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512 W Main St, Ephrata, PAMonday to Thursday: 4:30 to 8:30 pm
Kata Karate Dojo
(717) 555-0111
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Karate in Ephrata

Traditional karate for the whole family

Classes by age and level in a plain wooden dojo, with adults and families in classes of their own. Come in, sit on the bench and see where you would start.

Try a classSee the schedule
  • Ages 6 to adult
  • A beginner class for adults
A karate dojo seen from the doorway: a wooden floor, a row of belts on the wall, tall windows and the edge of a red mat

Classes

A class for each age

Everyone trains with people their own age and level, and moves up when the instructor sees they're ready.

All classes
  • Children seen from behind, watching an instructor demonstrate a kick

    Kids, ages 6 to 12

    Stances, blocks and short forms, in two groups by age.

    • Two age groups, 6 to 9 and 10 to 12

    • Classes of up to 12 students

  • Teenagers performing a karate form together in a studio

    Teens, 13 to 17

    Longer forms and slow partner work, with other teens.

    • Teens only

    • Classes of up to 12 students

  • Adults practicing a karate form in rows on a wooden floor

    Adults

    Adult classes, and a beginner class for anyone starting late.

    • No experience needed

    • Classes of up to 16 students

  • A father and daughter standing side by side in the same karate stance

    Families

    A parent and child training side by side, in a class of their own.

    • Ages 6 and up, with a parent

    • Classes of up to 10 students

Sample content.

Weekly classes

Adults and families have their own classes

Find a day, then narrow by age. Each class has its own level and instructor.

Fall session

Showing 10 of 10

  • Monday

    • 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm

      Kids' class

      Nicoletta Mariani

      Ages 6 to 9All beltsOpenTry a class

    • 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm

      Adult class

      Donald Zimmerman

      AdultsAll beltsOpenTry a class

  • Tuesday

    • 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

      Teen class

      Nicoletta Mariani

      Ages 13 to 17All beltsOpenTry a class

    • 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm

      Adult beginners

      Donald Zimmerman

      AdultsWhite beltOpenTry a class

  • Wednesday

    • 5:00 pm – 5:45 pm

      Kids' class

      Nicoletta Mariani

      Ages 6 to 9All beltsOpenTry a class

    • 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm

      Family class

      Donald Zimmerman and Nicoletta Mariani

      Parent and childAll beltsOpenTry a class

  • Thursday

    • 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

      Junior class

      Nicoletta Mariani

      Ages 10 to 12All beltsWaitlistJoin the waitlist

    • 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm

      Adult class

      Donald Zimmerman

      AdultsAll beltsOpenTry a class

  • Saturday

    • 9:00 am – 10:00 am

      Family class

      Donald Zimmerman and Nicoletta Mariani

      Parent and childAll beltsOpenTry a class

    • 10:15 am – 11:30 am

      Adult class

      Donald Zimmerman

      AdultsAll beltsOpenTry a class

Sample classes.

Kids' and teens' classes have up to 12 students, adult classes up to 16 and family classes up to 10. Times change each session; the booking page always has the current week.

Etiquette

What to wear and when to bow

Four small habits that make a first visit easy.

  1. Step 1: What to wear

    A plain t-shirt and loose pants for the first class. A white uniform comes later, and the belt goes on last.

  2. Step 2: At the door

    Shoes come off before the mat. Parents wait on the bench by the window, and a quick bow at the doorway says you're in.

  3. Step 3: When to bow

    At the doorway, to your partner before and after practice, and with the whole line at the start and end of class. If you forget, bow and carry on.

  4. Step 4: On the mat

    Students line up by belt and wait for the instructor's call before they move. Questions are welcome between drills.

Belts

From white belt to black

Each color adds a few skills. A student tests when the instructor sees them, and a stripe of tape marks each step in between.

  1. White belt

    Everyone starts here
    Skills

    • Bowing at the door and on the mat

    • A basic stance and a straight punch

    • The first form, in short steps

  2. Yellow belt

    Skills

    • Blocks and kicks from the stance

    • The second form

    • Counting in Japanese

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  3. Green belt

    Skills

    • Longer forms with a change of direction

    • Slow partner drills with set steps

    • Calling the count for the line

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  4. Brown and black belts

    Skills

    • Forms from memory

    • Controlled partner practice, a little faster

    • Helping newer students, and later teaching part of a class

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

Where to startTry a class

Sample levels.

No belt comes with a date. Every student moves at their own pace.

Instructors

Two instructors, every class

Families meet the same faces every week.

  • Donald Zimmerman, owner and head instructor, with heavy bags behind him

    Donald Zimmerman

    Owner and head instructor

    I started karate in my forties and teach Shotokan the way my own teacher taught it to me: basics first, then the forms, then slow partner work. I lead the adult and family classes and sit with every student before a belt test.

  • Nicoletta Mariani, instructor, in a white karate uniform with a black belt

    Nicoletta Mariani

    Instructor, kids and teens

    Nicoletta teaches the kids' and teens' classes. She keeps the warm-up moving and the line straight, and she is the first face most new families meet at the door.

Families

What students and parents say

“My seven-year-old counts in Japanese in the car now. Classes start on time, the room is calm and the instructors know every child by name.”

Andreea T.Parent of a seven-year-old

“I started at 52 and expected to be the oldest one in the room. The Tuesday class was patient, and I leave every week having learned one small thing.”

Bart L.Adult student

“My son moved from the kids' class to the teen class and kept the same bow at the door. The instructors tell us what he is working on, and nothing is rushed.”

Orlinda S.Parent of a teenager

Sample reviews.

Questions people ask first

Starting late, what to wear and how belts work.

I'm over 40 and have never done karate. Is that all right?

Yes. The adult beginner class on Tuesday evening is for exactly that. Everyone starts as a white belt, and the instructor adjusts each technique to what your body can do.

What should I wear to my first class?

A plain t-shirt and loose pants, with bare feet. If you decide to stay, we'll fit you for a uniform after that first class.

Can a parent and child train together?

Yes. The family class on Wednesday evening and Saturday morning is built for a parent and child side by side.

How long until I earn the next belt?

There is no timetable. The instructor invites a student to test when the skills are there, and stripes of tape mark the steps between belts.

What style of karate do you teach?

Shotokan, taught as basics, forms and slow partner practice. The opening and closing of every class are the same for every age.