Are you looking for a fun, safe, and productive after-school activity for your child?
During these crazy times, it’s more important than ever for your child to maintain a sense of structure, activity, exercise, and normalcy. Training with the Shakil Warriors will instill the self-confidence, discipline, focus, and leadership qualities to inspire your child to be the best that they can possibly be at whatever they choose to do!
Take advantage of our FREE 10-Day Trial Pass today, so your child can stay engaged and maintain a sense of structure and community from the safety of our state of the art dojo, cleaned and sterilized daily, under the direction of World-Class teachers and practitioners.
“I understand I’ll receive:
“With consistency my child will make great friends and begin learning to:
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Focus better
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Listen better
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Set goals and achieve them
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Keep structure and normalcy during these uncertain times
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Plus get great exercise and have FUN
I understand spots are limited so I’m completing my sign up now!”
Master Kevin Thompson Jr. (a.k.a. Asatida*) has been studying martial arts for the past 20 years, and currently holds an 8th degree black belt in American Karate-Do. He has been teaching the system to students of all ages and abilities since the tender age of 7, and is now the CEO and Head Instructor of the Shakil’s School of Martial Arts Karate Organization, LLC. At a point in time, Kevin competed in sport karate at the national and international levels, consistently winning and placing in the top 3 in fighting, forms, and weapons.
In 2009, at the age of 12, he received his first degree black belt from his father, Grandmaster Kevin Thompson Sr., and would go on to pursue a basketball career and higher education at Montclair Kimberley Academy in 2011. In 2015, Kevin received academic and athletic scholarship offers from colleges like Amherst and NJIT, but would ultimately choose American University (D.C.). He received his BS in Business and Entertainment from the Kogod School of Business in May 2019, and would come home to take over the Shakil’s School of Martial Arts Karate Organization, LLC., taking it to the next level, implementing new technologies, business strategies, and programs for the youth.
Shihan Kendrick Grey (A.K.A. Wazir) is the General Manager and Assistant Instructor at the Shakil’s School of Martial Arts, and has been training for 26 years in American Karate-Dō. In 2000, After 5 years of consistent hard work he advanced through the ranks and earned his first degree black belt. Currently a 7th degree black belt, Wazir Kendrick has served as one of the pillars that our organization stands on—at one point he served as our only instructor and was the glue that held us together, running the Dojo on his own.
Outside of the Dojo, Wazir Kendrick has worked for the Newark Public School System in the Special Needs Department for a few years. In his spare time he is an avid artist, specializing in Drawing, Painting, and Graphic Design. Wazir Kendrick also adds Filmmaker, YouTuber, and Podcaster to his list of specialties.
What is Karate?
(kuh-rah-tay)
An unarmed self-defense, using all parts of one's body to defend oneself.
The breakdown of the word “Karate” is what we use to formulate our vision for the students of this system. The prefix “Kara” means to empty oneself, to give, share, open or help. The suffix “Te” refers to the hand, which is connected to the body. In Karate training, one must first open the mind and heart, trusting the instructor to develop the knowledge and understanding of defending oneself, then conditioning the body to help it withstand any obstacles. Then the hand must be open to receive the information or training so that this can be put into the heart and mind of the student. It is in developing an understanding of “Karate-Dõ”, or spirit of the empty hand, that one will build the foundation for achieving their full potential in their practice of martial arts. Here at the Shakil's School of Martial arts we practice the art of Karate as a way of life here in America, the art of American Karate-Dõ. USH!
