About
Welcome to Hall County Karate! We specialize in teaching traditional Japanese Karate for our modern world. We have classes for children and adults, and for any level of fitness. While Karate focuses on teaching self-defense, it has many other rewards, too. Karate teaches focus, goal setting, mental and physical discipline, and develops an individual’s confidence as they master these traits. Karate also can be a fun activity that can help anyone reach their fitness goals, such as weight loss, strength training, or improving endurance.
Hall County Karate is veteran-owned and its chief instructor, Todd Irvine, is committed to serving his community. We offer classes through the City of Gainesville’s Department of Recreation so that the highest quality instruction is available to our community at very affordable rates to the Gainesville and Hall County communities.
My passion is for teaching and keeping the traditional martial arts alive. I've been teaching now for over twenty-five years, and have been teaching in Gainsesville since I moved here a few years ago.
I started training Karate when I was a kid, and have kept going for 30 years. It has kept me fit, given me focus and discipline that helped me get through college, and (of course) taught me self-defense. I have also served in the military for over 11 years, where I taught hand-to-hand combat and learned that Karate is very effective.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We recommend that new students come in for a few trial classes, which are free, before they sign up.New students are first introduced to other students and given an overview of how a class normally goes.
Classes start with learning basic techniques, and students progress at their own pace. After the basic techniques are mastered, students begin learning how to apply in self-defense situations.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have trained Karate for over 30 years now, and began training with Sensei Kevin Gurganus in Durham NC. I've trained with several other people as I moved around in my military career.
I started teaching 25 years ago, and have taught traditional karate, as well as basic self-defense classes and hand-to-had combat while in the Marine Corps.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
Fees are $60 per month. We have classes in the Gainesville Civic Center, and the fees are paid directly to the City Parks and Recreation Department. I provide a gi (karate uniform) to any student who signs up for two months.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
I suggest that you set clear goals and visit several schools to see which one best fits your needs. There is some general advice about picking a martial arts school that you may find valuable at: http://hallcountykarate.com/hall-county-karate-traditional-martial-arts-blog/hallcountykarate.com