Testimonials

Comments from Our Parents and Students

CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

"Lauren has been very fortunate to have the privilege to train under Sensei Sam Larioza at Ohana Karate. Over three years ago, we enrolled a 10-year old child into Karate not knowing how long it would last. This past October, my wife and I were as proud and humbled as two parents could possibly be, as Sensei Sam allowed us to present Lauren with her Junior Black Belt as a 13-year old young woman. What made it extra special for Lauren was the fact that she was among the first six Junior students to receive their Black Belts in the Ohana Dojo. Lauren is very proud of this accomplishment, given the fact that she has balanced homework, family and her own personal events, and "stayed the course" in some difficult periods over these past three years to earn this prestigious honor. When Lauren first joined Karate, she was a timid and somewhat shy little girl who we felt needed an activity that would help her gain self-confidence and feel good about herself. As time passed, the changes that we saw take place were stunning, and as she continued training and advancing with each new belt grade, it was evident that her confidence and sense of accomplishment was increasing. What she has learned as a whole and the determination that she has displayed these past three years is a true testament to the program and training at Ohana. We would advise anybody who is "on the fence" or unsure if their child would benefit from Karate, Lauren is living proof that her training at the Ohana Dojo has made a tremendous difference in her character, confidence, and overall respect for herself as well as for others. The best part about her success is that it has not "changed" who Lauren is, it has enhanced her quality of life, both physically and mentally.   Todd Faulkner Fowlerville, Michigan

"Since starting the program Kodi's homework has decreased significantly - he is able to stay focused at school and get it done there. He is also more respectful especially when I say 'Sensei wouldn't like to see you doing that'." Vicki Cogswell Fowlerville, Michigan

Sensei Sam and his team of instructors have truly been a blessing to my family and I.  We started with Ohana Karate in August of 06' and have found that Karate' in itself is an awesome way to be active!  It is the only physical sport that my family never gets tired of of!  My kids love the way the instructors are so patient, caring, and encouraging!!  The positive attitudes and environment of Ohana Karate gets us excited about exercising!  I was in bad car accident and never thought I would be "physically active" or "able to do" anything as physical again, but Sensei Sam changed my thinking, and that's what Ohana Karate does for our family, gives us hope and strength for better health!!  Thanks!! Mellisa Rembisz Howell, Michigan

"My son, John , is a student of Ohana Karate. For those parents who are on the fence about getting their kids started in Karate...time to get going. My son is 4 it has helped him immensely. He's more controlled, more disciplined and more confident. The Larioza's have a great system here and I'm proud to have my son participate." Chris Weber Fowlerville, Michigan

My Daughter Lindsay age 9 joined Karate here almost a year ago now and she really loves it! She used to have a problem at school with kids bossing her around, she just didn't have the confidence to stand up to the other kids. Being in Karate has given her the skills and confidence to stand up for herself in a positive way. Her grades have improved and she is more out going and making more friends, Sensei Sam is a wonderful Teacher so positive and enthusiastic the kids really love  him.  My Son Liam age 4, also joined the Little Ninjas here a few months a ago ,at first I wondered if a child this young could get anything out of karate, but boy am I glad I let him join! He really looks up to the teachers here , and they are great role models all I have to say is what would your Karate teacher think for how your acting and he straights up. He is so proud of himself and has a much better attitude since joining! Angie Lavich Howell, Michigan

All of you ROCK!!!!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for reinforcing our family's values: respect, integrity and working hard to achieve goals.  Karate has and continues to teach Cobie how to protect and BELIEVE IN HIMSELF. Krav Maga has empowered me in that same way, plus given me the added benefit of a strong healthy body.  I lost all the weight I gained during my second pregnancy EASILY!  Rachel Schlichting Howell, Michigan

"I have seen a large increase in Steven's self esteem and confidence. He enjoys karate so much. It is great to see him so excited about something. I have noticed Steven has become more athletic and it's nice watching him teach his older sister and younger brother what he has learned (by punching and kicking pillows, punching bags, etc.)" Michele Quigley Fowlerville, Michigan

