Shinjitsu Self Defense

Horrible horrible. I’ve been in martial arts and I know what it is suppose to be like. The instructed Vito is extremely inappropriate. My son broke his arm in the Dodge ball class. I was told I could leave him and he would be well supervised. We had many doctor bills. On top of that I tell him we are going to quit and go back and forth with that bc my son hated the place. Well go figure Vito trips my son in front of everyone on his test day, after his arm and everything. My son was on the floor trying not to cry. He then says I have good lawyers. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I don’t care if it’s karate, there is a certain way you should behave with children. My son is 5. Vito also has a names for the kids like hey stupid, or hey ugly. A man that is suppose to be a role model, someone these kids loik up to! His son that they rant about on this site is a good guy and does have his black belt and what not, but does not work with his father anymore. He refuses to work in that place. So that says something. I will never advice anyone to join this arrogant man’s school! Disgusted!

If you haven’t taken the time to read all the reviews of this school you have done yourself a disservice. This dojo is 100% authentic and professional. It is great for all ages and a wonderful place for anyone looking to sign up their kids for martial arts training or any adults who are looking to get in shape with the adult kick boxing classes that they offer. Move faster… get better… get stronger. Keeeyahhh!

100% Professionally operated Dojo.
This is now a father /​son operation and both excel in their ability to train in the art of JuJitsu.
Vito Sr, has been running the school since 1994 and is a 10^th degree black belt, a huge accomplishment.
Vito Jr. is now a college graduate, a 2^nd degree black belt and is helping to expand the hours and classes.
Both have a unique and successful approach to handling students of all ages and in keeping them motivated to excel and achieve their individual personal goals.
This is not only a professionaly operated school, it is also a fun place to be.
Mixed in with the martial arts classes are dodgeball nights, movie nights, birthday partys and other fun activities that all the kids enjoy.
Vito Sr, has operated the school with integrity, honesty, and trust.
His classes help to build character and discipline in his students and he sets a fine example for all.
He is personaly involved in all his students development and is passing the tradition allong to Vito Jr.
I highly recommend for martial arts students of any age, even adults.

Overall, the classes appear to be OK. There are some kids who appear to really enjoy the classes, but my son (approx age 4) HATED them. He basically spent the entire 30 minute class standing in a corner because he wouldn’t behave.
The owner is a nightmare. He comes off really nice at first (a little sexist = I recall one comment where he said that a mom was a «good mom» if she didn’t give him any problems), but overall a nice guy. But the minute you have a problem or would like to cancel, he becomes extremely rude.
I called to discuss a cancellation for my son and apparently he was not in the office. I asked him if he could take down my contact information and call me back when he’s in the office. Apparently he was unable to take down the information — direct quote «I’m on a train right now, can’t you hear? It’s not that hard, I’m in the office from 4 on every weekday, and all day Saturday.» I told him this was poor customer service and the response was «what do you want from me? I have my calls forwarded to my cell phone, for some people thats good enough — apparently for you it’s not.»
Needless to say, this irritated me enough to contact some of the other mom’s whose children take his classes. Apparently this is a known issue — I’m not the first parent to have problems with him and somehow I’m not surprised to hear that.
Bottom line:
This is a 2 star rating only because the teachers are good. Most of them are high school/​college age students who are pretty good with the kids. I can’t rate the self defense classes because that’s not my area of expertise, but the classes seem relatively well paced for a young child.
If you’re not 100% sure if your child will like karate, or anticipate having any problems/​special situations at all — I would definitely avoid this studio.