Midday Dojo: Karate for Active Older Adults
A practice Worth Your Wednesday Afternoon
Traditional Okinawan karate. Small group. The Midday Dojo meets Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at noon in Alexandria. No prior experience. No sparring. No long-term contract.
the MidDay Dojo: Karate for ACtive Older Adults
Who This Is For
The Midday Dojo draws active adults — most of them men in their 50s and 60s — who wanted something more structured, more meaningful, and more social than a gym membership. Many had never set foot in a dojo before they walked through ours.
You don't need to be in exceptional shape. You don't need any martial arts background. You need to be willing to show up and learn something new Embrace the Beginner's Mindset at any age.
What You'll Learn
Okinawan karate was developed for real self-defense — not competition, not performance. In every Midday Dojo class you'll work on:
- Kata — movement sequences that encode self-defense technique, developed over centuries
- Kumite — two-person drills that translate kata into practical application
- Bunkai — the self-defense meaning behind each movement
Classes are taught by Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th dan, who has trained in the martial arts for over 50 years as a direct student of Grand Master Seikichi Iha, 10th dan. You will not find more experienced instruction in Northern Virginia.
What It Actually Looks Like
The Midday Dojo runs 60 minutes. You won't be asked to do push-ups or duck walks. There's no sparring — you'll practice applications with a partner in a controlled, safe environment. Newer students are always paired with experienced ones.
The group is small by design. That means you get real attention from the instructor, not a number in a crowd.
Your INstructors
Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th Dan
Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th Dan
Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th Dan
Hanshi Curtis has trained in the martial arts for over 50 years and is a direct student of the late Grand Master Seikichi Iha, who founded the Beikoku Shidokan Karatedo Association.
He has taught self-defense to US Embassy security personnel and law enforcement, and has been recognized as Best Martial Arts Instructor in Alexandria every year since 2017. He is in his 70s and still on the mat.
Denise Coursey, 4th Dan
Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th Dan
Hanshi Roberto Curtis, 9th Dan
Denise is co-owner of Virginia Dojo and has been practicing martial arts for more than two decades. She teaches the Friday Midday Dojo class and substitutes regularly across the full schedule — so there is always a senior, experienced instructor leading class.
Her approach centers on technique over strength: the principle that good karate works regardless of size, age, or background.