a life change -- this dojo is for you! Let me begin by saying that if you only want to study karate, because you only care about the fighting and having a black belt, then this is not the dojo for you. Yes, you will fight and yes, you will acquire higher belts, but karate is about building one's character -- not just kicking and punching. I didn't know that fact when I began my journey / friendship with Sensei John back in 1997. I was someone who did not have much confidence, was out-of-shape and was not much of an athlete. However, Sensei John challenged me to challenge myself. He knew exactly what I needed. I also noticed that he knew exactly what each student needed. He has a gift of holding a mirror in one's face (ever so slightly) so that they can learn about themselves and grow, but without feeling uncomfortable or intimidated. He has passed these gifts onto his student teachers. Each of them are special, kind, talented karate teachers who truly care. If you want to learn powerful karate techniques, you will find the Shorinjiryu (Shaolin Temple) style taught at Harmony by Karate is the real deal. It teaches all the karate you will ever need to know to protect yourself, but if you are also looking to find that sense of "harmony" or peace within that, ironically, karate brings, then this is the dojo for you. On top of that, Sensei John is a philosopher, and he brings his daily messages into the dojo. Children also experience these messages through books and the teachers' words, and they will thrive and change here, too. If you want to have a great workout and even lose weight (I lost 75 pounds doing karate), then your search is over. We even had bodybuilders and super-athletes in our classes, who found the workouts quite challenging. Finally, I found The Harmony by Karate Dojo, Sensei John and his student teachers to be a family. There's a special comradery or spirit that happens in the dojo. Maybe it's the "feng shui" or energy of the space. Maybe it's the kindness and caring, but it changed my life, and I am pretty sure it will change yours, too. read more

I was first introduced to the school through enrolling my son. I was so impressed that I eventually joined myself. I am on now on my fifth year of attending Harmony by Karate. I keep coming back because it is a unique environment where I am continually learning more about myself with each lesson. The katas may be simple but perfecting the execution requires focus and involves all aspects of the curriculum. The school is a mix of meditation (stillness), tai chi (slowness), martial arts (quickness) and yoga (flexibility) within a very supportive and cooperative class setting. It is a place for movement, reflection and a greater understanding of how your energy flows in various situations. Sensei John has a very strong vision for harmony that permeates the lessons, but within that harmony is a freedom for every sensei to add their own interpretation onto the classes which makes the experience even richer. In addition, the individualized attention each student receives is truly remarkable and helpful for perfecting the various Katas and yoga poses. I can not say enough about how important the practice is for my life and how it has benefited my child. read more

Sensai John has created an experience which transcends the dojo. We originally matriculated our young daughter at Harmony by Karate nearly 3 years ago; we did it to simply provide her the skill of self-defense. Our daughter has experienced far more than this seemingly basic expectation on our part. She has developed an inner awareness, both mentally and emotionally, which has given her greater self-confidence and respect. She's also further developed her natural empathy and respect for others. At times, we experienced struggles and plateaus in our daughter's progress and John was always there to discuss at length and suggest an alternative approaches. He has always been invested in his students and the results show. My daughter absolutely loves going to Harmony and it has been the one non-negotiable "must" of all her activities. My hats off to John and his wonderful staff for creating such a special place to learn and grow special place. read more

Harmony by Karate is the perfect dojo both for parents who are looking to teach their children discipline and respect, and for adults themselves who hope to learn self-defense. Sensei John and his amazing team will instill confidence and strength in your child as he/she tracks his/her own achievements through the dojo's innovative belt system. In adult classes, the focus is more on practicing simple movements designed to be most effective in the most dire of circumstances. However, the method you will learn, which integrates yoga/palates with traditional martial arts practices, will not only empower you to survive momentary situations, but will also increase your longevity. For both young and old, Harmony by Karate provides students with an amazingly warm community in a city where such support is hard to find. Would highly recommend joining this unique dojo! read more

