Seventeen competitors from our dojo stepped onto the mat and came away with 27 medals: 5 gold, 15 silver, and 7 bronze across both kata and kumite divisions. More than the hardware, though, what stood out was the way our students carried themselves. With discipline, respect, and quiet confidence.

A special congratulations to our gold medalists:

Zlatko D.: 1st Place, Kata (Boys Under 14 Beginner)

Destiny G.: 1st Place, Kata (Girls Under 12 Intermediate)

Yancye L.: 1st Place, Kata (Girls Under 14 Beginner) AND 1st Place, Kumite (Girls Under 13 Beginner)

Jace V.: 1st Place, Kumite (Boys Under 9 Beginner)

Every single one of our competitors earned at least one medal. A testament to the hours of practice and perseverance they put in week after week.

Here are the full results for Nakata Dojo:

Victor M.: Bronze (Kata) + Bronze (Kumite)

Jace V.: Silver (Kata) + Gold (Kumite)

Alan D.: Bronze (Kata) + Silver (Kumite)

Zaire S.: Silver (Kumite)

Swan T.: Silver (Kata) + Bronze (Kumite)

Xavier B.: Silver (Kata) + Silver (Kumite)

Zlatko D.: Gold (Kata)

Lucca M.: Silver (Kata) + Bronze (Kumite)

Logan G.: Bronze (Kata) + Silver (Kumite)

Juanpablo S.: Silver (Kata) + Silver (Kumite)

Jose S.: Silver (Kata)

Emina V.: Silver (Kata)

Destiny G.: Gold (Kata)

Grace W.: Silver (Kata)

Athena G.: Bronze (Kata)

Yancye L.: Gold (Kata) + Gold (Kumite)

Carson D.: Silver (Kata) + Silver (Kumite)

We are also deeply grateful to the schools who traveled to compete and helped make this event what it was. Thank you to Hutchinson Shotokan Karate Club, Shorin Ryu Minnesota, The Village Karate, Japan Karate Organization, Iowa Shotokan Karate Do, Genbu Kai Minnesota, Genbu-Kai Kansas, The Garden Dojo, and Shito-Ryu Karate Association. Your dedication to the art of Karate-Do strengthens our entire community, and we are honored to share the mat with each and every one of you.

To our students and their families: thank you for trusting us with this journey. Every early morning drop-off, every practice, every word of encouragement from the sidelines matters more than you know.

Inspired by what you see here? We are launching a brand new Foundations class starting April 13. It is designed for beginners of all ages who want to take their first steps in traditional karate. No experience needed: just a willingness to learn. Visit www.nakatadojo.com to learn more.

We talk a lot at Nakata Dojo about being part of something larger than yourself. On March 28, 2026, we get to live that out.

For the first time in our school’s history, we are hosting the AAU Iowa District Karate Championship at the Grimes Community Complex. This is a sanctioned qualifier, meaning athletes who compete here can earn their path to the Regional Championship in Chicago and eventually the Junior Olympic Games. That is not a small thing. That is the door to the highest levels of amateur karate in this country, and we are the ones opening it in Iowa.

I do not take that lightly.

Hosting this event is an extension of how we train. We frame discipline as care: care for your technique, care for your opponent, care for the space you’re in. That same philosophy will govern how we run this tournament. Every athlete who walks into that gym, regardless of belt or background, deserves a professional, structured, and respectful environment. That is what we are building.

Competition has always been part of traditional karate. When Shihan Murayama taught us about “imaginary combat,” the mental rehearsal behind every kata and every kumite exchange, he was preparing us for exactly this. The mat makes it real. Standing across from an opponent, managing your awareness, your restraint, your timing under pressure, that is the practice made physical. There is no better test of what you have actually built.

This event is open to everyone. Beginners who want to understand what competition feels like. Advanced practitioners looking to sharpen their edge. Families who want to watch what disciplined young athletes are capable of. All of it belongs here.

We are proud to bring this level of traditional karate competition to Grimes, Urbandale, Waukee, and the surrounding Des Moines metro area. This is a new chapter for Iowa karate, and Nakata Dojo is leading it.

Come see it for yourself.

The AAU Iowa District Karate Championship takes place Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Grimes Community Complex. The event features Kata, Kobudo, and Kumite divisions for all ages and skill levels. Registration is open now. Full details on schedules, rules, and AAU membership at www.iowakarate.com.