"Kodie is so much more outgoing. He is no longer afraid to participate in group activities. He recently participated in a rodeo in front of a big crowd. Before Karate he would have been too shy! Thank you!" Vickie Cogswell Howell, Michigan

"Everyone in our family enjoys going to Ohana,  Their kids program makes it fun for our daughter, who otherwise would not have the dedication to take karate seriously at her age.  For both kids and adults, they keep the programs varied so you're learning or doing something different all the time.  It's the first program we've tried that we feel like we could stick with as a fitness program for a long time.  Exercising at home gets to be boring after a while, and without a set schedule you eventually stop doing it.  At Ohana you feel welcome and wanted like you're part of an extended family, it's a very friendly atmosphere.  We all feel like we have a lot of friends at Ohana even though we usually only see them in class. With a mix of ages and physical limitations, they try to work everyone hard but within their limitations, and since you're not the only one in the group who isn't going to be a professional athlete and is carrying a few extra pounds, you don't feel self conscious about it. Even so, they structure the workouts so that everyone can push themselves to their limit so that if you're only 25 or have gotten stronger over time, you can still cone away a bit sore the next day. Even though it's a group setting, every student can come away with as much or as little fitness improvement as they put into it,  while keeping it fun and interesting.  And at the same time, you learn a marital art which could be important some day from a self defense standpoint and which can be important every day in that it promotes determination, perseverance, a higher energy level, and many other positive attributes that everyone can use in everyday life. Susan Pretty Fowlerville, Michigan

When our son Aaron came home from an after school activity with a cut on his cheek underneath a blackening eye, we decided to enroll him in some kind of self defense course. One of my many phone calls was to Ohana Karate.  Sam Larioza was the only person that I talked to that day who showed concern and compassion for Aaron and his situation.  He wanted to know all the details of what happened and how Aaron had handled things.  He educated me about bullies and what we needed to do ( and not do).  He also wanted to talk to Aaron in person.  When we arrived for the meeting, Sensei talked with Aaron, showed him some basic self defense and gave him a uniform, never once mentioning signing him up for class. We did sign both our boys up for classes, which they love.  We really appreciate that in addition to the technical skills that they learn, there are discussions about personal behavior and attitudes.  They also practice how to recognize and handle dangerous situations. Our boys attend classes with Sempai Tammy and Sempai Jessica who are both wonderful, caring instructors whose lessons are full of "courtesy and respect".  As a matter of fact, everyone we have dealt with in the Ohana organization has been great.  They all seem to really love what they are doing. Sensei continues to check up on Aaron and has been an excellent resource in dealing with subsequent bullying problems over the past year.  We can see that Aaron has much more confidence in his ability to deal with difficult situations. I am happy to report that at this time we are bully-free and we are all very happy with our decision to enroll our kids at Ohana Karate. Jan Evanoff Fowlerville, Michigan

At age 3, Justin was very shy and was easily intimidated.  When considering enrolling him in Ohana, our primary concern at that time was to provide him with the skills necessary to deal with bullys.  After our first class, we knew Justin would gain much more then that.  In the 3 1/2 years that Justin has been a student at Ohana, he has grown into a confident, respectful, and well rounded individual.  He has had the opportunity to learn about bullys, strangers, respect, friendship, teamwork, and socializing with peers as well as adults.  He has also gained skills that has helped him in school such as dedication, memorization and sequencing.  He loves the workouts and even practices at home without being prompted.    We are amazed by Justin's ability to stand in front of a crowd and perform his katas, his ability to stand his ground, and his compassion for other people.    We believe that karate has played a big part in the development of Justin's character.  People often comment to me about Justin's maturity level at such a young age, and I always tell them that Ohana has played a big part in that. Toni Reder Howell, Michigan

