Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan Introduce
For families and individuals in New Jersey looking for a martial arts experience that goes beyond the physical, Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan offers a truly unique and enriching opportunity. This veteran-owned school is not a "belt factory" but a place where students are taught authentic Japanese Karate with a deep commitment to tradition, discipline, and personal growth. Under the exceptional leadership of Shihan Michael Buttermark, a highly respected instructor and great person, the dojo fosters a positive, family-like atmosphere where students of all ages feel a sense of belonging. The school’s dedication to high-quality instruction is evident in the impressive achievements of its students, who have successfully competed and won medals at national levels, demonstrating that their training is both professional and effective. The curriculum is meticulously designed to teach not only self-defense techniques but also essential life skills like discipline, respect, and perseverance. For parents, this means peace of mind, knowing their children are in good hands and are learning in a safe, fun, and supportive environment. This article will provide a comprehensive look at what makes Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan a premier destination for martial arts training in New Jersey, covering its convenient location, extensive service offerings, key features, and the compelling reasons why it is a top choice for local residents.
The philosophy at Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan is rooted in a passion for authentic Goju-Ryu Karate-do techniques. The school is described by members as a place of high quality and extremely safe training. While some parents might have tight schedules, a unique "con" highlighted by a reviewer is that the high passion for Karate might lead a student to stay longer than the regular class, a testament to how engaging the classes are. The program for young kids, known as "Samurai," is particularly successful, with students progressing quickly and confidently to the regular IKGA program. The school has a proven track record of helping students succeed, as evidenced by a parent's testimonial about their son winning a National Bronze Medal in Kumite after less than a year of training. The sense of family is unmatched, with students considering each other "brothers and sisters in karate," creating a strong and supportive community. This environment is ideal for creating "strong lifelong relationships" and fostering a love for the martial arts. The school's commitment to continuous improvement is a core value, ensuring that students are not just given belts but truly "earn their ranks" through hard work and skill mastery. For New Jersey residents, especially those in the Matawan area, this dojo is a place where every member of the family—kids, teens, and adults—can find a rewarding and professional martial arts journey.
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan is conveniently located at 347-G Matawan Rd, Matawan, NJ 07747, USA. This central location makes it easily accessible for families and individuals throughout Matawan and the surrounding communities, including Old Bridge, Keyport, Holmdel, and Aberdeen. The school is situated on a main road, ensuring a smooth and stress-free commute. The facility is designed with accessibility in mind, demonstrating its commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive space for all. It features a wheelchair-accessible entrance, a wheelchair-accessible parking lot, a wheelchair-accessible restroom, and wheelchair-accessible seating. The thoughtful design of the location, including free on-site and street parking, removes any potential barriers to training and makes it easy for people with mobility challenges to visit. The school serves as a valuable resource for the local community, providing a safe and inviting environment where people from various backgrounds can come together to train, learn, and grow. Its prime location and commitment to accessibility solidify its status as a trusted and convenient option for martial arts training in New Jersey.
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan offers a comprehensive range of programs designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students, from young children to adults. The curriculum is built on the principles of Goju-Ryu Karate, with a modern, practical approach that includes elements of physical fitness and sport training. The school provides a variety of class formats to ensure a rewarding experience for everyone. Here is a list of the key services and programs available:
- Traditional Karate: The core of the school's curriculum, focusing on authentic Japanese Karate techniques and traditions.
- Kids Karate: A program tailored for children, including a "Samurai" program for young kids, focusing on discipline, fun, and skill development.
- Adult Karate: Classes designed for adults of all ages and fitness levels to learn and improve their martial arts skills.
- Olympic Karate: A specialized program for students who are interested in sport karate and competition, with a focus on kumite and athletic training.
- Special Needs Karate: A program designed to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can benefit from martial arts training.
- Veteran Karate: A program that caters to veterans, offering a supportive and welcoming environment for training.
- Self-Defense: Practical classes that teach effective techniques for real-world situations.
- Online Training: The school offers Zoom online training, providing flexibility for students who prefer to train from home or have scheduling conflicts with in-person classes.
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan stands out for its strong commitment to its students' personal growth and its unique approach to training. The school’s features and highlights are reflected in the experiences of its students and their families, who consistently praise the quality of instruction and the welcoming environment. Here are some of the key highlights that contribute to its exceptional reputation:
- Veteran-owned: The school is identified as a veteran-owned business, which may be a point of pride and support for local residents.
- High level of discipline: The dojo is known for its high level of discipline, which is balanced with fun and effective learning.
- Family feeling: The school is described as having an "unmatched" family feeling, with students and instructors creating strong, lifelong relationships.
- Gender-neutral restroom: The availability of a gender-neutral restroom ensures that the facility is welcoming and comfortable for all.
- Flexible payment options: The school accepts debit cards and NFC mobile payments, providing a modern and convenient transaction process.
- Family discount: The availability of a family discount encourages multiple family members to train together, making it an affordable option for local families.
- Excellent accessibility: With wheelchair-accessible entrances, parking, seating, and restrooms, the school is truly committed to inclusivity.
- Free on-site and street parking: Ample and free parking options make it easy and convenient for students and visitors to access the facility.
To learn more about Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan, or to inquire about class schedules and programs, you can use the contact information provided below. The staff is always happy to answer your questions and assist you in beginning your martial arts journey.