Nakata Dojo is a traditional Shito-Ryu martial arts school in Urbandale, Iowa. We offer karate classes for kids and adults across the Des Moines metro area, from beginners building their foundation to competitors stepping onto the national stage. Learn more at nakatadojo.com.

In traditional karate, kata is often the most misunderstood part of the practice. To an outsider, it looks like a solo dance or a choreographed sequence of movements. But those who step onto the mat at Nakata Dojo know that it is something far more substantial. It is a tool for developing awareness, intention, and the internal discipline required to face life’s challenges.

Years ago, we had the honor of hosting Shihan Kunio Murayama at our dojo here in Des Moines. During his visit, he stood before the students and asked them a simple but profound question: “What is kata?”

As the students searched for a technical answer, Shihan Murayama offered his own definition in his distinct Japanese accent. He called it “Imaginary combat.”

That moment changed how I viewed the practice. It wasn’t just about memorizing a series of steps. I realized then how vital it is for a student to understand the purpose of every movement. If you do not understand the intention behind a block or a strike, the kata is empty. It must be performed with the weight of a real encounter. You have to see the opponent in your mind’s eye to develop the focus needed to overcome them.

For a child, this “imaginary combat” is a masterclass in awareness. They aren’t just moving their limbs; they are learning to manage their body, their breath, and their behavior under a self-imposed pressure. They learn that every action has a consequence and that mastery comes from the struggle of repetition. This is where slow progress is welcomed. It takes time to build the restraint and responsibility required to make a kata feel “real.”

For adults, the battles are rarely physical, but the preparation is the same. The discipline found in kata translates to the real-life battles of stress, conflict, and the need for calm under pressure. By practicing a high standard of movement when no one is hitting back, we build the internal infrastructure to keep our composure when life finally does.

At Nakata Dojo, we don’t settle for “good enough” performance. We look for the intention behind the movement. Whether you are a child or an adult, kata teaches you that strength is most effective when it is restrained and purposeful. It is a quiet, protective power that prepares you for whatever happens once you leave the dojo.

Experience the Difference

If you are looking for martial arts in Urbandale that values depth and tradition over quick fixes, we invite you to join us. At Nakata Dojo, we teach traditional karate with a focus on the real-world application of ancient principles. We serve the entire metro area, including West Des Moines, providing a space where discipline is framed as care and growth is earned through effort.

In most sports, if you mess up a play, you get a reset. You huddle up, check the clock, and try again. But when we talk about technique at the dojo, we focus on a concept called finality. It is the idea that every movement should be treated as if it is the only one you get.

This isn’t about being aggressive or trying to look tough. It is actually a very sober, practical way of looking at how we move.

Commitment over speed

When people hear the word finality, they often think of moving fast or hitting hard. In reality, finality usually looks quite calm. It is the total absence of hesitation.

In a lot of our drills, you might see someone “double-clutch” or pause halfway through a movement because they are unsure. That hesitation is a gap. In a real application, that gap is where things go wrong. Training for finality means that once you decide to move, you commit your entire body to the path. You aren’t “testing” the technique to see if it works. You are executing it because you’ve already done the work to ensure it does.

The responsibility of being effective

There is a specific weight that comes with learning techniques that actually work. If a movement is final, it means it has the potential to end an interaction decisively.

This is why we talk so much about restraint. The more capable you are of finishing a technique, the more responsibility you have to handle your partner with care. True strength is being able to apply that finality with enough control that you don’t cause unnecessary harm. We frame discipline as a form of care. You owe it to the person you are training with to be precise, not just powerful.

Awareness doesn’t have an off switch

Finality also applies to what happens after the technique is technically “done.” If you finish a move and immediately drop your hands or turn your back to check the clock, the technique wasn’t actually final.

We practice staying present until the environment is actually safe. This lingering awareness is what connects the physical move to your actual surroundings. It is the difference between performing a routine and practicing a martial art.

Why we practice this way

We focus on finality because it forces us to be honest with ourselves. It’s easy to go through the motions when you know there is a “round two.” It is much harder to maintain the intention required to treat every single rep as the last move of the day.

By prioritizing this mindset, we develop a type of composure that stays with us when we leave the mats. When you learn how to commit fully to a physical movement, it becomes a lot easier to act with that same clarity and responsibility in the rest of your life.

Train with us in Des Moines Nakata Dojo provides a space for traditional martial arts and karate in the Des Moines metro area. If you are looking for beginner martial arts classes that prioritize discipline, awareness, and long-term growth, we invite you to join us on the mats.

