As the final bows were exchanged and applause echoed through the training hall, Sensei Kiyoshi Allen stood quietly for a moment, taking it all in—the energy, the progress, the pride. He had just wrapped up a successful grading class, a culmination of months of hard work, and it showed.
“I’m feeling very proud of them,” Sensei Allen shared, a humble but unmistakable light in his eyes. “Throughout the year, it’s a lot of work—back and forth, repetition, discipline. But when it comes time to put it all together for grading or a tournament, that’s when they show what they really know. And every time, they surprise me.”
Sensei Allen teaches students ranging in age from six to fifteen, though he often forgets their actual ages. “They act more mature than they are,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes I have to stop and ask, ‘Wait, how old are you again?’ Even the little ones carry themselves like they’re older.”
That maturity, he believes, comes from the structure and character-building embedded in martial arts. At the heart of his teachings is a creed he instills in every student:
“Martial art builds character. With character, you build discipline. With discipline, you gain respect. And with respect, you get respect. Each one, teach one.”
It’s more than just a saying. It’s a philosophy that underpins everything they do at the dojo—one that Sensei Allen believes sets his students up for success both inside and outside the training hall. “If you stick to something, you get better. You learn to focus, to be disciplined, and you learn to respect yourself and others. And when you know something, you share it. That’s what ‘each one, teach one’ means.”
To parents who may be on the fence about enrolling their children in martial arts, Sensei Allen offers this: “Ask any top sportsman in Bermuda what they did when they were kids. Ask some of the most prominent people on this island. Many of them will tell you—it was martial arts. And karate, in particular, is something you can do for the rest of your life.”
He speaks from experience. Having studied jiu-jitsu since 1970, Allen says karate is the art that’s stayed with him into his current age. “I can still do it the way I did when I was 11 or 12,” he said proudly.
Classes are held at the Princess Lodge, 68 Cox’s Hill Road, Pembroke, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., with special “Super Saturday” sessions by invitation for advanced students. Tuition is $65 per month for students up to age 16 and $75 for those 17 and up. Fees help cover belts, certificates, and event costs.
“Consistency is the key,” Allen said. “The more they come, the better they get. And this year? This year they really put on a show.”
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