Shotokan Balch Springs
A Balch Springs Karate Dojo with Respect and Discipline
Welcome To
Shotokan Balch Springs
Welcome to Shotokan Balch Springs – a family-run, Spanish speaking Karate dojo! This is a strong family community that allows women and children to feel safe while training. All our students are instilled with the confidence to thrive on the mat and in life. Students can look in the mirror and believe they can achieve their goals in self-defense, confidence, and fitness. We are fully invested in our kids Karate program. We welcome all students with special needs, helping them use productive energy to build a daily routine. As well as that, we want our students to succeed in school, requesting report card checks to build accountability. Does this seem like the right fit for you and your family? Then join us at Shotokan Balch Springs karate dojo for a life-altering experience!
Join us monthly!
Sign up for our month-by-month membership. Don’t feel worried about any long-term contracts and enjoy Karate classes in Balch Springs!
Who we are at
Shotokan Balch Springs
Our School
We believe in teamwork and community at Shotokan Balch Springs. Our staff brings an encouraging attitude to every day of class. The students are supported as they go through their journeys. We make sure to talk to parents and understand their kid’s individual needs. Our instructors are prepared to help everyone, including children with special needs and Spanish speaking students. The Balch Springs Karate community is important to us and we want to accommodate everyone’s situation. On top of this, we also have camaraderie-building events including summer activities, holiday parties, seminars led by instructors from Japan, and tournaments. Come be a part of our family and find your home at Shotokan Balch Springs!
Our History
Shotokan Balch Springs has been providing community Karate since the 2020’s. Sensei Ricardo Yip Jr. started at the local recreation center looking to help the community. Since then, we have upgraded to our current location, have added mats, and now offer Competition and Leadership team classes. This entire journey to provide Karate to others began when he was six years old. He was taught by his father, whose values he now passes on to his students, and has taught others for 20+ years. The lessons from his father helped him become a part of the Panama Junior National Team for 3 years before moving to the US. Now in Balch Springs, Sensei Yip Jr. is proud to help the community through Karate with his family helping out at the dojo. He hopes to continue to grow the community and support everyone he can.
Our Mission
Our mission statement is to promote the development of Shotokan Karate and train our athletes to become strong in body and mind while acquiring the values of Respect, Perseverance, Discipline, and Competition
Check Out
Our Class Schedule!
Make sure to take a look at the Shotokan Balch Springs Karate schedule. We have classes Monday-Thursday with times accommodating families work and school schedules!
Our Karate
Instructors
The Shotokan Balch Springs team is led by the Yip family. They have journeyed together through Karate and are now bringing the art to the Balch Springs community. Knowing the community, they are bilingual, speaking English and Spanish for all our students to feel safe and comfortable. Want to learn more about the Yip family? Check out their bios to hear about their time in Karate!
Ricardo Yip Jr
3th Dan Black Belt – Shotokan Karate
Sensei Ricardo Yip Jr. was born into a karate family and began training in Shotokan at the age of six under his father, Sensei Ricardo Yip Sr. Growing up with high expectations instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and commitment.
His dedication led him to represent Panama as part of the Youth National Kumite Team in 2000. Over the years, Sensei Yip has continued to refine his skills, studying other karate styles such as Shito-Ryu and Goju-Ryu, as well as Judo and Kendo. His passion for learning has allowed him to train with world-renowned masters and competitors, including Sensei Osamu Ozawa, Hidetaka Nishiyama, Junior Lefevre, Koji Arimoto, and Shinji Nagaki.
As both a martial artist and community school teacher, Sensei Yip believes karate is a path for personal growth—helping students build confidence, discipline, and respect that extends beyond the dojo and into everyday life.
Senpai Ricardo Yip III
Assistant Instructor – Shotokan Karate
1st Dan Black Belt
Senpai Ricardo Yip III began training in Shotokan Karate at the age of six under the guidance of his father, Sensei Ricardo Yip Jr. Coming from a proud karate family, he has also trained alongside his grandfather and uncle, continuing a strong family tradition.
From a young age, “Sempai Ricky” showed a deep love for karate—often seen in the dojo imitating his father and striving to perfect every move. His dedication reflects his goal to carry on his family’s legacy through discipline, respect, and perseverance.
He has had the honor of training with renowned Japanese masters, including Kancho Kohama and Sensei Shinji Nagaki. Despite being neurodivergent, Sempai Ricky has never let challenges hold him back. His determination and strong work ethic have led him to excel in training and compete successfully in Para-Karate tournaments.
As an assistant instructor, he motivates other students to train hard, stay focused, and always do their best—leading by example through his commitment and passion for karate.
Sempai Alyssa Yip
Assistant Instructor – Shotokan Karate
1st Dan Black Belt
Join us monthly!
Sign up for our month-by-month membership. Don’t feel worried about any long-term contracts and enjoy Karate classes in Balch Springs!
Explore our
Karate Programs
Our Balch Springs Karate program is designed to help all types of students.
The bilingual instructors allow anyone in the community to train with us. We make sure all girls and women, children with special needs, and inexperienced students are comfortable in the dojo and feel welcomed. Take a look at our kids Karate, teens/adult Karate, and two speciality classes to find your fit at Shotokan Balch Springs!
Kids Karate (ages 6-12)
Our kids Karate class allows young boys and girls to learn the foundations of Karate. We teach all kids 6 and up. That includes children going with special needs. Give us a call and we will make sure your child has the best training for them to optimize their time and help them grow on and off the mat.
Teens/Adult Karate (ages 13+)
Our teens/adult Karate classes pick up the pace. We focus a lot on fast movements, emphasizing breaking a sweat and exercise. Students are taught to push themselves as they learn self-defense skills and improve their physical health.
Competition Team
This class is for select students. We help those more advanced on the mats to prepare for competitions. When we take students outside the Balch Springs Karate scene, they will be prepared to show what Shotokan is all about!
Leadership Team
The Leadership Team class teaches students how to one day run a class at Shotokan Balch Springs. We instill leadership skills and responsibility for them to use in the dojo and outside of it. Everything taught here will help them to be leaders in Karate and in everyday life.
Words from our Community
Shotokan Balch Springs has been the home for Balch Springs Karate for everyone. Our family-friendly atmosphere, emphasis on helping outside the dojo, and bilingual staff are a few of the things that make us special. And don’t just take our word for it. Check out what those in our community have to say about why we are their home for Karate training!
“Mr. Yip is an amazing instructor and motivates while teaching them discipline and real life scenarios. Highly recommend this class.”
“My son has become more self-confident and very responsible with all his homework. He started two years ago and is extremely happy.”
Check Out
Our Class Schedule!
Make sure to take a look at the Shotokan Balch Springs Karate schedule. We have classes Monday-Thursday with times accommodating families work and school schedules!
Contact Us
Come join us at Shotokan Balch Springs Karate classes. Our classes are welcome to everyone in Balch Springs as well as those in Mesquite, Forney, and in the Solterra developments. You can find us at the intersection of Elam Rd and Pioneer Rd, right behind Rincon Potosino at the same address and parking lot!