When I first started Karate as a kid, I fell in love with the training. I built myself up in the safety of the dojo, although looking back, that safety is debatable lol. I remember the day I could finally do 40 pushups in a row. I felt strong. I felt like I had achieved something rare.

Then I went to school recess.

I mentioned my 40 pushups to the other boys because I expected some respect. I didn’t get it. It turns out that on that school yard, 40 pushups wasn’t a record. It was standard.

I wasn’t special. I was just average.

That realization was painful, but it was also one of the most important lessons of my life. Although at the time I didn’t realize it was, but it forced me to wake up.

Back then, the social environment was different. There was nowhere to hide. If you were slow, or weak, or socially awkward, you couldn’t just block the other kids or switch servers. You had to stand there and deal with it.

Honestly, if you had told the younger version of me about cyberbullying, where the worst thing that happens is mean words on a screen, I would have said “Hell yeah!”

I would have traded the risk of getting decked in the face for a mean comment any day. I would have loved the option to just turn the screen off and walk away.

But I didn’t have that option.

Because I couldn’t hide behind a screen, and because I couldn’t always win a fight physically, I had to develop a different kind of strength.

I developed a radar.

I learned to read a room instantly. I learned to watch eyes and body language to see if trouble was coming. I learned how to use my words to diffuse a situation before it turned physical. I learned that you cannot simply opt out of a bad vibe. You have to navigate it.

Today, I look around and I see a generation that is safer than I ever was. And that is a good thing. We should be glad our kids aren’t fighting at recess.

But in cleaning up the world for them, we have accidentally turned off their radar.

Because they can always retreat to a screen, they never get that harsh reality check I got on the playground. They walk into rooms with their headphones on and their eyes down. They are completely blind to the energy around them.

They don’t know how to read bad vibes until it’s too late. They don’t know how to use humor to lower the tension. They assume the world will adjust to them because it always has.

I am a father myself, so I have the exact same fears you do. I look at my child and my instinct is to protect. I want to sweep every obstacle out of the way because I love them.

But I also recognize that I have to have the discipline to stop myself.

It is hard to do. It takes actual restraint to watch your child struggle and not step in to fix it. But we don’t do them any favors when we make the world soft.

We have to guide them through that feeling. When they realize they aren’t the best, our job isn’t to say “No, you are perfect.” Our job is to tell them that it is okay not to be the best.

We need to teach them to see themselves on a journey of growth instead of just feeling inadequate. There is a huge difference between “I am not enough” and “I am not done building myself yet.”

My goal in the dojo isn’t to take us back to the rough days of the past. I don’t want kids to be afraid.

But I do want them to be aware.

We need to re-introduce a little bit of friction into their lives. We need to put them in situations where they aren’t the best in the room. We need to let them feel the weight of a standard they haven’t met yet.

Because when a child realizes they aren’t the center of the universe, they finally stop looking at themselves and start looking at the world. And that is when they truly start to see.

If you live in the Des Moines Metro like Urbandale, West Des Moines, Clive, or anywhere nearby, you’ve got a ton of options for “activities.” Soccer leagues. Dance studios. Gyms on every corner. And of course, endless screens at home. So why should a parent sign their child up for Karate classes? Or why should an adult step into a dojo after work?

Karate-Do isn’t just another “activity.” It is truly a transformational system, and I will get into it. But I think it matters because the challenges of life in 2025 haven’t changed. And authentic Karate-Do still answers them.

Discipline in a World of Shortcuts

We live in a fast-food, scrolling culture. But character doesn’t come from shortcuts. At Nakata Dojo here in Urbandale, kids Karate training teaches discipline the right way: showing up, trying again, and sticking with it when it gets tough. That kind of discipline carries over to school, sports, and home.

For adults, the lesson is the same. Except in most cases, the learning and awareness hit much faster. Adults here quickly become more aware of the things that were missing: balance, coordination, and at times, the fact that we go about our lives without any guiding philosophy. Karate-Do training demands effort. It builds the habit of consistency that modern life tries to erase. To teach it requires a lot of communication, because it is hard to understand.

Focus in the Age of Distraction

Phones go off nonstop. Kids bounce between screens. Adults drown in emails. But in the dojo, distractions disappear. Every stance, strike, and kata requires full attention and focus. Karate-Do looks simple, but it is very detailed, and it demands a very high level of precision. Timing, for example, can never have alternatives. Multiple things must happen at the same time, and untrained people cannot see the difference.