I contacted Sensai John of Harmony Karate to discuss having our daughter, who has special needs, join his karate class. Not only was Sensai John completely open to having our daughter join, but he opened his heart and embraced my daughter in the most amazing way!! A recent NIH research article I read showed that 3 out of 7 ways to increase executive functioning, in all children, are Meditation, Yoga and Karate...Harmony Karate provides ALL three! My daughter LOVES going to karate and she has learned SO much! She is more settled and focused, in and out, of her karate lessons. Please spread the word of this incredibly unique karate program! John, and John's staff, are truly one of a kind!!! read more

My son studied at Harmony by Karate from the time he was in elementary school until he left the city to go to college. Through the changes from elementary to middle to hight school, HBK was a constant, From the time he was a little guy all the way through adolescence and young adulthood, HBK was a constant. In Sensei John and the other senseis he found mentors. In the other students he found enduring friendships. HBK is a place where all students are valued and supported, where they are taught that martial arts are about developing themselves as a whole person. I cannot recommend the school highly enough. I'll always appreciate that HBK was part of our lives. read more

I would feel remiss in not offering an honest review of Harmony by Karate, which has had an incredible impact on my daughter, who started when she was 2 years old. The love, the discipline, the focus, the mind-body connection -- everything learned in the dojo is transferable -- and transferred -- to outside, as well. I'm exceedingly grateful to the Senseis who show such personalized attention and who "get" the different personalities of each child, and tailor how they relate to each child based on those personalities. We look forward to every session and come away with beautiful moments each and every time. read more

Harmony by Karate has been a life-changing experience for my son. He's been training here for four years, and the growth we've seen--both in his skills and his confidence--has been incredible. Sensei John and the entire staff are not only knowledgeable but also deeply caring and supportive. They truly take the time to get to know each student and bring out the best in them. My son looks forward to every class, and as a parent, there's nothing better than seeing him thrive in such a positive and empowering environment. We're so grateful to be part of the Harmony by Karate family! read more

Harmony by Karate is a great place. Sensei John is remarkable at helping kids overcome obstacles, supporting parents in supporting their kids, and my kid was thriving. When the move happened to doing everything online, I continued to be super impressed. Sensei John very quickly had classes up and running on zoom, and he continues to be very thoughtful in how he and his staff are delivering the classes and checking in about how the kids are experiencing the new-mode of classes. My kid is learning and moving and growing, and I'm so grateful! read more

My 3 children have been part of the Harmony by Karate community for more than 10 years. It has been a formative part of their lives providing them with the discipline and patience that has helped them in many stages of their development. The HBK staff is incredibly skilled in teaching the techniques of meditation and physical training to both adults and children. HBK has created a warm and welcoming community which were felt privileged to be a part of. read more

I have been a student at Harmony by Karate for ten years. Sensei John Mirrione is exquisite at blending the motion of the body with the spirit of the mind. Yes, this is a karate dojo and you will learn self-defense techniques. But you will do so while calming your mind and being in the moment, vital aspects not only of karate, but of living life. Harmony by Karate is a unique, special, wonderful dojo that needs to be experienced to understand fully. read more

Sensei John and his whole team are so incredible. John's heart has no boundaries. He speaks to his students in such a thoughtful, generous, nurturing way. He has truly touched my son and our whole family. I originally came to Harmony by Karate, because we wanted a place for our then 5 year old to find his tribe. John provided that for him and then some. Not only does our son have a tribe, he has a second home. read more

Harmony By Karate is an incredibly loving and inclusive space online and offline. Even if Karate isn't something you were always interested in, this dojo has a way of connecting each individual to the experience in a way that will keep them feeling motivated and powerful. In other words, there's a little bit of something for everyone at HBK. HBK was hands down my favorite place I have ever worked at! read more

My 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son have been attending Harmony by Karate for 7 years, and both my kids and I love it. Not only do the senseis and sempies teach strength and katas, they also teach mental strength and self-control. This is a unique but a great learning environment​ for kids and adults. I highly recommend Harmony by Karate. read more

Sensai John and the entire team at Harmony Karate have been wonderful. Their patience, kindness and commitment to building an inclusive environment is evident in every interaction. My children look forward to class and are excited to share what they have learned. Excellent program!! read more