I wanted to say thank you for a wonderful 16 months with Ohana Karate.  As you know we first enrolled our son Sean.  We hoped that a karate class would give him some self discipline, pride in accomplishment and overall physical well being.  Well your Little Dragons program has done just that. Sean is now proud of each and every accomplishment he achieves with Karate and life in general.  The program involves all aspect of his young life it is amazing to see the growth both in Karate and out side of karate.  He shows us and himself respect.  He respects others and when he does forget it is just a small phrase to help him remember.  There has been discussions with his pediatrician about ADHD or ADD but at this time we are not having to treat this.  I fully believe that Karate is a factor in that aspect. After, the first month or two of watching Sean in class Lydia started bugging us to start class.  Lydia has been a dancer for over six years now and we were concerned that it would be just too much for her.  She promised to keep her grades up and if things got to be too much she would let us know. It has been amazing what karate has done for our daughter.  Dance is a great discipline and we found with that as her background she has been able to excel in her Karate class.  Beyond the physical aspect of karate the mental is just what she needed.  Lydia is a small child and is normally outweighed by at least 20 lbs by most of her class mates.  She has been bullied at times but her lessons in bullying and self defense has given her the self esteem to stand up to these kids and by using words and body language back them off from her.  She is so excited about earning her Green Belt in a few weeks as this will then allow her to practice the moves she has learned over the last year. Thank you Sam and the staff at Ohana's our family has grown over the last 16 months to include all of you wonderful people. Stacey Miller Howell, Michigan

I am writing you and your staff today to say many thanks, Joshua and Hannah just love attending class, and can't wait for Tuesday to come around again, after class is over.  I must admit that I was more than a little concerned when they expressed an interest in taking up karate.  1,000 thoughts go through your mine when you are parents with andy child, but knowing Joshua would have more difficulty than others I was quite frankly scared to death, but after speaking with you I felt a little more at ease and realized that if I didn't allow them to try this I might someday regret it.  And so, with little expectations and a lot of worry we gave it a shot. And I can tell your that I am so happy that we did.  We all are. Joshua's physician and physical therapist are more than a little impressed at the progress he has made over the past few months and feel a lot of it can be attributed to karate,  his balance is so much better we are now able to cut one day out of his physical therapy, and the doctor is also considering cutting down the size of Joshua's leg braces to ankle size, for that reason as well.  Both my children have a greater confidence about them and know what to do in situations that might put them in danger. My children are treated just like any other and I appreciate that so much. I wanted to let you know if you ever have a parent of a special needs child or any other parent for that matter that is a little unsure about trying the class have them call me, I would be more than happy to be a reference for you, we are so pleased with all of your staff and plan to attend karate until we can no longer do so, but I have to tell you, my kids have their heart set on a black belt and with your help they just might make that happen. Marcella Mastroionni Perry, Michigan

"Kyle has improved on staying focused and paying attention in class. He loves karate and constantly talks about doing better in class, at school and at home so he can get his new belt!" Vicki Briggs Fowlerville, Michigan

"My son Connor (4 yrs old) is a student of Sensei Sam's and absolutely loves the class!!! Sam is an EXCELLENT instructor, very personal and just awesome with the kids. I highly recommend Sam Larioza as an instructor and Ohana Karate to anyone looking for a place to train!! Bill Long Howell, Michigan

"Kaytlen loves the Little Ninja class. She gets very excited for it. She has been listening to other adults better. She seems to have a lot more self confidence since she's been attending." Tammy Bruck Howell, Michigan

Sensei Sam and his team of instructors have truly been a blessing to my family and I.  We started with Ohana Karate in August of 06' and have found that Karate' in itself is an awesome way to be active!  It is the only physical sport that my family never gets tired of of!  My kids love the way the instructors are so patient, caring, and encouraging!!  The positive attitudes and environment of Ohana Karate gets us excited about exercising!  I was in bad car accident and never thought I would be "physically active" or "able to do" anything as physical again, but Sensei Sam changed my thinking, and that's what Ohana Karate does for our family, gives us hope and strength for better health!!  Thanks!!   Mellissa Rembisz Howell, Michigan

"We are seeing more respect at home. If he does a "bad" behavior and I bring up the fact that he learned otherwise from karate, he will change his behavior for the better. We are also seeing better cooperation in group activities." Renee Moussa Fowlerville, Michigan

