Our Story

Things began back in 2015 while our team was coaching high-school varsity karate athletes and leading them to prefectural tournaments. We wanted to create a Tokyo karate experience that requires no prior martial arts background and still feels meaningful for experienced practitioners.

Our tourist-friendly lessons are simple but memorable. Many first-time visitors learn the opening kata Heian Shodan and even challenge a board break by the end. It’s a unique way to commemorate your trip to Tokyo—especially with our mostly private format where we can tailor what you want (yes, even recreating your favorite Karate Kid scenes!).

Language isn’t a barrier. Our staff can communicate in English, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese. Today we’re proud to connect with students worldwide—both in Tokyo and online—through clear instruction and the spirit of Budo.

Heritage & Staff

Our instructors trained in a lineage connected to Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of Shotokan and a father of modern karate. We grew up in a tradition of BUDO values and technical precision—principles we pass to every student.

How You Can Train With Us

What Students Say

Real experiences from online and in-person students worldwide.

Karate Dojo waKu in Tokyo

5.0

Based on 26 reviews

powered by Google

review us on

Andrew Boll

21:46 09 Sep 25

Getting to train with Yusuke Sensei was an amazing experience! He was very friendly and I felt completely comfortable training with him. I learned some very interesting techniques and he helped me become successful in a board break I had been struggling with for a long time. Weather you have been training for 10 days or 10 years, if you find yourself in Tokyo I would highly recommend booking a lesson!

Response from the owner 03:58 10 Sep 25

Thank you so much! It was great meeting your lovely family and sharing my passion with you. You had a great ability to adjust your movements quickly and precisely, so I'm sure you'll continue to grow as a martial artist. I hope to meet you again in the near future!

Ryan Dorrill

17:16 09 Sep 25

I have known Yusuke’s Sensei’s YouTube videos for years now, so when I saw that he was having an English lesson in Tokyo AND that it was happening while I was visiting, I jumped at the chance. It was a wonderful and unique lesson, really focused on improving our raw techniques, and applicable to all the skill levels present. I would love to go back and visit again, but for now I’m stuck in the states. Definitely worth a visit, and a good option for a local sensei in Chiba.

Response from the owner 03:54 10 Sep 25

Ryan, it was great meeting you during your trip to Japan. Since it was my first English group lesson in Tokyo, I was a bit worried if I could make a welcoming atmosphere for everyone. But thanks to your smile, I think everyone felt comfortable by the end of the lesson. Thank you! I look forward to meeting you again in the near future.

Tim Johnston

00:36 09 Sep 25

I recommend Yusuke Sensei for Karate knowledge tips, breathing techniques and overall skill level.

His demeanor is good. I’ve trained with him twice and plan to continue training with him as long as he offers Karate courses.

I practice a different Karate style so it’s a nice change to train with Yusuke once a month.

Meeting other karateka from all over the world and their different tips and advice teaches you diversity.🥋

Response from the owner 11:16 09 Sep 25

Thank you so much Tim for coming to both of the offline English classes in Tokyo. I remember you mentioning you even took a day off from your work for our second session. I truly appreciate your dedication and passion towards karate. I'm preparing something new for our next lesson on October 4th in Tokyo, so I hope you can look forward to that as well. See you soon!

K S

17:53 08 Sep 25

Have you ever been told to correct a technique but not given any idea why it needs fixing or how to fix it? Nagano Sensei breaks down what’s going wrong, shows you how to work on it and explains why it matters to your karate. I’ve been training with him for three and a half years and he’s been an incredible instructor.

He really pays attention to both the small details and the big picture, and he’s always kind, understanding and thoughtful. He has helped me progress my karate, not just by making me more skilled but by helping me understand body mechanics and achieve specific goals like a stronger punch or a smoother turn. He’s always learning himself, training with experts in other karate styles and martial arts, and he brings that knowledge back to his classes.

Instead of just telling you what to do, he guides you through the steps so you can feel how a technique should be. We’ve spent classes focused on one issue and others working on many things. He listens carefully, supports me and answers any question I have. Even when I’ve had to change dojos and styles because of moves, he’s been a steady source of guidance and support.

My skills have improved a lot with Nagano Sensei’s instruction, but more than that he has deepened my understanding and passion for karate. I would recommend him to anyone, no matter your skill level, style or age. Nagano Sensei is simply an outstanding instructor.

