Washington Shotokan Karate Association
Karate (Shotokan) in Bellevue
- Price
- from $90 a month
- First visit
- Free trial
- Beginners
- Beginner class
Every instructor at the Washington Shotokan Association teaches as a volunteer. The association is a non-profit, founded in Bellevue in 1973 by Sensei André Dulce, who had trained under Kancho Kenneth Funakoshi in Honolulu. Dulce retired from active teaching in 2015 and stays on as Chief Advisor on the board. Teaching is led by a team of senior instructors at 4th degree black belt and above, with Sensei Neil Nathanson and Sensei Mostafa Ahanchi as chief instructors at 7th degree. The association is affiliated with the worldwide Funakoshi Shotokan Karate Association, led by Shihan Kyle Funakoshi.
The dojo describes Shotokan through three parts: kihon (basic punches, kicks, blocks and stances), kata (set sequences that simulate a fight with several attackers) and kumite, sparring with a partner. Sparring is non-contact, “emphasizing control and technical precision.” The dojo puts the long-term goal plainly: students can generally reach 1st degree black belt in five to seven years of consistent, focused training.
Classes meet at three places: the main dojo on Bel-Red Road in Bellevue, the South Bellevue Community Center and a location in Issaquah. The main dojo has a 3,600 square foot floating oak floor with mirrors and stretch bars, a makiwara (the traditional karate punching board) and dressing rooms with showers for men and women. Youth and adults train in separate classes, each split into beginner, intermediate and advanced. Classes run through the school year and through the summer. Kids train in their own youth classes.
Anyone curious about Shotokan can take a free trial class with no obligation to join. Membership runs month to month without a long-term contract, and the association offers a limited number of scholarships. Uniforms, belts and the WSA patch are sold through the dojo. Class days and times are best checked with the school before the free trial, to find the classes that fit your week. Adult belt exams are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm.
- All instructors volunteer; the association is a non-profit founded in 1973
- Non-contact sparring focused on control and technical precision
- Main dojo with a 3,600 sq ft floating oak floor, makiwara and showers
Kids and juniors at Washington Shotokan Karate Association
Youth classes run at all three locations: the main Bellevue dojo, South Bellevue and Issaquah. Like the adult classes, they're split into beginner, intermediate and advanced groups. Youth memberships come as one class a week or unlimited classes, with lower rates for two or more students from the same household. Youth belt exams are held on Saturdays at 8 am. WSA also holds its own youth tournament.
The association doesn't give a starting age for youth classes, so it's worth asking when booking the free trial class how young a child can begin.
Classes at Washington Shotokan Karate Association
| Class | Who | Ages | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth classes | kids | not listed | beginner, intermediate, advanced |
| Adult classes | adults | not listed | beginner, intermediate, advanced |
Instructors at Washington Shotokan Karate Association
What training at Washington Shotokan Karate Association costs
| Plan | Price | Per |
|---|---|---|
| one-time sign-up fee; dues are month-to-month, no long term contracts | $45 | one-time |
| Youth, one class per week, 1 student (same family household) | $90 | month |
| Youth, one class per week, 2 students (same family household) | $145 | month |
| Youth, one class per week, 3+ students (same family household) | $210 | month |
| Youth, unlimited classes, 1 student (same family household) | $110 | month |
| Youth, unlimited classes, 2 students (same family household) | $190 | month |
| Youth, unlimited classes, 3+ students (same family household) | $240 | month |
| Adult, unlimited classes, 1 student (same family household) | $120 | month |
| Adult, unlimited classes, 2 students (same family household) | $200 | month |
| Adult, unlimited classes, 3+ students (same family household) | $240 | month |
Prices as of November 2026, from the school's website.
Facts from washingtonshotokan.com, checked November 2026. Something out of date? Send a correction.