Hughes Karate-Do Dojo

Hughes Karate-Do on Baseline Road

Hughes Karate-Do Dojo sits on East Baseline Road in north Gilbert, run by Renshi Tony Hughes - a 6th Dan Black Belt in Shorin Ryu Shorinkan karate with over 40 years in martial arts. Hughes also holds advanced ranks in Aikido and Ju Jitsu, plus a 3rd degree black belt in weapons. The school is unusual in its breadth of disciplines under one master instructor.

Kids Martial Arts Programs

The dojo accepts students from age 5, with a stated specialty in working with kids with special needs alongside the standard children's curriculum. Programs include:
- Kids Karate (starting at age 5, Shorin Ryu Shorinkan curriculum)
- Kids Jiu Jitsu (traditional Japanese jujutsu component)
- Kids Escrima (Filipino stick-fighting basics)
- Aikido (joint-locking circular-motion system)
- Adult Karate, Jiu Jitsu, and Escrima (continued curriculum)
- Special-needs kids instruction (school specialty)

What's Included

• Renshi Tony Hughes, 6th Dan Shorin Ryu Shorinkan
• 40-plus years instructor martial arts experience
• Multiple advanced ranks (karate, weapons, Aikido, Ju Jitsu)
• Special-needs kids instruction specialty
• Multi-discipline curriculum under one master
• Second location at 855 S Bogle Avenue, Chandler

Experience

A 6th Dan with cross-discipline mastery is rare for a suburban dojo - most schools have one head instructor specializing in a single style. Hughes's special-needs kids instruction specialty is meaningful for families that have struggled to find an inclusive martial arts environment. The Shorin Ryu Shorinkan lineage is described as a precursor to modern MMA, giving the karate curriculum a self-defense application focus. Pattern fits Gilbert families wanting traditional Japanese martial arts breadth under a high-rank master, especially families with kids who need accommodation-friendly instruction.