That’s why parents notice their kids’ attention to detail, focus, and grades improving, and why adults often say it’s eye-opening to realize how challenging Karate-Do is despite its simple appearance.

Strength That’s More Than Muscles

Yes, Karate classes build strength and fitness. But more important is the mental strength: courage, resilience, and humility. Kids discover they can push past frustration. Adults discover they can do more than they thought. In a world where comfort makes people soft, Karate-Do builds real toughness.

Tradition in a Rootless Culture

Trends change weekly. Apps rise and fall. But Karate-Do has lasted generations. Training at Nakata Dojo means being part of something real

, a traditional Karate lineage directly connected to the source in Japan. In a rootless culture, tradition gives kids (and adults) balance and belonging.

Real Connection in a Fake World

Social media gives “followers,” but not friendships. In the dojo, students build real connections — sweat, effort, and respect. Parents see their kids making friends that matter. Adults find a community where they’re pushed to grow. If you want real connection in 2025, Karate training in Urbandale is where you’ll find it.

So why does Karate-Do still matter in 2025?

Because the problems of today — distraction, entitlement, shortcuts, and rootlessness — don’t get solved by another app. They get solved on the dojo floor.

If you’re in the Des Moines Metro and want your child — or yourself — to grow stronger, more focused, and more confident, come train at Nakata Dojo in Urbandale. This is where discipline is taught, focus is sharpened, and strength is earned.

When I started teaching every single day, I noticed something I had been ignoring for too long: my own feet. To put it bluntly, they were not looking good at all. And when you are barefoot on the mats every day, there is no hiding it. Karate-Do is about respect, and part of that respect is how we carry ourselves, right down to the soles of our feet.

It is hard to take someone seriously if they walk into the dojo with feet that look like they belong on an alligator. Cracked, dry, neglected. And it is not just about looks. Poor grooming in Karate is unsafe. Long toenails can cut through skin, and it happens faster than you would think. Step the wrong way in partner training or brush against someone during kumite and suddenly your toenail has left a mark. Not to mention, I have seen the nail marks left on my mat. It makes me feel like a fossil researcher, trying to figure out what kind of dinosaur walked across the dojo floor.

It sounds small, but it is really about responsibility. If you take the time to clip your nails, wash your feet, and keep yourself clean, you are showing respect for everyone around you. If you do not, you are basically telling your partners, “My comfort is more important than your safety.” That is the opposite of Karate-Do.

And believe me, I had to learn this the hard way. I finally went out and got one of those cheese grater-looking tools, and now I use it after every shower. I follow it up by moisturizing my feet before putting on socks. The feeling is awesome. I no longer go to bed feeling like I am being dragged behind a horse and carriage over a gravel road. Taking care of myself this way does not just help me, it makes training cleaner, safer, and less embarrassing for everyone around me.

And it is not just kids. I have met plenty of adults, especially husbands, who treat their feet like they are something to be hidden, ignored, or apologized for. You know the type: toenails that can leave a Zorro-type mark on any surface. Maybe they need a martial arts journey more than anyone else, because the dojo has a way of shining a light on habits we never thought about. Once you are training barefoot in a group, the message is clear. Take care of yourself, because other people have to live with the results.

At Nakata Dojo we are big on hygiene. Your gi should be clean. Your breath should be okay. And yes, deodorant is always encouraged. Nobody wants to spend an hour learning kata next to someone who smells like freshly-split onion x10. It is disrespectful to everyone in the room. Cleanliness is not about being fancy, it is about consideration. You do not have to buy the best body spray or the most expensive soap. Just show up clean, with your uniform washed, and your nails trimmed.

When we bow into the dojo, we are promising to respect the space, our partners, and ourselves. Cleanliness is part of that promise. It might sound simple, but it is no small thing. Respect is not just in how you speak, or how you train, but in the details of how you show up. Feet, nails, gi, breath, body. These details speak loudly.

Karate-Do teaches us to polish more than just our technique. It teaches us to polish our habits, our presentation, and the way we care for one another. Respect starts at your feet, but it does not end there.

I know what you’re gonna say. “Oh no, here comes Kenji talking about Karate” But hear me out. I know a lot of people that I associate with don’t really care about Karate. They think it’s a little strange that a grown man is super into it. But Karate-Do is more than just an activity you may have explored growing up. I am writing here so I can educate especially those who have known me for years. Some of you still can’t believe that I teach Karate because I don’t fit the profile. But when you read this whole thing, hopefully, it will make sense.