"Talynn seems to retain a lot of what is taught. She will be doing something and say 'Look I'm doing it like a ten'. Also she knows that teasing is wrong. I think it helps for the kids to hear that teasing is wrong from other people besides their parents." Tracy Johnson Webberville, Michigan

"It has helped me with Gage by giving me additional tools to work with like focus, control, relaxation, etc. On the days he attends class he seems to behave very well at home especially with his sister." Denise Yon Howell, Michigan

"When Troy started in May he was drifting through school and play, never standing out in the crowd. I wanted him to find his place and his self power and WOW, look at him go now. Thank you! We love it." Jessica Masserant Fowlerville, Michigan

"Jake has become more cooperative and shows respect for others. He also is much more willing to help around the house." Jenny Miller Fowlerville, Michigan

"Austin's focus has greatly improved. All have to do is mention the word 'focus' at home and his eyes immediately focus on mine. Also, he is so proud of what he has accomplished at karate. He loves the stripes and is so excited to be getting a new belt." Robin Redwing Howell, Michigan

"Terrell has become more outgoing and self assured. He has more agility and strength. I am very pleased with the class and hope that Terrell participates for years to come." Ty Watts Webberville, Michigan

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ADULT PROGRAM

"I am more focused and self-confident! I have lost 21 pounds since January! I am actually tucking in my shirt, feeling better about myself!" Tammy Lomasney Howell, Michigan

"I have seen a lower stress level everyday at work and home. I am more dedicated to many things. The challenge has energized me and strengthened my body and my character. I look forward to every training session. I have improved stamina and muscle tone. This is a great stress release and a great way of bringing my family together. Thanks we love it!" Jessica Masserant Fowlerville, Michigan

"I think I feel stronger and more confident. It helps to release stress." Martha Wohlfiel Howell, Michigan

"I am losing weight and gaining strength and mobility. I feel better mentally and physically. Jim Ahlgrim Brighton, Michigan

"I've lost 2 sizes without dieting and have a better "behind" than I've had in years." Virginia Larioza Fowlerville, Michigan

"My self confidence has increased and my ability to control myself has improved not to mention I am much stronger physically. I feel that I have a higher tolerance for things that used to bother me - whether it was my kids, or someone's attitude or someone else's actions. I am on a different plateau." Andrea Lynch Pinckney , Michigan

I lived most of my life by watching from the sidelines and have always been hesitant to try anything new, outside the box, or test my limits.  I have always been afraid of being judged, laughed at or criticized. After three years of living vicariously through my son doing karate, I finally bit the bullet, went to a class, and I haven't regretted it since.  I have not only benefited from the physical training of the classes, but also mentally. I have a new confidence in myself and my abilities, and life on the sidelines is no longer appealing to me.   Each class my physical abilities are pushed to the limit in a safe, fun and positive environment.  I leave every class with a feeling of accomplishment and pride in myself and I find myself looking forward to the next challenge that Sensei gives me.  Additionally, as most parents grow apart from their children as they get older, I love the fact that my son and I will have karate as a common bond between us that will always keep us close.  Toni Reder Howell, Michigan

I can't began to tell you how glad I am I joined Karate here! I thought it would be fun and it is, but I didn't realize what a good work out I would get! I feel so much better physically and mentally its really amazing how karate has effected every aspect of my life, I feel more confidante and strong I have more energy and its helped me reduce my anxiety and panic attacks.  Angie Lavich Howell, Michigan

"My blood pressure is lower. I have cut back on smoking. I WILL QUIT! My blood sugar is lower. My self confidence has improved. I know I can do it." Pam Smithers Howell, Michigan

"I feel karate has improved my physical conditioning beyond where it was with only the Cardio Kickboxing classes. By participating in karate, I have developed more self confidence and self worth. I enjoy the challenge of stretching myself. It's fun to see how much progress I have made in a short amount of time." Kathy Wolfe Pinckney, Michigan