NiKa Dojo

NiKa Dojo is a traditional Shotokan Karate school serving students and families in Forest Hills and Woodside, Queens, with nearby communities including Rego Park, Kew Gardens, Elmhurst, and Sunnyside. The dojo welcomes beginners and experienced practitioners of all ages, combining martial arts instruction with a focus on discipline, respect, confidence, and personal growth.

Its programs include structured karate classes for children, teens, and adults, as well as family classes where parents and children can train together. Students learn traditional Shotokan techniques, including strikes, blocks, and self-defense applications, alongside kata, kumite, and physical conditioning. Classes are designed to support fitness, focus, perseverance, and practical self-defense skills in a supportive environment.

NiKa Dojo’s instructor team is led by Shihan Shanta Thokar, a seventh-degree black belt with more than 40 years of Shotokan Karate teaching experience. Instructors provide guidance tailored to students at different levels, aiming to make training both challenging and encouraging. Through its two Queens locations and age-inclusive programs, NiKa Dojo offers a community-based approach to traditional martial arts education.