Karate-Do is hard. And that is exactly why it is worth doing.

From the outside, it might look simple. People see the punching, the kicking, the blocking, and the repeating of drills. But once you are the one wearing the gi and bowing into the dojo, you quickly realize there is much more to it. Every stance has a reason. Every strike has a detail that can change everything. Breathing, hips, pulling hand, balance, rhythm. Karate-Do is about precision, and precision means paying attention to things that are often invisible to beginners.

That is where most students struggle.

Children especially do not yet understand how they actually learn. To them, everything feels the same. They might throw ten punches and believe all ten looked identical. But to someone who knows, nine were off balance and only one had the right connection. They get frustrated because they cannot see the difference. They do not yet know that learning is about repeating until the difference becomes obvious.

And to be fair, this challenge is not only for children. Many adults also have a disconnect in their bodies. They might think they are coordinated, especially if they played sports growing up, but Karate quickly humbles even athletes. Movements that seem simple at first reveal a level of detail that exposes gaps in balance, timing, and body awareness. That moment of humility is not failure. It is often the moment when real learning begins.

Part of our job as instructors is to build that bridge for both children and adults. We have to find ways to make the invisible visible. Sometimes that means telling stories. Sometimes it means drawing pictures. Sometimes it even means teaching new vocabulary so students can have the language to describe what they are seeing. In fact, many of my students learn new English words right here at the dojo, not just Japanese terminology.

Yesterday I built the entire day around one word: efficiency. I drew a map on the board with a set of city blocks. On one corner I drew a little house. A few blocks away I drew a school. Then I asked them, “What is the best way to walk to school?” Without hesitation, they traced the quickest path. Then I took the marker and drew the longest way around the block. I told them my way was better.

You should have seen their reaction. They objected immediately. They argued with passion, telling me that my route was slower and wasteful. They said I would be late, that I would miss class, that it made no sense to go the long way when a straight path was right there. And of course, I did not just let it go. I gave them my usual annoying comebacks, pretending to defend my choice and pushing them until they were practically shouting at me. That was exactly what I wanted. When they get riled up like that, it shows me they are engaged, thinking hard, and paying attention.

That was when I revealed the lesson. I told them that Karate is the same. In Karate you can still arrive at the target with a clumsy punch or a stiff kick. But the true way, the efficient way, is to connect all the details. Breathing. Hips. Pulling hand. Stance. Timing. When these elements come together, the technique is not only sharper and stronger, but it also costs less energy. The body moves as one, so instead of exhausting yourself, you generate maximum results with minimum effort. That is the essence of kime.

But here is another truth: children resist. They love games, variety, and constant entertainment. Gamification has its place, but when it is overdone the repetition that builds skill can get watered down. Sometimes fun takes the front seat, and progress takes the back seat. The hardest part is helping them see that focused, intentional repetition is the real engine of improvement.

I know this because I live through the same frustrations myself. I never try to be the mystical sensei who is perfect and cannot do anything wrong. The truth is, I am still a student, and often a bad one. I have a strange pace of learning. I make a lot of mistakes, and I usually have to learn alone. I was the kind of student who frustrated teachers because I could not get things right on the first try. In many ways, I still learn almost exclusively from mistakes.

That is why I connect so strongly with my students. When they are frustrated, I understand it. When they keep missing the detail I am asking for, I have been there. When they want to give up, I know exactly how that feels. And because I know that path so well, I can guide them through it. I can show them the lessons I had to learn the hard way, so they do not have to waste the same time. My role is not to stand above them, but to walk beside them and remind them that the hard road is still worth it.

This is where Karate-Do becomes truly hard. Not just because of the technical details, but because we must convince students that repeating something one hundred times is not punishment. It is the path to mastery. The truth is that repetition can be boring. But through it, frustration slowly turns into skill. Confusion turns into clarity. The student begins to see and feel the difference for themselves.

That is when their eyes light up. That is when they understand that what once seemed impossible has now become natural. The same punch that once felt clumsy now feels sharp. The same kata that once looked like random steps now flows like a story. The same child who once thought they could not learn begins to realize that they can. The same adult who once thought they were coordinated begins to discover they still have much to learn.

Karate-Do is supposed to be hard. That is what makes it good. It is in the struggle that children and adults discover their own strength. It is in the repetition that they learn patience and discipline. And it is in the details that they uncover the real meaning of Karate-Do: that small, intentional efforts lead to less effort and maximum results. That is kime.