Build confidence.
Learn for life.
A nonprofit program of Japanese Shorinjiryu Karate offering age-appropriate exercise, self-defense skills, and great fun for the entire family.
- Family-friendly ratesfrom $50 a month
- No long-term commitmentno contracts to sign
- Taught by a 7th-degree black beltsmall classes, real attention
Children sitting quietly.
No screens.
Respectful.
And when they want to hit something, they hit hard.
Our promise, in our own words.
Traditional Japanese martial arts, taught properly
Children train beside adults. Beginners train beside black belts. Classes are small enough that the instructor knows your name and your knees.
Children’s Karate
A program of child-appropriate Japanese karate — focus, courtesy and real technique, taught at a pace an eight-year-old can actually follow.
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Shorinjiryu Karate
The core class, open to all ages. Traditional Japanese karate built on fundamentals — stance, timing, distance and applied technique.
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Advanced Karate
A Saturday-morning session for advanced students, by invitation from the instructor.
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Tomiki Aikido
A Thursday-evening slot for Tomiki Aikido, run when there is interest. Call ahead to check it is on.
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Bo & Jo Staff Work
Traditional Japanese staff work — the long bo and the shorter jo — which, as one student puts it, is “something you don’t often find taught.”
Read more→Three days a week, all year
Every class is held at the Sykesville Visitor’s Center Activity Room in Sykesville.
- 3:15 – 4:15 pm Children’s Karate Ages 8 and up
- 4:15 – 5:15 pm Shorinjiryu Karate All ages
- 5:15 – 6:15 pm Shorinjiryu Karate All ages · Call first
- 6:30 – 7:30 pm Shorinjiryu Karate All ages
- 3:15 – 4:15 pm Children’s Karate Ages 8 and up
- 4:15 – 5:15 pm Shorinjiryu Karate All ages
- 5:15 – 6:15 pm Shorinjiryu Karate All ages · Call first
- 6:30 – 7:30 pm Shorinjiryu Karate All ages
- 7:30 – 8:30 pm Shorinjiryu Karate / Tomiki Aikido Depending on interest
- 9:30 – 10:30 am Advanced Karate Invitation only
- 10:30 – 11:30 am Shorinjiryu Karate All ages
Please call first to let us know you’re visiting. All classes are held at the Sykesville Visitor’s Center Activity Room.
$50 a month. That’s the whole price.
No registration fee, no testing packages, no annual contract. Families pay less per student the more of you train — because the point is to get families on the floor, not to hit a sales target.
Morning Star is run by Ake no Myojo Budo Inc., a registered nonprofit and an equal opportunity martial arts school.
Ask about a free classMinimum student age is 8 years old. All students practice at the discretion of the instructor.
Five rules the school runs on
Our Mission is to provide affordable martial arts training, using a traditional Japanese approach, that builds reflexive self defense skills and improves character.
- Eschew Commercialism The school exists to teach, not to sell. There is no pro shop, no upgrade path and nobody working a quota.
- Belt Level Based on Real Improvements Rank follows ability. Nobody is promoted on a schedule, and nobody buys a belt.
- Maintain a Nonprofit Status Morning Star is run by Ake no Myojo Budo, Inc., a registered nonprofit — so tuition covers the room and the art, not a margin.
- Avoid Contracts No annual agreement, no cancellation fee. If it stops working for your family, you stop.
- All Classes Led by Our Head Instructor You are not handed to a junior assistant. The person who runs the school runs the class.
5.0 stars on Google
Every review below is a real, public Google review of this school.
“Sensei Pete’s lifelong dedication to the art is clear in every class, and having access to this level of authentic instruction is rare.”
“You notice the absence of high-pressure sales and the overwhelming feeling of a huge, impersonal class. Instead, Sensei Pete provides truly personalized instruction in a small class environment.”
“Being 50+ myself, I truly appreciate the time sensei spends to help me work to the best of my abilities, and to improve my abilities!”
Five words we train by
- Continuous ImprovementLeave everyone better than when they arrived, every class.
- StewardshipHonor the traditions of Shorinjiryu while faithfully passing them to future generations.
- ServiceProvide martial arts instruction to anyone willing to train, regardless of age, background, or beginning ability.
- CompassionHelp every student succeed according to their individual potential.
- RespectTreat every student, instructor and the art itself with humility, courtesy, and integrity.
In the heart of Sykesville
We train in the Activity Room at the Sykesville Visitor’s Center on Oklahoma Avenue, a few steps off Main Street — easy for families coming from Eldersburg, Marriottsville and the Freedom District.
- Classes meet in the Activity Room, upstairs
- Minimum student age is 8
- Wear something you can move in
- Please call before you visit so we know you’re coming
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Where we train
Sykesville Visitor’s Center Activity Room
731 Oklahoma AvenueSykesville, MD 21784
| Tuesday | 3:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 3:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:30 – 11:30 AM |
| Mon · Wed · Fri · Sun | No scheduled classes |