Meet Austin Greene | Sensei

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austin Greene and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austin, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At Koshiki Karate-Do, we create an inclusive environment where students of all abilities can grow in confidence, discipline, and respect. For nearly 30+ years, we’ve worked closely with kids, teens, adults and the special needs community—helping people develop coordination, strength, focus, and social skills through martial arts. Our dojo builds stronger individuals, families, and a more connected community.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Our dojo, Koshiki Karate-Do, was founded in 1991 by my Sensei, Bruce Schram. He lived and breathed the martial arts lifestyle. When he retired in 2013, he passed the dojo on to myself and my two karate brothers, Jason Flentye and Ryan Tanaka, his longest and most dedicated students. His message to us was simple: keep the dojo open, keep teaching, and keep training. And that’s exactly what we’ve done.

Karate-Do isn’t just a martial art or sport—it’s a way of life. What sets our dojo apart is that we focus on teaching karate beyond the physical techniques. Yes, we train hard in blocking, striking, and sparring—but we also teach discipline, respect, confidence, and how to apply the values of karate in everyday life. Our goal is to help students become stronger—physically, mentally, and emotionally—both inside and outside the dojo.

We also specialize in Koshiki, a traditional full-contact style that very few schools practice today. While many dojos have shifted toward lighter point fighting, we preserve the old-school traditions of hard, realistic training while still incorporating modern methods to stay current. This balance of tradition and evolution keeps our students grounded yet adaptable.

I’m incredibly proud that after all these years—through challenges like COVID and the ups and downs of running a small business—we’re still here and still kickin’. Running a martial arts school isn’t easy, and it’s certainly not done for profit. It’s a labor of love. We do it because we believe in what karate can do for people.

Our dojo proudly offers specialized karate classes for kids and adults with special needs—a program that has been part of our mission for nearly 20 years. We believe everyone deserves the chance to experience the confidence, focus, and joy that karate brings. These classes are adapted to meet each student’s individual abilities, helping them build coordination, discipline, and self-esteem in a supportive environment. Not many martial arts schools offer this kind of inclusive program, and we’re proud to be one that does.

Even though Lawndale is a small community, we’re honored to have been voted Best Martial Arts School in Lawndale for the past two years. Personally, my journey began as a kid inspired by The Karate Kid and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as silly as that might sound. But the moment I saw those movies, I knew I didn’t just want to train in karate—I needed to. After training at a Shotokan and Kenpo school when I was young, I found my true home at Koshiki Karate-Do at age 14. I’ve now trained here nearly 30 years, earned my 3rd-degree black belt, and won State, National, and World Championships in Koshiki sparring.

What keeps me going is simple: I love teaching and training. I love helping students push past their limits, discover their strength, and achieve goals they once thought were impossible. There’s nothing more rewarding than watching someone struggle, persevere, and ultimately succeed through hard work and dedication. That’s what Karate-Do is all about—and that’s what keeps our dojo’s spirit alive.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a huge shoutout to our students and their parents. Our students show up every week ready to learn, work hard, and grow—not just in their karate, but as individuals. And to the parents who make it possible by taking the time to bring them to and from the dojo, we’re truly grateful. Your continued support allows us to keep doing what we love and sharing the spirit of Koshiki Karate-Do with the community.

Website: https://www.koshikikaratedo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koshiki_karate_do/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kkd.shorinryu/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/koshiki-karate-do-lawndale