Response from the owner 11:14 09 Sep 25

Thank you so much for the amazing comment!! Like you mentioned, although we practice different styles, I believe the fundamental way of moving the body is the same. So I'm happy that my somewhat abstract themes which are put into step by step drills are helping you out.Also, since we have a similar profession, I'm always thankful for your attitude towards the class. As a teacher, it is truly a privilege and a blessing to have a student like yourself. Thanks again and I'll see you at the next lesson.

matt c

14:35 08 Sep 25

I have been training karate with Yusuke sensei for several years now and have really fallen in love with the art. His expertise allows him to see subtleties in my movement and techniques that I would not have picked up on, which in turn would have led to stagnation. With karate (and other traditional martial arts), it can be somewhat easy to watch a kata and think "oh those seem like very simple movements, I can do that", but this is far from the truth. To the untrained eye, things may seem simple or easy, but Yusuke is a master at first seeing a discrepancy, finding a method of explaining this, then guiding me to find ways to work on bettering my karate as a whole. I also appreciate Yusuke's desire to incorporate things he's learned from karate masters, regardless if it is not the same "style" of karate I'm training in. If he finds it to be a useful addition, he shares this knowledge with me. I look forward to his continued guidance on my lifelong karate journey. I absolutely recommend Karate Dojo waku if you want an attentive, knowledgeable teacher and share a passion in martial arts.

Response from the owner 11:10 09 Sep 25

Thank you so much Matt! At first when I started doing online lessons, I was slightly worried if I would be able to see the small details and show the student the precise way of improving their techniques. But surprisingly after 5 years of doing online teaching, I am now extremely confident with picking up the details even if it's online. And I'm happy that you are seeing that positive side as well! Let's keep up the good training and I hope we can actually meet in the near future. See you at the next lesson.

Ninu H

10:13 08 Sep 25

I have been training with Sensei Yusuke through online 1-to-1 sessions since 2022, and his guidance has been invaluable to my Karate journey. His calm and encouraging teaching style has helped me improve across Kihon, Kata, Kumite, and even areas like Ukemi and targeted stretching.
The Zoom lessons are recorded, which allows me to revisit and fully absorb his feedback. I’ve also had the privilege of training with him in person at seminars in London and at the Karate Dojo Waku retreat in Okinawa — an unforgettable experience that connected me with Karateka from around the world.
I highly recommend Sensei Yusuke to anyone looking to refine their technique, build confidence, and grow as a martial artist. My Karate journey has been richer and more rewarding thanks to his guidance 🙂

Response from the owner 11:08 09 Sep 25

Thank you so much Ninu! I truly appreciate everything moment we shared both online and offline, making great memories. Of course, training karate together is the most crucial part of our kesson. But, living in Japan, it's also extremely exciting for me to hear about your life in your country. Thank you for being so open to connecting with me.I look forward to meeting you next month in Okinawa!

jason chua

08:19 08 Sep 25

I had practised with Sensei Yusuke Nagano from
Karate Dojo waKu during covid period. I gain alot new knowledge and understanding of karate techniques and dynamic, karate is deeper then you think!

Response from the owner 09:23 08 Sep 25

Thank you so much Jason! It was great practicing with you a few years ago. I hope to meet you in person in the near future!

Sarah Gray

07:34 08 Sep 25

I've been having classes with Yusuke for several years and I can definitely say that my karate has improved a lot with his help. I learn so much in every class. He is incredibly knowledgeable about karate. He is always well-prepared with exercises and explanations to help you improve. He is able to explain things really clearly, often using easy to understand analogies to get his point across.
If you are interested in improving the finer points of your karate, Yusuke is the teacher for you. He's great with details and will get you to improve the small and often overlooked aspects of karate that will give you big results in your improvement.
On top of all that, he's also endlessly patient and full of encouragement. I totally recommend his classes.

Response from the owner 09:26 08 Sep 25

Thank you so much, Sarah. Working with you over the years has been a real joy. Even though our styles are different, your openness has made it easy for me to share my ideas and express myself without hesitation. I look forward to continue working on the hip rotation and other techniques of karate with you!

Anna Ordine

05:27 08 Sep 25

For our trip to Japan we booked 5 days of class for our daughter with Sensei Yusuke. It was a wonderful experience for us but especially for her. He practised karate every day with enthusiasm. He has deepened the Kata, perfecting it with excellent results. We will definitely repeat this wonderful experience. Thanks, Yusuke

Response from the owner 09:27 08 Sep 25

As I mentioned numerous times on our WhatsApp, it was an amazing 1 week with your family. Seeing the 3 of you made my day, and I'm sure our friendship will take us to the next meetup in the near future. Thank you again!

Sachi Pecarina

00:36 08 Sep 25

We have used Yusuke Sensei for 3 of our kids, getting them ready for tournaments. If it weren't for his instruction, and patience, our kids would not have done as well as they did. Now we have 1 kid taking curriculum classes and it is so easy to work with Yusuke Sensei. Wherever you are in your karate journey, Yusuke Sensei and Dojo waKu great. We highly recommend!

Response from the owner 03:22 08 Sep 25

Sachi san, thank you so much for the review! I truly enjoy teaching your kids, and I feel energized after their lesson. It is my honor to help out your family with not just karate but with enriching their Japanese background. Looking forward to our training later this month!

Visit Us or Train Online

Whether you’re in Tokyo or abroad, we’d love to help you train Shotokan—step by step.