Port Credit, Mississauga
Martial Arts in Mississauga
A traditional Goju Ryu Karate Do dojo on Lakeshore Road East, teaching Mississauga families since 1986.
Since 1986
Forty Years of Karate on Lakeshore Road
Port Credit Academy of Martial Arts has taught in Mississauga since 1986. In that time the dojo has graded more than 450 students to black belt, built a full team of senior instructors, and stayed in the same part of the city it started in — 108 Lakeshore Road East, at the east end of Port Credit village.
What we teach is Goju Ryu Karate Do, an Okinawan style that pairs hard, direct striking with softer circular defense. It is a traditional art, taught in a traditional way: ranks are earned, not bought, and the curriculum is the same one our head instructor learned from his own teachers. Students come from across Mississauga and the wider GTA, and the dojo holds a 4.9-star rating on Google.
Our History & Instructors
Who Teaches Here
Hanshi Christopher Doyle and a Traditional Lineage
The dojo is led by Hanshi Christopher Doyle, a 9th-degree black belt. His training line runs through Hanshi Tetsuhiro Hokama in Okinawa, Sensei Peter Urban in the United States, and Jean-Yves Thériault in Canada.
Hanshi Doyle has personally graded over 450 black belts. Many of them still train here, and a number now teach — several of the senior instructors on staff earned their rank in this room. Practically, that means the white belt in a kids class and the brown belt in an adult class are being taught the same material by people who learned it the same way.
Call 905-278-7234
Programs
Classes for Ages 3 to Adult
Every program below runs out of the same Lakeshore Road dojo. If you are not sure which one fits, call 905-278-7234 and describe the student — age, temperament, what they are hoping to get out of it — and we will tell you where to start.
Juniors Program (3-4)
Build life skills, coordination, and confidence for young kids in a fun, supportive environment.
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Kids Program (5-12)
Ages 5-12. Build confidence, focus, and discipline in a fun, safe environment.
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Teens Program (13-17)
Ages 13-17. Develop strength, self-defense skills, and mental toughness.
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Adult Karate (13+)
Build discipline, confidence, and self-defense skills with expert karate instruction for all ages and skill levels.
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Adult Tai Chi (13+)
Slow, flowing movement and breath work for balance, calm, and lasting health for older adults.
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Kardio Kicks™
Kardio Kicks™ is our fitness kickboxing program — high-energy cardio that burns calories, builds strength, and sneaks in real self-defense.
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Karate Camp
Summer, spring, and holiday break camps packed with karate, games, and new friends for active kids.
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Birthday Parties
Give your child an unforgettable martial arts-themed birthday party packed with fun, energy, and excitement.
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Workshops & Seminars
Short-format self-defense programs including EZ Defense for Women, S.A.F.E., and High School Self Defense — designed for people who want practical skills without joining a full program.
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Come See a Class
The Best Way to Choose a Dojo Is to Stand in One
Watching a class tells you more in twenty minutes than any website will. Come in, see how the instructors talk to the students, and ask whatever you want to ask. Call 905-278-7234 or send us a note and we will find a class night that suits you.
Where Our Students Come From
Serving Mississauga from Port Credit
The dojo sits on Lakeshore Road East, a few minutes from the Port Credit GO station and directly on the Lakeshore bus corridor. That location shapes who trains here.
The dojo draws from across south Mississauga. Port Credit, Mineola, Lorne Park, Lakeview and Clarkson are all a short drive, and the Hurontario and Cawthra routes feed down to Lakeshore from Cooksville and Applewood. There is one dojo, and people travel to it.
Before You Visit
What to Expect on Your First Night
You do not need a uniform, equipment or any prior experience to attend your first class. Wear clothes you can move in. Classes are held barefoot on matted floor, so bring nothing special for your feet.
A traditional class opens and closes with a formal bow — that is part of the art, not ceremony for its own sake. In between you will warm up, drill basics as a group, work forms appropriate to your rank, and usually do some partner work. Instructors correct technique directly and often; that is what you are there for. Contact work is introduced gradually rather than on a first night — ask us how sparring is handled in the class you are considering.
Ask us about watching a class. Sitting through a full session tells you far more about a dojo than a look from the parking lot does.
Plan Your Visit
Start Training
One Dojo, One Curriculum, Since 1986
Whether you are looking for a first class for a five-year-old or getting back on the floor yourself, the next step is the same: come in and see it. Tell us the age and the program you are considering and we will put you in the right class.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we are asked most often by families looking for martial arts in Mississauga. If yours is not here, contact us and we will answer it directly.
At this dojo, three. Our Juniors program is built for ages 3 to 4 and is deliberately short and highly structured, because that is what works at that age. From five to twelve, children move into the Kids program, which follows the full traditional curriculum and belt system, and from thirteen to seventeen they train in Teens. If you are unsure whether your child is ready, come and watch a Juniors class — it is usually obvious within a few minutes.
Rates depend on the program and how many nights a week the student trains, so we quote them directly rather than publishing a single number that would be wrong for most people. Call 905-278-7234 or use our contact page and tell us the age and the program you are considering, and we will give you the exact cost with no obligation.
Both are traditional striking arts, but they come from different places and emphasize different things. Karate developed in Okinawa and, in the Goju Ryu style we teach, balances hard linear striking with softer circular defense, close-range hand techniques, and low, grounded stances. Taekwondo developed in Korea and is known for a much heavier emphasis on high, fast and jumping kicks. Neither is better as a rule — they train different bodies of technique, and the instruction you get matters more than the label on the door.
Yes — your first class is free. Call 905-278-7234 or use the contact page, and we will tell you which night to come and what to bring.
108 Lakeshore Road East, Mississauga, ON L5G 1E3, in the Port Credit neighborhood. We are on the Lakeshore Road corridor a short distance from the Port Credit GO station, which puts us within easy reach of Mineola, Lorne Park, Lakeview, Clarkson and Cooksville.
Yes. Our Adult Karate program is open to anyone 13 and up, and most of our adult students started as complete beginners with no martial arts background. We also run Tai Chi for a lower-impact practice and Kardio Kicks™ fitness kickboxing for adults who want the workout without the belt system.
It depends on the student's age, how often they train, and how consistently they show up. There is no shortcut — most students take five to seven years of consistent training to test for shodan. Hanshi Doyle has personally graded more than 450 students to black belt, and every one of those ranks was tested for.
No. Conditioning is something class builds, not something you need to bring. Beginners train with beginners, techniques are scaled to what your body can currently do, and instructors would much rather correct a slow, controlled movement than a fast, sloppy one.