- Address: 347-G Matawan Rd, Matawan, NJ 07747, USA
- Phone: (732) 566-4852
Choosing a martial arts school is a significant decision, and Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan is a choice that offers immense value to New Jersey residents. The most compelling reason to choose this school is its unwavering commitment to authentic and high-quality instruction. The glowing reviews from customers speak volumes about the quality of the teaching and the positive impact it has on students. The fact that a son won a National Bronze Medal within a year of joining is a testament to the effectiveness of the training and the expertise of Shihan Buttermark. The school's ability to balance "fun" with "accurate and professional Karate techniques" is a key differentiator that ensures students are both engaged and learning effectively. The "unmatched" family feeling of the dojo and the strong relationships students form are a priceless benefit that goes beyond physical skills. Furthermore, the school's commitment to accessibility, veteran ownership, and flexible payment options make it a convenient and welcoming institution for everyone in the community. For anyone seeking to learn genuine martial arts skills in a supportive, family-oriented environment, this school is a place where you will find dedicated instructors who truly care about your success. It is a highly recommended and truly worthwhile investment for individuals and families in the region looking for a transformative and enriching experience that will benefit students for a lifetime.
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan Martial arts
Karate School
- Adult Karate
- Authentic Japanese Karate
- IKGA Karatedo
Authentic, Japanese, Yamaguchi Gojuryu Karatedo curriculum. TKC Dojo is directly affiliated with the IKGA headquarters in Tokyo Japan since 1987.
- Japanese Martial Arts
- Karate Learn
- Karate Lessons
- Karate Programs
- Karate Training
- Kids Karate
- Martial Art Lessons
- Martial Art Programs
- Olympic Karate
TKC Dojo is a member of the USA National Karate FEDERATION. The USA-NKF organization is the national governing body for the sport of Karate in the United States and member of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committees. TKC athletes won 414 medals competing at nationals & US Team Trials.
- Special Needs Karate
We greet and accept students of all ability levels. Over our 28 year history, our staff has worked wonderfully with many physically and/or cognitively challenges individuals. Contact us to discuss your unique situation to see how we can work together.
- Sport Karate
- Sport Training
- Traditional Karate
- Veteran Karate
TKC Dojo is veteran owned & run. We take care of our troops with free, lifetime instruction. This includes: Active Duty, Guard, Reservists & Honorably Discharged Veterans. Family members (ie - spouse, minor aged children) receive a generous discount off tuition costs too.
- Zoom online training
For people living in remote locations far from an IKGA dojo, we offer instruction online. Online training is not as ideal as in dojo training with a qualified instructor; however, it is better than having no choices and frequent visit at dojo are encouraged. Online promotion testing is prohibited.
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan Details
From the business
- Identifies as veteran-owned
Service options
- Online classes
- Onsite services
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
- Wheelchair accessible restroom
- Wheelchair accessible seating
- Assistive hearing loop
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
Payments
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Family discount
Parking
- Free parking lot
- Free street parking
- On-site parking
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan Photos










Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan Location
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan
347-G Matawan Rd, Matawan, NJ 07747, USA
Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan Reviews
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★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1TKC - Traditional Karate Center – Matawan Gojukan – OCT. 2019Pros: Positive atmosphere, it truly feels like family, high quality Goju-Ryu Karate-do techniques, very educational, high level of discipline and extremely safe!Cons: The high passion for Karate will always show and sometimes your child might be invited to stay longer than the regular classes. This situation might be found negative for people who have a tight schedule.My son started to do Karate last August 2018 at the age of five. They have a great program “Samurai” for young kids.Long story short, within couple of months, my boy was promoted to the regular IKGA program, and invited to be part of the dojo competition Olympic Team. In less than a year, he was able to win his first National Bronze Medal in Kumite (six-year-old division.) They were eight athletes from our Dojo, and all of them got at least one medal. They brought home 16 medals in total out of 22 divisions entered.The students are having fun, while improving their karate skills. They are being taught discipline, while creating strong livelong relationships (they consider each other brothers and sisters in karate.) I highly recommend this Dojo for anyone: kids, teens, or adults. Shihan Buttermark is simply a great teacher and great person!
October 25 · Tony ChavezI highly recommend TKC - Matawan for their great services! I have both my kids enrolled there (6 and 4 years old) and they’re always looking forward to their Karate class. Shihan Buttermark does a wonderful job with the kids, his classes are so much fun and they actually learn accurate and professional Karate techniques. The family feeling to the Dojo is also unmatched! Great place to sign up your kids at and know they’re in good hands.
October 31 · M T (MT)The only Karate dojo in my area where I can trust my kids with. I trained in Shotokan Karate since 1981 and I used to teach in the Philippines and in NYC. Since my day job prevents me from teaching my kids and professionally, I needed to find a great dojo for my boys and not just another belt factory or McDojo. Luckily, I discovered Shihan Buttermark whose pedigree in Goju-ryu Karate-do is impeccable. His classes are fun but not too light-hearted... Serious fun.He doesn't focus only on sport kumite but covers all areas of Goju-kai, including bunkai, conditioning and self-defense. If you live within (or close to) the Old Bridge/Matawan area and are looking for great traditional karate-do, look no further than TKC.
March 02 · Keith OlivaresI highly recommend the Traditional Karate Center for all ages. Shihan Buttermark’s experienced professional teachings encompasses learning, respect, understanding and lots of fun. He is wonderful with children and adults of all ages and very organized with keeping parents and students in tuned with event/scheduling updates. I am very proud to be part of TKC’s family.
April 08 · Debbie MetzThank you Traditional Karate Center - Matawan Gojukan and Shihan Michael Buttermark for the dedication to my son's growth and success under your tutelage for the past 3 years. While I was apprehensive of JR's karate journey initially, I realize now it is the best thing we could have done for our son. The happiness, the milestones, the friendships, and the support JR has received, have been lifechanging.. Our son is autistic and never took to any other sports.. Karate is where he has flourished and thrived. Highly recommend for all typical and special needs individuals!!
March 26 · Silvia VC
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